Bardwell Drive-In
1721 US-51,
Bardwell,
KY
42023
1721 US-51,
Bardwell,
KY
42023
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Functions: Auto Repair Shop
Previous Names: Carlisle Drive-In, Beardsley Chevrolet Company Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
The Carlisle Drive-In was opened on July 17, 1953 with Cary Grant in “Room for One More”. The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog included the Carlisle Drive-In under Bardwell. It held 200 cars and was owned by Hamkich Theatres of Memphis. A note in Motion Picture Exhibitor mentioned that it reopened for the 1960 season when it had been taken over by Cecil Beardsley who renamed it Beardsley Chevrolet Company Drive-In. New operators Don Draw & Earl Ferrell took over on March 31, 1961 and they renamed it Bardwell Drive-In, reopening with Richard Attenborough in “S.O.S. Pacific”. It was short lived as it closed on August 6, 1961 with David Janssen in “Dondi”.
A 1955 aerial photo showed a drive-in about a mile north of Bardwell on US 51/62. A 1969 photo showed the screen missing and the site full of cars, possibly an auto junkyard. A body shop occupies the spot today.
Contributed by
Michael Kilgore
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
R.C. Adams launched the Carlisle Drive-in July 17, 1953 with “Room for One More.” In 1956, the screen tower was converted to widescreen to present CinemaScope films.
Cecil Beardsley took on the venue changing its name to the Beardsley Chevrolet Company Drive-In Theatre on May 3, 1960 with “The Man Who Understood Women.” This became the first and only theatre in the Cinema Treasures database to have the name Beardsley Chevrolet Company Drive-In Theatre.
Don Draw and Earl Ferrell took on the venue on March 31, 1961 renaming it as the Bardwell Drive-In Theatre with “S.O.S Pacific.” It closed August 6, 1961 with “Dondi” ending its run as the Bardwell D-I.
Most of the property is covered in trees. If any remnants of the drive-in remain, they cannot be spotted from Google Maps.