French Village Drive-In
8601 California Drive,
East St. Louis,
IL
62202
8601 California Drive,
East St. Louis,
IL
62202
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Taken on: June 8, 2023
Uploaded on: June 7, 2023
Software: Windows Photo Editor 10.0.10011.16384
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Image description: File Name : DSCN0148.JPG File Size : 641.0KB (656384 Bytes) Date Taken : 2005/03/06 15:01:06 Image Size : 1600 x 1200 pixels Resolution : 300 x 300 dpi Bit Depth : 8 bits/channel Protection Attribute : Off Hide Attribute : Off Camera ID : N/A Camera : E5000 Quality Mode : FINE Metering Mode : Matrix Exposure Mode : Programmed Auto Speed Light : No Focal Length : 11.4 mm Shutter Speed : 1/394.3 second Aperture : F6.6 Exposure Compensation : 0 EV White Balance : Auto Lens : Built-in Flash Sync Mode : N/A Exposure Difference : N/A Flexible Program : N/A Sensitivity : Auto Sharpening : High Image Type : Color Color Mode : N/A Hue Adjustment : N/A Saturation Control : Normal Tone Compensation : Auto Latitude(GPS) : N/A Longitude(GPS) : N/A Altitude(GPS) : N/A
Software: Windows Photo Editor 10.0.10011.16384
Date time: 2023-06-08 06:00:48 +0000
Date time original: 2023-06-08 05:58:46 +0000
Date time digitized: 2023-06-08 05:58:46 +0000
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This was one of the older ozoners in the St. Louis area. It opened in 1942 by Publix Great States Theatres with a capacity of 500 cars. It opened as the East St. Louis Drive-In. Its name was changed to the French Village Drive-In and ownership changed to Bloomer Amusement Co. (BAC) on March 28, 1958.
Beside the architecture of the buildings the screen tower is noted for having a stage and dressing rooms below it. Another feature to the state of drive-ins at the time were the tiered rows where cars pulled up the ramps to park and had to back out to leave.
There was a tunnel running from the front box office to the projection booth and to the back of the theatre. Through the tunnel was run the electrical, water lines and speaker wires.
During its later life it switched to pornographic features until it closed in 1984. It was sitting empty with its large screen and main entrance on St. Clair Avenue in the early-2000’s, but had been demolished by 2007 - Notes by Chuck Van Bibber
Contributed by Greg Lynch -
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