Historic Houston Closed-down Drive-in Theatres

[Ashikaga 3]

I'm now 47. When I was between 4 and 6 years old I lived in Houston. I remember my parents and I going to the Winkler Drive-In Theatre, which closed down many years ago. I found out that it was located at 205 Winkler Drive at Telephone Road. Does anyone out there have any information about it?

Chet Cuccia

[Subdude 1592]

I checked on a movie database. There were a LOT of drive-ins around Houston.

Airline Drive-In 4507 Airline Houston

Boulevard Drive-In Houston

Chocolate-Bayou Drive-In Houston

Diamond Drive-In Houston

Epson Drive-In Houston

Gulfway Drive-In 1,2 9025 Wald Houston

Hempstead Drive-In Houston

Hi-Nabor Drive-In Houston

Irvington Drive-In 8411 Irvington Houston

King Center Drive-In 6400 South Park Houston

Market Street Drive-In Houston

McLeandon Triple 11991 S Main Houston

Parkway Drive-In Houston

Post Oak Drive-In 1255 N Post Oak Houston

Pussycat Drive-In Houston

Sharpstown Drive-In Houston

Shepherd Road Drive-In Houston

South Main Drive-In Houston

Sunnyside Drive-In Houston

Telephone Road Drive-In I & II 11020 Telephone Houston

Texas Drive-In Houston

Thunderbird Drive-In Houston

Tidwell Drive-In 9603 Homestead Houston

Trail Drive-In Houston

Triple Drive-In 1,2 & 3 Houston

Winkler Drive-In Houston

Humble Drive-In * 59 Humble

Ceder Drive-In Baytown

Decker Drive-In Baytown

Colonial Drive-In La Porte

Eagle Drive-In Pasadena

Pasadena Drive-In Pasadena

Red Bluff Drive-In Pasadena

Town and Country Drive-In 4716 Red Bluff Pasadena

Oleander Drive-In Galveston

Bayou Drive-In La Marque

Tradewinds Drive-In Texas City

Alvin Drive-In Alvin

Hi-Y Drive-In Conroe

[Ashikaga 3]

I checked on a movie database.  There were a LOT of drive-ins around Houston.

Airline Drive-In 4507 Airline Houston

Boulevard Drive-In  Houston

Chocolate-Bayou Drive-In  Houston

Diamond Drive-In  Houston

Epson Drive-In  Houston

Gulfway Drive-In 1,2 9025 Wald Houston

Hempstead Drive-In  Houston

Hi-Nabor Drive-In  Houston

Irvington Drive-In 8411 Irvington Houston

King Center Drive-In 6400 South Park Houston

Market Street Drive-In  Houston

McLeandon Triple 11991 S Main Houston

Parkway Drive-In  Houston

Post Oak Drive-In 1255 N Post Oak Houston

Pussycat Drive-In  Houston

Sharpstown Drive-In  Houston

Shepherd Road Drive-In  Houston

South Main Drive-In  Houston

Sunnyside Drive-In  Houston

Telephone Road Drive-In I & II 11020 Telephone Houston

Texas Drive-In  Houston

Thunderbird Drive-In  Houston

Tidwell Drive-In 9603 Homestead Houston

Trail Drive-In  Houston

Triple Drive-In 1,2 & 3  Houston

Winkler Drive-In  Houston

Humble Drive-In * 59 Humble

Ceder Drive-In  Baytown

Decker Drive-In  Baytown

Colonial Drive-In  La Porte

Eagle Drive-In  Pasadena

Pasadena Drive-In  Pasadena

Red Bluff Drive-In  Pasadena

Town and Country Drive-In 4716 Red Bluff Pasadena

Oleander Drive-In  Galveston

Bayou Drive-In  La Marque

Tradewinds Drive-In  Texas City

Alvin Drive-In  Alvin

Hi-Y Drive-In  Conroe

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, you consulted an excellent data base. I always look at "Drive-Ins.Com." It has most, if not all, of those drive-in theatres that you listed. But one person on the forum brought my attention to a photo taken many years ago of Gulfgate Shopping Center (now Gulfgate Mall). Just behind the shopping center is a drive-in theatre. That was the Winkler! But I didn't know that it was right next to IH-45 (Gulf Freeway). Now, if I could find someone who has a photo of it up close. Thank you for the information that you listed.

