Cranston Drive-In

1400 Oaklawn Avenue,
Cranston, RI 02920

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Affiliated Theatres

Previous Names: Cranston Auto Drive-In

Nearby Theaters

Cranston Drive-In

The Cranston Auto Drive-In opened by the Columbia Amusement Co. on July 29, 1948 with Lucille Ball in “Her Husband’s Affairs” & Randolph Scott in “Trail Street”. It was still operating under this name in 1957. It became the Cranston Drive-In which closed in 1979.

Contributed by TOM CONTI

Recent comments (view all 20 comments)

Partymonster
Partymonster on May 19, 2006 at 8:15 am

I spent many a summre’s evening as a boy with my family at this long-ago delight. Every year when they closed, they would post on their sign; “Had to close before we froze. See you when the crocus grows."
:–)
Bill Gannon

RJT70mm
RJT70mm on July 11, 2007 at 11:04 am

I believe this drive in installed 70mm in the early sixties. National Theatre Supply ran an ad in the tradepapers for their Ventarc blown arc lamp with a picture of the booth. They also had Norelco DP70’s. The screen size was given as 114 ft.

RJT70mm
RJT70mm on July 13, 2007 at 9:48 am

I just rechecked the ad and screen size was given as 50'x122' and a projected pcture of 47'x118' at a 240' throw. Light readings were 6 fl. for 35mm and 8 fl. for 70mm.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on June 19, 2010 at 12:13 pm

The Cranston Drive-In was equipped with 3-D projection capability in 1953, with the first offering being “Man in the Dark” per an item in Boxoffice mahgazine, July 4, 1953.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on June 30, 2010 at 2:55 am

Cranston Drive-In sues gas station for removal of annoying blinker sign,
item in Boxoffice magazine, August 5, 1950:
View link

ejones880
ejones880 on July 13, 2013 at 5:17 pm

What year did it close? I remember going their in 1979

Bill
Bill on March 30, 2016 at 10:45 am

When they closed for the winter, the marquee read;
“Had to close
Before we froze
See you when
The crocus grows

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on May 31, 2018 at 2:03 am

The site is now a shopping centre(Marshalls Plaza).

rivest266
rivest266 on June 6, 2024 at 3:57 pm

Opened on July 29th, 1948. Grand opening ad posted.

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