South Drive-In

3050 S. High Street,
Columbus, OH 43207

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dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on June 10, 2020 at 3:52 am

Launched May 11, 1950 with Roy Rogers in “Down Dakota Way” and Francis, the Talking Mule in “Francis.”

Mark_L
Mark_L on June 2, 2019 at 1:37 pm

The first day of 2-screen operation at the South Drive-In was April 6, 1979.

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on June 1, 2019 at 9:45 am

Looks like the South was right about its opening date. The May 13, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported, “The South Drive-In, Columbus, owned by Milton Yassenoff, will be ready for opening soon. It is a new operation and accommodates approximately 500 cars.”

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on August 5, 2017 at 5:56 pm

The South’s history page says it opened in 1950. Then again, it says it was twinned in 1987, but the 1984 Motion Picture Almanac already showed it with two screens. Here’s the data dump from my Theatre Catalogs and Motion Picture Almanacs:

1949-50 TC: not listed

1952 TC: Milton Yassenoff, capacity 550.

1953-54 MPA: Milton Yassenoff, 700.

1955-56 TC: Milton Yassenoff, 750.

1959-63 MPA: Milton Yassenoff, 700.

1969-76 MPA: not listed (but I saw a 1969 newspaper that still showed the South)

1982 MPA: Rainbow Ent., 750.

1984-88 MPA: Rainbow Ent., two screens.

Chris1982
Chris1982 on September 30, 2014 at 11:33 pm

This is their website but it is not much to speak of. Their facebook page is much better.

Silicon Sam
Silicon Sam on July 14, 2013 at 8:06 am

A bit misleading, nearly 1100 speakers were NOT stolen, just the wire for them. Sounds like a good opportunity to install some sort of burglar alarm system in that place.

Mark_L
Mark_L on July 14, 2013 at 4:50 am

According to the Columbus Dispatch, 1500 of the 1800 speaker wires (from pole to speaker) were cut, apparently for the copper. 3 people were seen on security cameras at about 4:30 in the morning. The wire would be worth about $300. The theatre will restore the speaker wire.

KenLayton
KenLayton on July 13, 2013 at 11:19 pm

Wow, thieves steal nearly 1,100 speakers from the theater:

http://www.nbc4i.com/story/22833761/1060-speakers-stolen-from-drive-in-theater

KenLayton
KenLayton on July 12, 2013 at 9:08 am

When I was doing drive-in speaker repair, I used 6 feet of 18-2 stranded outdoor wire per speaker. I bought the wire in bulk rolls from Home Depot.

KenLayton
KenLayton on July 12, 2013 at 9:05 am

Yup, it’s posted on their facebook page about the speaker vandalism:

https://www.facebook.com/Southdrivein

Keith
Keith on July 12, 2013 at 7:58 am

Breaking News: Vandals cut most of the speaker wires at the South drive-in.

Mark_L
Mark_L on April 23, 2013 at 3:37 pm

Opening for the season on April 26 with digital projection on both screens.

Mark_L
Mark_L on March 11, 2013 at 8:01 am

Glad to see they are making the digital switch. I was worried they would just sell the land and move on. Nice to see Central Ohio keeping its one remaining drive-in.

Keith
Keith on March 9, 2013 at 5:43 am

news from Facebook that The south drive-in is starting its digital switch soon. Good to hear.

Silicon Sam
Silicon Sam on May 1, 2010 at 8:07 pm

As for the 1955 opening date, their website says 2010 is their 60th anniversary year.

Silicon Sam
Silicon Sam on May 1, 2010 at 5:21 pm

This is their website, plain as it may be:

http://www.drive-inmovies.com/

Mark_L
Mark_L on May 1, 2010 at 3:42 pm

Theatre opened on 4/30/2010 for the season.

This theatre will celebrate its 60th birthday on 5/11/2010. Opening features in 1950 were DOWN DAKOTA WAY with Roy Rogers & FRANCIS THE TALKING MULE.

my3pauls
my3pauls on November 5, 2009 at 1:22 am

The South Drive-In will probably survive longer than expected for two reasons:

1 – They are the last of a dying breed. During the portion of summer when school is also out, they show movies 7 nights/week on both screens. During the remaining portion of the movie season they show movies on Friday and Saturday nights. Also, as someone mentioned previously, they sell out or come close to it almost every weekend evening they are open!

2 – They operate the area as a flea market in the off season, renting “space” to local vendors at a fair price. Vendors line up into the street as early as 5 am to ensure a space, as they tend to fill up quickly.

Mark_L
Mark_L on June 18, 2009 at 7:33 am

The South Drive-In is still open as of the summer of 2009.

Mark_L
Mark_L on November 19, 2008 at 4:18 pm

They usually shut down for the season in September or very early October.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman on November 19, 2008 at 3:40 pm

Are movies still shown here? The marquee in that photo advertises only a flea market.

Ron Newman
Ron Newman on November 22, 2004 at 6:20 am

In the late 1960s and early 70s, the Columbus area had so many drive-ins that the Columbus Dispatch printed a whole separate section of movie listings for them. There was the Eastside, the 40 East, the Linden Air, Miles North High, Miles East Main, the Kingman, and many others whose names I no longer remember.