Chet Cuccia

[zaphod 446]

there is still an operating drive in movie theater in Gatesville, about 30 miles north of killeen or 230 miles West to Northwest of Houston.

I went there in 2001 and it was pretty trashy though... the screen is very hard to see until it gets dark because of the paint peeling off, and the concession stand should be shut down by the health inspector.

[Subdude 1592]

Yes, you consulted an excellent data base.  I always look at "Drive-Ins.Com."  It has most, if not all, of those drive-in theatres that you listed.  But one person on the forum brought my attention to a photo taken many years ago of Gulfgate Shopping Center (now Gulfgate Mall).  Just behind the shopping center is a drive-in theatre.  That was the Winkler!  But I didn't know that it was right next to IH-45 (Gulf Freeway).  Now, if I could find someone who has a photo of it up close.  Thank you for the information that you listed.

Chet Cuccia

I thought the Winkler was near Telephone and Winkler, instead of by Gulfgate.

[Ashikaga 3]

I thought the Winkler was near Telephone and Winkler, instead of by Gulfgate.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Subdude,

If you will look at the photo that you posted under "The East End" back on 7/6/2005, you will see a drive-in theatre at the top of the photo of Gulfgate. That was the Winkler Drive-In. It is almost, but not right at, the intersection of Winkler Drive and Telephone Road.

I remember my parents and I going there when we lived in Houston from 1962-64. Every time we went I always ended up falling asleep in the back seat of the car, and my dad carrying me into the house when we would arrive at home. I've been trying to find out information about it for at least the past six months. I've been hoping for a photo, so an aerial photo is better than none at all. It would still be excellent if someone out there can come up with a ground photo of the Winkler Drive-In.

Chet Cuccia

[Ashikaga 3]

Subdude,

If you will look at the photo that you posted under "The East End" back on 7/6/2005, you will see a drive-in theatre at the top of the photo of Gulfgate.  That was the Winkler Drive-In.  It is almost, but not right at, the intersection of Winkler Drive and Telephone Road. 

I remember my parents and I going there when we lived in Houston from 1962-64.  Every time we went I always ended up falling asleep in the back seat of the car, and my dad carrying me into the house when we would arrive at home.  I've been trying to find out information about it for at least the past six months.  I've been hoping for a photo, so an aerial photo is better than none at all.  It would still be excellent if someone out there can come up with a ground photo of the Winkler Drive-In.

Chet Cuccia

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was looking on GoogleEarth.Ink. I entered Winkler Drive at Woodridge. On the spot of land where the Winkler Drive-In Theatre was located I saw a business. It was a large building with a big parking lot. The front of the building faces Interstate 45. Can someone out there tell me what that business is?

[gnu 68]

I was looking on GoogleEarth.Ink.  I entered Winkler Drive at Woodridge.  On the spot of land where the Winkler Drive-In Theatre was located I saw a business.  It was a large building with a big parking lot.  The front of the building faces Interstate 45.  Can someone out there tell me what that business is?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Strip center with Home Depot and Office Depot?

[Ashikaga 3]

Strip center with Home Depot and Office Depot?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't know. Someone else told me something about an IHOP restaurant in that vicinity.

[Ashikaga 3]

I don't know.  Someone else told me something about an IHOP restaurant in that vicinity.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Someone there in Houston that I met on another site who is my age told me that she remembers going to the Telephone Road Twin Drive-In Theatre when she was a kid. She told me that her older sister remembered the Winkler.

[Ashikaga 3]

I checked on a movie database. There were a LOT of drive-ins around Houston.

