Family Drive-In
409 S. Highway 27,
Somerset,
KY
42501
409 S. Highway 27,
Somerset,
KY
42501
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The Family Drive-In opened its gates by Raymond L. Edwards in July 1951. It was last operated by Ben W. Johnson of Ashland who operated the theatre since August of 1953 until 1961 when it was taken over by his son Ben Johnson who operated it until 1965.
The Family Drive-In closed for the final time in early 1967 after the theatre was sold by the owner to a next-door supermarket.
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50sSNIPES
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Boxoffice, Aug. 8, 1953: “Somerset, Ky. - Ben W. Johnson of Ashland purchased the Family Drive-In from Raymond L. Edwards.”
Boxoffice, April 23, 1962: “TOC is booking and buying for the Family Drive-In at Somerset, Ky., owned by Ben Johnson”
Boxoffice, Jan. 16, 1967: “The Family Drive-In, Somerset, Ky., has been sold by owner Ben Johnson to the supermarket next door.”
Here’s a summary of Somerset’s drive-in history, as printed in the Commonwealth-Journal of July 13, 1986. (The original article failed to notice that the Family and Lakeview were both built in 1951, so I skipped over those erroneous notes.)
“Ben Johnson … operated Family Drive-In from 1961 to 1965 for his father, who owned the outdoor theater from … 1953. When the lights of the new Tradewind shopping center interfered with movies showing across U.S. 27 at the Family Drive-In the theater closed and was replaced by Hardee’s and Cumberland Security Bank, Johnson said. He then purchased Lakeview Drive-In from its builders and owners, Hogan Teater, J.T. Pollard and Ralph Eller … Prior to Johnson’s purchase, Lakeview was being operated by Harry Roaden, whose uncle, O.G. Roaden, leased the theater from Teater. Pollard and Eller between 1956 and 1966. As Johnson took over at Lakeview, Roaden built 27 Twin Drive-In in 1967. He added a second screen in 1981.”