44 Outdoor Theatre
1790 W. South Park Avenue,
Oshkosh,
WI
54902
1790 W. South Park Avenue,
Oshkosh,
WI
54902
3 people
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This drive-in opened in July 1949 with Larry Parks in “The Swordsman”, and could accommodate 650 cars. The 44 Outdoor Theatre closed in September 1984 and was soon demolished. A Wal-Mart was later built on the site (since demolished).
Contributed by
Bryan
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
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The Google map is wrong. The theater was on Southpark.
The above address is incorrect.
Address should be 1790 W South Park Ave.
The other address is where the drive-in stood when in operation. South Koeller ended just north at W 20 Ave.
And in a twist of fate, the two major businesses that built on the site are no longer. The Walmart spoken of in the description has been torn down. The JCPenney that came later now sits closed and abandoned. Except for a lonely shoe store, one could build a drive-in theatre here once again!
Originally it was a 650 car drive-in theatre. In 1953 it was bought by Marcus Corporation. Their improvements included a tower and concession building. They may have had those before, but they built new ones.
Why the name 44?
A quick check of Google Maps shows that the drive-in was on Wisconsin state highway 44.
From the March 17, 1956 Motion Picture Herald: “Louis Petry and Robt. Perry have leased the Mitchell drive-in, Mitchell, Neb., and the Oskosh (sic) drive-in, Oskosh, Neb., from Merle Nygren.”
The 44 Outdoor Theatre opened its gates on July 15, 1949 with Larry Parks in “The Swordsman” along with a cartoon and a newsreel.
Later that October 10, a portion of a fence that surrounds the theater (that was constructed by the Valley Construction Company of Neenah) was blown by heavy winds during severe weather. It was operated by S&M Theatres Incorporated.