Airline Drive-In 4507 Airline Houston

Boulevard Drive-In Houston

Chocolate-Bayou Drive-In Houston

Diamond Drive-In Houston

Epson Drive-In Houston

Gulfway Drive-In 1,2 9025 Wald Houston

Hempstead Drive-In Houston

Hi-Nabor Drive-In Houston

Irvington Drive-In 8411 Irvington Houston

King Center Drive-In 6400 South Park Houston

Market Street Drive-In Houston

McLeandon Triple 11991 S Main Houston

Parkway Drive-In Houston

Post Oak Drive-In 1255 N Post Oak Houston

Pussycat Drive-In Houston

Sharpstown Drive-In Houston

Shepherd Road Drive-In Houston

South Main Drive-In Houston

Sunnyside Drive-In Houston

Telephone Road Drive-In I & II 11020 Telephone Houston

Texas Drive-In Houston

Thunderbird Drive-In Houston

Tidwell Drive-In 9603 Homestead Houston

Trail Drive-In Houston

Triple Drive-In 1,2 & 3 Houston

Winkler Drive-In Houston

Humble Drive-In * 59 Humble

Ceder Drive-In Baytown

Decker Drive-In Baytown

Colonial Drive-In La Porte

Eagle Drive-In Pasadena

Pasadena Drive-In Pasadena

Red Bluff Drive-In Pasadena

Town and Country Drive-In 4716 Red Bluff Pasadena

Oleander Drive-In Galveston

Bayou Drive-In La Marque

Tradewinds Drive-In Texas City

Alvin Drive-In Alvin

Hi-Y Drive-In Conroe

I read on DriveIns.Com that there is currently operating in Porter, Texas the Starlite Drive-In Theatre. I looked on my highway map and I saw that Porter is on U.S. Highway 59 just north of Houston near New Caney. Have any of you ever been to the Starlite?

[TJones 50]

I read on DriveIns.Com that there is currently operating in Porter, Texas the Starlite Drive-In Theatre. I looked on my highway map and I saw that Porter is on U.S. Highway 59 just north of Houston near New Caney. Have any of you ever been to the Starlite?

Raises hand, about 1981 or 1982. No clue what movie I saw there. I want to say it was Pink Floyd's The Wall.

[gnu 68]

A couple of ads:

I think these are from 1959-ish

(oops they mispelled Zsa Zsa)

King Center Drive In

Trail Drive In

[EastEnd Susan 8]

Im 48 and I remember going to a few drive ins in the 60's and 70's. The last movie I saw at Telephone Road was Young Frankenstein. I drove by the land it used to occupy a few weeks ago and you can still make out the driveway in and out and from arial photos you can see the humps you used to park on. Hurricane Alicia took care of the Gulfway. After it hit, the marquee said the movie playing was Gone With The Wind thanks to a person with a sense of humor and a spray paint can. I saw Purple Rain at the giant drive in on 45 north, and Saturday night fever at the Texas City drive in. And let us not forget the Town and Country in Pasadena. The last movie I saw there was Star Wars. I wont mention Pasadenas other famous drive in, although if you were on 225 heading east and looked out the back windshield at the right time you could get a glimpse of things a youngster shouldnt see.

Does anyone think Drive ins would work now? Personally, I don't, althought I do miss them greatly.

[sevfiv 1407]

those ads are great! the queen of outer space came out in 1958...

Edited December 6, 2005 by sevfiv

[Original Timmy Chan's 112]

Hurricane Alicia took care of the Gulfway. After it hit, the marquee said the movie playing was Gone With The Wind thanks to a person with a sense of humor and a spray paint can.

I saw Superman at the Gulfway when I was about 5...also saw a couple of others there, but I can't remember which. I just remember the snack bar there...I thought it was the coolest place in the world.

I also remember "Gone With The Wind" playing there for years! I always got a kick out of that. I also liked the driving range across the street, with the coolest targets in the world...broken down old busses and station wagons.

I also remember that when I was a kid, it seemed like we had to stop for a train EVERY TIME we crossed Old Galveston Road there, and they ALWAYS had a caboose...now I don't know when was the last time I saw a train on Old Galveston (I don't get out there that often anymore), and I KNOW I haven't seen a caboose for YEARS!

[Ashikaga 3]

Im 48 and I remember going to a few drive ins in the 60's and 70's. The last movie I saw at Telephone Road was Young Frankenstein. I drove by the land it used to occupy a few weeks ago and you can still make out the driveway in and out and from arial photos you can see the humps you used to park on. Hurricane Alicia took care of the Gulfway. After it hit, the marquee said the movie playing was Gone With The Wind thanks to a person with a sense of humor and a spray paint can. I saw Purple Rain at the giant drive in on 45 north, and Saturday night fever at the Texas City drive in. And let us not forget the Town and Country in Pasadena. The last movie I saw there was Star Wars. I wont mention Pasadenas other famous drive in, although if you were on 225 heading east and looked out the back windshield at the right time you could get a glimpse of things a youngster shouldnt see.

