At the time that America was entering the Second World War,
there were barely 100 Drive-in movie theatres across the U.S.
And within 10 years, Tennessee by itself would have that many!

As was true for most of the American states, the peak years
for outdoor theatres in Tennessee were 1957-1959, after which
their numbers declined ..  although the descent (rate of attrition)
was not as steep here as elsewhere. In comparison to the peak years,
now 87% of Tennessee's Drive-ins have gone dark or been demolished,
although it remains one of the better Drive-in states, with 15 still open.

On an UP note:   three of those in operation are "revived" Drive-ins, with
one more opening in the pipeline, expected to be lit-up by Summer of 2003.

Here are the remaining Drive-ins that you can enjoy and support:

Athens (McMinn County) Tennessee Midway Drive-in:  423-263-2632 located at 2133 Highway 30 East Large solo screen lit with double features; occasionally, D2D:   annual Dusk-till-dawn screenings are presented in conjunction with the July 4th & Labor Day weekends. Admission: $5 (for ages 12&up); Sunday is Carload Nite - with a $6 admission per carload covering all passengers. There is also a FleaMarket SwapMeet here on Saturdays. Bristol (Sullivan County) Tennessee Twin City Drive-in:  423-764-8033 located at 2512 Volunteer Pkwy (Route 11E/19) 1 mile north of Bristol Motor Speedway Well-maintained solo screen in a very picturesque and mostly rural setting; screening double features on weekends only (Fri/Sat/Sun). Admission: $5 for ages 12&up; $2 for Children (7-11); 6&under free. Carthage (Smith County) Tennessee Green Hills Drive-in:   DARK located on Highway 25 Centerville (Hickman County) Tennessee Pink Cadillac Drive-in:  931-729-2386 located at 2506 Highway 100 Solo screen, lit with a double feature each nite, on weekends early and late in the season; and open seven nites each week during peak summer season. Admission: $5 Adults & ages 11up; ages 10&under free; discounted admission on Monday evenings - Family Nite. Cookeville (Putnam County) Tennessee Putnam Drive-in:   GONE located on Nashville Road Dickson (Dickson County) Tennessee Broadway Drive-in:  615-446-2786 located at 3020 Highway 70 East Solo screen, lit-up with a single feature each weekend (Fri/Sat/Sun). BoxOffice opens at 7pm; w/movie @Dusk. Admission:   $4 Adults (12up);   $2 Children (ages 4-11); children of ages 3 and under are admitted free. Dunlap (Sequatchie County) Tennessee Dunlap Drive-in:  423-949-3759 located southwest of Chattanooga on Highway 127 The Dunlap has been lit since the summer of 1950 and has been operated by the current owner since September of '63. The solo screen is being lit with a double feature on weekends early/late in season; 7 nites during peak summer season. Audio provided via local FM radio broadcast. BoxOfc opens 30 mins prior to showtime.   Admission is   $5 per person. Elizabethton (Carter County) Tennessee Stateline Drive-in:  423-542-5422 located at 2306 State Line Road A small-town solo screen with some nice classic touches, from the retro marquee, to maintaining many of the original car window speakers (movie audio is also provided with AM radio broadcasts). Screens double features wknds only - Fri/Sat/Sun. Admission: $5 Adults (12&up); 11 and under free. Etowah (McMinn County) Tennessee Midway Drive-in Theatre:  423-263-2632 located at 2133 Highway 30 East Solo screen lit with a double feature on weekends only. Sunday nite is carload nite - $6 to cover all passengers. There is also a Flea Market SwapMeet here on Saturdays. Gallatin (Sumner County) Tennessee Sumner Drive-in:   GONE formerly located at 1401 Nashville Pike Harriman (Roane County) Tennessee Midtown Drive-in Theatre:   865-882-6119 located at 2734 Roane State Highway (Hwy 70) 2mi off I-40 (exit 350); 30mi sw of Knoxville Restored and revived Drive-in with a solo screen lit-up on weekends only (Fri/Sat/Sun), with a double feature; audio provided via FM radio broadcasting. Adm:   $4 age 13&up; $2 ages 6-12; 5&under free. Helenwood (Scott County) Tennessee Sky-Vue Drive-in:   DARK Photo: Society for the Preservation of Outdoor Theatres Lafayette (Macon County) Tennessee Macon