Pendleton Pike Drive-In

9300 Pendleton Pike,
Indianapolis, IN 46236

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: General Cinema Corp.

Previous Names: Drive-In

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Pendleton Pike Drive-In

Located in the Lawrence Township district, northeast of Indianapolis. The Drive-In opened June 6, 1940 with Kay Kyser in “That’s Right, You’re Wrong”, making it one of Indiana’s earliest drive-ins. It could accommodate 500 cars. Around 1954/1955, it was renamed Pendleton Pike Drive-In. It had a long life, closing on September 7, 1992 with Clint Eastwood in “Unforgiven”, Edward Furlong in “Pet Sematary II” & Mel Gibson in “Lethal Weapon 3”. For many years all that remained was the screen, which was demolished on August 27, 2008.

Contributed by bryan

Recent comments (view all 11 comments)

thejaydubya
thejaydubya on May 4, 2005 at 11:21 am

One of my fondest memories of the Pendleton Pike was going to see a marathon of all five Planet of the Apes films. I stayed up all night watching them while my mom and sister slept after the first or second one. I’ll never forget it!

Spilner
Spilner on February 4, 2006 at 6:38 pm

Anyone know why this theater was really closed? Was it do to not enough buisness, owners got into debt and couldnt afford it? I remember going to this theater and wish there was one close like that one was and it would be cool if someone opened it back up and got it running again cause I hate going all the way to Tibbs to go to a Drive-In.

rivest266
rivest266 on July 1, 2012 at 3:30 pm

1971 aerial posted here.

indytbird
indytbird on April 2, 2013 at 10:59 am

The site was razed about 2008-09 and a Monarch beverage warehouse was built there.

rivest266
rivest266 on October 26, 2015 at 2:14 pm

After a few delays, it opened on June 6th, 1940. Grand opening ad in photo section

Richard82567
Richard82567 on March 16, 2016 at 11:32 am

Screen was taken down on 27 August 2008.

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on June 7, 2019 at 6:48 pm

I can’t find any evidence that this drive-in was ever called the Lawrence. Its name in its grand opening ad is simply Drive-In, and on the first drive-in list in the 1942 Film Daily Year Book as “Drive-In Theater, Pendleton Pike, Indianapolis”.

Spot-checking the Indianapolis Star, in a 1945 ad it’s “Drive-In Theatre, Pendleton Pike”. In a 1948 ad, “Drive-In, Pendleton Pike”. In a 1950 story, “The Pendleton Pike Drive-In Theater”.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on December 9, 2021 at 12:06 pm

The Pendleton Pike Drive-In appears to have closed for the season on September 6, 1992 with a triple feature of “The Unforgiven,” “Pet Semetary 2,” and “Lethal Weapon 3.” It promised to reopen in 1993 but there is no evidence that it did.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on December 10, 2021 at 9:04 am

Opened on 6th June 1940 with “That’s right, you’re wrong”.

Richard_Collins
Richard_Collins on February 21, 2022 at 5:17 am

First night: 6 June 1940-Final night 7 September 1992 CinemaScope screen installed in front of original screen in May of 1954. Fire destroys original screen and slightly damages CinemaScope screen on 26 November 1972. Charles W. Maurer (1925-2020) managed drive-in from 1958-1975. Screen from 1954 torn down on 27 August 2008.

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