Does anyone think Drive ins would work now? Personally, I don't, althought I do miss them greatly.

I think that drive-in in Pasadena that you're talking about is the Red Bluff. On "DriveIns.Com" it, like many other now closed indoor and drive-in theatres, spent its last years as a adult theatre.

As far as drive-ins working now, I saw on "DriveIns.Com" that the Starlite Drive-In Theatre is opening in Porter, Texas, just north of Houston on U.S. Highway 59.

I'm 47. Were you in Houston back when I lived there (1962-64)? I remember my parents and I going to the Winkler Drive-In Theatre. It was on the corner of Winkler Drive and Flowers Street. If you were in Houston back then, do you or someone in your family remember it?

[Subdude 1592]

Im 48 and I remember going to a few drive ins in the 60's and 70's. The last movie I saw at Telephone Road was Young Frankenstein. I drove by the land it used to occupy a few weeks ago and you can still make out the driveway in and out and from arial photos you can see the humps you used to park on. Hurricane Alicia took care of the Gulfway. After it hit, the marquee said the movie playing was Gone With The Wind thanks to a person with a sense of humor and a spray paint can. I saw Purple Rain at the giant drive in on 45 north, and Saturday night fever at the Texas City drive in. And let us not forget the Town and Country in Pasadena. The last movie I saw there was Star Wars. I wont mention Pasadenas other famous drive in, although if you were on 225 heading east and looked out the back windshield at the right time you could get a glimpse of things a youngster shouldnt see.

Does anyone think Drive ins would work now? Personally, I don't, althought I do miss them greatly.

Where can you see the aerial photos of the location? (I haven't loaded Google Earth).

Just the other night someone was saying that a new drive-in theater was opening in Waller or someplace like that.

[Ashikaga 3]

A couple of ads:

I think these are from 1959-ish

(oops they mispelled Zsa Zsa)

King Center Drive In

Trail Drive In

I looked up both of these drive-in theatres on DriveIns.Com. It listed the Trail simply on Old Spanish Trail. But what they have listed for King Center is different from this ad. DriveIns.Com lists it as being located on Highway (I assume that means Interstate) 610 & MLK Boulevard. But maybe the names changed over the years.

I saw Superman at the Gulfway when I was about 5...also saw a couple of others there, but I can't remember which. I just remember the snack bar there...I thought it was the coolest place in the world.

I also remember "Gone With The Wind" playing there for years! I always got a kick out of that. I also liked the driving range across the street, with the coolest targets in the world...broken down old busses and station wagons.

I also remember that when I was a kid, it seemed like we had to stop for a train EVERY TIME we crossed Old Galveston Road there, and they ALWAYS had a caboose...now I don't know when was the last time I saw a train on Old Galveston (I don't get out there that often anymore), and I KNOW I haven't seen a caboose for YEARS!

DriveIns.Com says that the Gulfway was located at 9025 Wald Road. Is that correct?

Strip center with Home Depot and Office Depot?

According to the map, the Winkler Drive-In Theatre was located on the corner of Winkler Drive and Flowers Street. DriveIns.Com says Winkler Drive and Telephone Road. On Google Earth it shows a big store in that spot. Someone on this forum told me that it was a Home Depot.

[gnu 68]

I looked up both of these drive-in theatres on DriveIns.Com. It listed the Trail simply on Old Spanish Trail.

The Trail was about at OST, Ardmore, and the current 288. I am not that familiar with that one. 288 may have taken part of the land. Maybe someone knows what is there now.

But what they have listed for King Center is different from this ad. DriveIns.Com lists it as being located on Highway (I assume that means Interstate) 610 & MLK Boulevard. But maybe the names changed over the years.

Yep. new names.

That part of Holmes Rd. became the South Loop (I-610)

South Park became MLK.

you can still make it out on google maps:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=77002&ll=29....08786&t=h&hl=en

DriveIns.Com says that the Gulfway was located at 9025 Wald Road.

yep, just off shaver between 45 and 3.

i think its a subdivision now.

those ads are great! the queen of outer space came out in 1958...

