Finger Lakes Drive-In
1064 Clark Street Road,
Aurelius,
NY
13021
1064 Clark Street Road,
Aurelius,
NY
13021
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Soft opening onn15/7/1947 with a Laurel and Hardy comedy(not named?) and “Sunbonnet Sue”.
The 1947-56 Theatre Catalogs listed the Finger Lakes as owned by Don Wilson, sometimes with Anthony DeNiro, capacity 290 or 300.
The Motion Picture Almanacs for 1952-66 also listed Don Wilson as the owner, capacity 290. In 1978-82, the owner changed to Fields. In 1984-88, the Finger Lakes was not listed.
The Aug 2, 1992 Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester said Frank Feocco bought the business in 1986. His 1996 obituary said that he owned and operated the Finger Lakes Drive-in for 12 years.
On the other hand, the Ithaca Journal of Aug 25, 1971 mentions a charity fundraiser at the “Feocco Finger Lakes Drive-In”, so maybe the family was involved earlier than 1986.
More informationhere
The drive-in is fully digital. The address on their website: 1064 Clark Street Road, Aurelius, NY 13021
Please attend the Dusk ‘Till Dawn Big Retro Holiday Chill-fest of Horrors July 3, 2014 at the Finger Lakes Drive-in Theater. Four Big 1970’s Drive-in horror classics plus vintage shorts and trailers. All in 35 mm. Gates open 6 pm. Movies start at dusk. Admission is $10 per person. For more info see the events page https://www.facebook.com/events/1502405906655891/
Save a drive in!!!
Help keep the Finger Lakes Drive-In alive:
http://savefingerlakesdrivein.com
This place is wonderful and I’d hate to see it go…..
Here is the website
That’s fantastic!
Wow 62 years and still going.
Yes,It parked 290 cars and was owned by Finger Lakes Inc: Don Wilson.
I just happened to catch that the New York Drive-In’s website submitted by Lost Memory on Sept. 12th 2008, lists the opening of the Finger Lakes Drive-In as July 15th 1947, as opposed to 1950.
Not sure if that requires further research, and/or warrants an update or not. At least it’s still listed as open, so someone might be able to verify the correct opening year.
Is this theatre under new ownership for the upcoming 2009 season?
Hopefully NEW owners will do a better job with the Drive In Then the current management.When I went there the film presentation was average. . However the Snack Bar, the main source of a Drive In’s income was very unappealing to say the least.
THEATER FOR SALE LOOPNET
In Ithaca, the Lakes Drive-In occupied a site on the west side of Cayuga Lake on Route 96. It performed a notable service to the community in 1971 when local theaters refused to show Bertolucci’s “Last Tango in Paris” because the film had received an X-rating. The Lakes picked it up and showed it to a packed lot for several weeks. The art-movie crowd simply took to their cars in thousands to see it.
The open-air showing had the other advantage of making the steamy sex scenes visible to passing motorists on Route 96, and to locals who might view the screen from their front poarches. The ooglers didn’t care whether they could hear the soundtrack as long as they could watch Brando going at it with Maria Schneider. In matters of censorship, he who laughs last, laughs best.
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obviously the first photo above is a mis post!!
Photos from 8/21/05:
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