Drive-in:  615-666-4411 located at 3570 Scottsville Road - Route 10 (approximately 40 miles northwest of Nasville) Tennessee's second-oldest continuously operated Drive-in theatre is this venerable & very rural solo screen which has remained lit for more than half a century - tucked just south of the Kentucky line, in north-central Tennessee. The 70' wide screen is lit with a single feature in spring & fall; with double features during peak season; with audio provided by FM radio broadcasting for up to 250 cars. Snackbar is open early (and with good reason) at 5pm, and features one of the more imaginative menus. BoxOfc opens at 7pm. Admission:   $4 Adults; $3 Children (5-10); kids under 4 free.     Lewisburg (Marshall County) Tennessee Hi-Way 50 Drive-in:  931-270-1591 located at 1584 Fayetteville Highway {431} (from Nashville:   I-65 south, to exit 37) .. Tennessee's oldest continuously operated Drive-in opened back in '46 and its screen tower is one of the few remaining examples of the screens that were typical in the very early days of the outdoor Picture Show.   Double features; weekends only. Audio provided with digital stereo (98.9 FM) radio. Admission:   $5 (13&up);   $2 Children (ages 6-12). Maryville (Blount County) Tennessee Parkway Drive-in:  865-379-7884 located at 2909 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy (Hwy 321) Restored and revived Drive-in with a solo screen lit-up on weekends only (Fri/Sat/Sun), with a double feature; audio provided via FM radio broadcasting. Adm:   $5 age 13&up; $2 ages 6-12; 5&under free. Memphis (Shelby County) Tennessee Southwest Twin Drive-in:  901-785-5450 DARK located at 4233 South 3rd Street * Although this may not be a permanent scenario, the Southwest Twin was not open for Season 2002. Memphis (Shelby County) Tennessee Summer Quartet Drive-in:  901-767-4320 located at 5310 Summer Avenue Tennessee's largest Drive-in cinema is open wknds early & late in the season, and 7 nites peak season; lighting each of its 4 screens with a double feature. Admission: $6 Adults (12&up); ages 11&under free. Newport (Cocke County) Tennessee Woodzo Drive-in:   GONE formerly located at 1030 West Highway 25 LIFE AFTER DEATH:   The old Woodzo may be gone, but all of the equipment was acquired for the purposes of establishing yet another Drive-in for Tennessee. Sparta (White County) Tennessee Sparta Drive-in:   931-739-8000   RESTORED located at 220 Roberts Matthews Hwy {111} (or from I-40W, take Exit 288- south to Sparta) For years, the only   feature   visible here had been the often seen   Ravages of Neglect. The sequel however is much better, and, has a happy ending .. the old Sparta was revived and reopened for Season 2002, and its solo screen is now lit with double features 3 nites of the week: Friday/Saturday/Sunday, rain or shine (gates open 7pm). Admission:   $5 Adults; $2 Children (6-12); 5&under free. Watertown (Wilson County) Tennessee Stardust Drive-in Theatre:   615-237-0077   located on Tennessee Boulevard at Purple Tiger Dr., (35 miles east of Nashville) Tenessee's next contribution to America's Drive-in renaissance will be this newly constructed outdoor cinema and entertainment venue expected to open by the end of June (2003). Initially, and during its very first season, the Stardust will have a 60' wide solo screen and a capacity for up to 275 cars.   A second screen is planned for 2004, plus increased capacity for 550 cars. Waverly (Humphreys County) Tennessee Valley Drive-in Theatre:  931-296-4500 / 800-821-2179 located on Highway 70 (2 miles west of town) The Valley was a late arrival to the scene, having been built approximately 10 years after the peak of America's Drive-in boom, back in '67, and owing to the fact that it is very well maintained, it looks even more recent. A single feature is screened each nite, on weekends early & late in the season; 7 nites of the week during peak season. Admission:   $5 adults (13&up);   ages 12 & under free.

If you are aware of any Drive-ins
that we seem to have missed, or
would like to contribute any
information to our efforts,
please use this envelope
to send a letter to us.

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