Thanks! Those did look like some great flicks

has anyone ever seen the queen of outer space?

sounds like that might be worth checking out. we could start a new cult following.

[EastEnd Susan 8]

I think that drive-in in Pasadena that you're talking about is the Red Bluff. On "DriveIns.Com" it, like many other now closed indoor and drive-in theatres, spent its last years as a adult theatre.

As far as drive-ins working now, I saw on "DriveIns.Com" that the Starlite Drive-In Theatre is opening in Porter, Texas, just north of Houston on U.S. Highway 59.

I'm 47. Were you in Houston back when I lived there (1962-64)? I remember my parents and I going to the Winkler Drive-In Theatre. It was on the corner of Winkler Drive and Flowers Street. If you were in Houston back then, do you or someone in your family remember it?

The drive in in Pasadena I went to was The Town and Country located on Red Bluff between Spencer Hwy and Pasadena Blvd. It was a family drive in. The Red Bluff drive in was adults only XXX and was located at Red Bluff and 225. It is now a truck stop.

Where can you see the aerial photos of the location? (I haven't loaded Google Earth).

Just the other night someone was saying that a new drive-in theater was opening in Waller or someplace like that.

Subdude, go to googlemaps.com When the map comes up just click on the hybrid button and it will show you aerial photos. You wont have to download anything. have fun, Susan

[Ashikaga 3]

The drive in in Pasadena I went to was The Town and Country located on Red Bluff between Spencer Hwy and Pasadena Blvd. It was a family drive in. The Red Bluff drive in was adults only XXX and was located at Red Bluff and 225. It is now a truck stop.

Subdude, go to googlemaps.com When the map comes up just click on the hybrid button and it will show you aerial photos. You wont have to download anything. have fun, Susan

On DriveIns.Com the Red Bluff Drive-In has an aerial photo of where it was. You can see big oil storage tanks.

[EastEnd Susan 8]

On DriveIns.Com the Red Bluff Drive-In has an aerial photo of where it was. You can see big oil storage tanks.

Apparently driveins .com is wrong. The Red Bluff Drive In was located on the south side of 225 and the west side of Red bluff blvd. The storage tanks have been at the same location for longer than I can remember. They are located on the south side of 225 and the east side of Red Bluff Blvd across the street from the drive in. I had a delivery to make this morning and the truck stop still sits where the red bluff drive in used to be. I lived in Deer park for quite a while and watched the drive in being torn down. Go to googlemaps.com and go to 225 and red bluff and hit the hybrid button. An aerial photo will come up and you can see the truck stop on the 225 feeder almost to red bluff blvd. if you scroll down red bluff to the south you can see where the town and country drive in was. If you get to Spencer youve gone too far.

[sevfiv 1407]

Apparently driveins .com is wrong. The Red Bluff Drive In was located on the south side of 225 and the west side of Red bluff blvd. The storage tanks have been at the same location for longer than I can remember. They are located on the south side of 225 and the east side of Red Bluff Blvd across the street from the drive in. I had a delivery to make this morning and the truck stop still sits where the red bluff drive in used to be. I lived in Deer park for quite a while and watched the drive in being torn down. Go to googlemaps.com and go to 225 and red bluff and hit the hybrid button. An aerial photo will come up and you can see the truck stop on the 225 feeder almost to red bluff blvd. if you scroll down red bluff to the south you can see where the town and country drive in was. If you get to Spencer youve gone too far.

is it that pentagon-shaped area of land between the truck stop and the neighborhood?

[EastEnd Susan 8]

is it that pentagon-shaped area of land between the truck stop and the neighborhood?

The Red Bluff Drive In took up quite a bit of land for an old single screen movie. It took up the land from the 225 feeder down red bluff blvd to where you can still see the old driveway. Yes, it was on all the land between 225 and the neighborhood and red bluff blvd. Where the truck stop is now used to be the concession stand. The screen was over the concession stand. The back of the screen faced 225.

[gnu 68]

Try this link to google maps. the old redbluff should be vacant land and the new truck stop in center.

As Eastend susan said. west of red bluff south of 225

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=pasadena,+tx...10192&t=h&hl=en

[gnu 68]

How about another drive-in I know:

Here is an aerial over the Decker DriveIn in Baytown. If memory serves me, it closed down in the early 80's. maybe Tjones has a better recollection?

It is currently (and ever since it closed) a mobile home storage lot. All of the drive in structures have rotted since then.

There are also lots of damaged mobile homes in there too.

The whole place looks like heck.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=baytown,++tx...08786&t=h&hl=en

[sevfiv 1407]

wow - i go to baytown about once a week or two, so i'll have to check that out - i bet you can't tell much from the ground about its past now (although the aerial shape is very distinct)

[sevfiv 1407]

The drive in in Pasadena I went to was The Town and Country located on Red Bluff between Spencer Hwy and Pasadena Blvd.

this is so neat - i looked on the maps around that area, and i think this may have been it:

town and country drive-in?

it would have been just south of the red marker...

-----------------------

EDIT - okay, found out that was it will have to check it out this weekend

Edited December 9, 2005 by sevfiv

[TJones 50]

wow - i go to baytown about once a week or two, so i'll have to check that out - i bet you can't tell much from the ground about its past now (although the aerial shape is very distinct)

sev, next time you go to Baytown take some pics of the old Decker Drive-in, it is filled with abandodned and repo'd mobile homes now, at least last time I looked it was.

[sevfiv 1407]

sev, next time you go to Baytown take some pics of the old Decker Drive-in, it is filled with abandodned and repo'd mobile homes now, at least last time I looked it was.

planned on it

i have a list of about five or six old drive-ins (where the shape was visible from google maps) to go to this weekend, that one included

[hartwell 1]

I checked on a movie database. There were a LOT of drive-ins around Houston.

Airline Drive-In 4507 Airline Houston

Boulevard Drive-In Houston

Chocolate-Bayou Drive-In Houston

Diamond Drive-In Houston

Epson Drive-In Houston

Gulfway Drive-In 1,2 9025 Wald Houston

Hempstead Drive-In Houston

Hi-Nabor Drive-In Houston

Irvington Drive-In 8411 Irvington Houston

King Center Drive-In 6400 South Park Houston

Market Street Drive-In Houston

McLeandon Triple 11991 S Main Houston

Parkway Drive-In Houston

Post Oak Drive-In 1255 N Post Oak Houston

Pussycat Drive-In Houston

Sharpstown Drive-In Houston

Shepherd Road Drive-In Houston

South Main Drive-In Houston

Sunnyside Drive-In Houston

Telephone Road Drive-In I & II 11020 Telephone Houston

Texas Drive-In Houston

Thunderbird Drive-In Houston

Tidwell Drive-In 9603 Homestead Houston

Trail Drive-In Houston

Triple Drive-In 1,2 & 3 Houston

Winkler Drive-In Houston

Humble Drive-In * 59 Humble

Ceder Drive-In Baytown

Decker Drive-In Baytown

Colonial Drive-In La Porte

Eagle Drive-In Pasadena

Pasadena Drive-In Pasadena

Red Bluff Drive-In Pasadena

Town and Country Drive-In 4716 Red Bluff Pasadena

Oleander Drive-In Galveston

Bayou Drive-In La Marque

Tradewinds Drive-In Texas City

Alvin Drive-In Alvin

Hi-Y Drive-In Conroe

We lived on the old Chocolate Bayou Road(Cullen Blvd. now),8 miles south of Holmes Road

I know we went to drive-in movies just don't know the names. The Airline+Gulf rings a bell but it

could have been the Chocolate Bayou,I was just a kid in the 50s,could've been any drive-in

on this list. I remember Weingartens was near our place,also a place where we would ride

Shetland ponies,must have been around Holmes or Telephone roads?.

I didn't realize there were that many drive-ins in the Houston area!.

Ron Hoover

Denver

[sevfiv 1407]

i got a chance to go to the two that were on red bluff in pasadena - the one nearest 225 (behind the truckstop) is just barren land, while the one right outside the beltway has partially been converted into a water retention area, while a neighborhood is being built surrounding it...

the one on telephone road (the twin theater) was really interesting - not too hard to find, but once you step through all the brush, you can see the driveways, and possibly the old concession stand.

i plan on going to the decker soon, and also the one that's off of jensen on the north side - that one might be neat - it's right near epsom street

i'll post pictures when i can

Edited December 15, 2005 by sevfiv

[Subdude 1592]

Check out the aerial shot:

Google maps

[sevfiv 1407]

Check out the aerial shot:

Google maps

wow! it is definitely more overgrown (two more years will do that i guess) but it is neat to see what

i was walking through...the supposed snack bar would have been at the top of the arc...does that seem right?

i can't seem to place how big the screen would have been (but would it have been near telephone?).

now i am showing my age

[gnu 68]

it's right near epsom street

So do you think the drive-in was on part of the site of the old Epsom downs?

I know it was right there but i dont know the exact spot.

[TJones 50]

planned on it

i have a list of about five or six old drive-ins (where the shape was visible from google maps) to go to this weekend, that one included

Hey Sev, what's the status on the Pics my friend?

[sevfiv 1407]

So do you think the drive-in was on part of the site of the old Epsom downs?

I know it was right there but i dont know the exact spot.

that's what i was thinking - i am going to try and gather some old photos/information before i go out there just in case...

Edited December 24, 2005 by sevfiv

[Subdude 1592]

Undated photograph of the Epsom drive-in. It would make sense if were built on the site of the old race track.

[bigdukem69 0]

The drive-in I remember most is the McLendon Tri-plex Drive-In. This was a huge drive-in! I lived in that area of SW Houston growing up in the 70's. I remember seeing Star Wars for the first time as a kid and falling asleep during the movie. As time went on it closed I think sometime in the late 80's. I believe it became a flea market at one time. This area of Houston became a high crime area so it doesn't surprise me that it closed down. What does surprise me is that looking at a satellite photo how much still remains of it. I figured it would be a Wal-Mart or some big shopping center by now. Lots of memories, but was glad I moved out of that area.

Satellite phote of McLendon Tri-plex Drive-In:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=11991+Main+S...h&iwloc=A&hl=en

[Subdude 1592]

Cool and welcome to the board. I love these aerial shots of old drive-ins.

McLendon pictures

Does anyone know the address of the old South Main Drive-in?

i got a chance to go to the two that were on red bluff in pasadena - the one nearest 225 (behind the truckstop) is just barren land, while the one right outside the beltway has partially been converted into a water retention area, while a neighborhood is being built surrounding it...

the one on telephone road (the twin theater) was really interesting - not too hard to find, but once you step through all the brush, you can see the driveways, and possibly the old concession stand.

i plan on going to the decker soon, and also the one that's off of jensen on the north side - that one might be neat - it's right near epsom street

i'll post pictures when i can

Telephone drive-in pictures at Drive-ins.com

[bigdukem69 0]

Cool and welcome to the board. I love these aerial shots of old drive-ins.

McLendon pictures

Does anyone know the address of the old South Main Drive-in?

Telephone drive-in pictures at Drive-ins.com

Is that the one that was at the corner of S. Main and Fondren? I believe it was near or actually was Butler stadium at one point. I remember going there about 5 years ago to play piantball in a field just behind there and recall seeing the base of perhaps one of the screens. I could be totally wrong though.

[djrage 27]

i got a chance to go to the two that were on red bluff in pasadena - the one nearest 225 (behind the truckstop) is just barren land, while the one right outside the beltway has partially been converted into a water retention area, while a neighborhood is being built surrounding it...

the one on telephone road (the twin theater) was really interesting - not too hard to find, but once you step through all the brush, you can see the driveways, and possibly the old concession stand.

i plan on going to the decker soon, and also the one that's off of jensen on the north side - that one might be neat - it's right near epsom street

i'll post pictures when i can

I lived by the old Epsom a few years ago. I believe someone lives at there. I've heard its the owner of the drive in. If you notice just behind it is a Metro Park and Ride. Metro wanted the land for this purpose but the owner refused to sell. Probably holding out for the day drive ins make a come back. The screen and concession stand are still there.

Check out the arial...

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=9716+jensen+...h&iwloc=A&hl=en

Edited December 19, 2005 by djrage

[sevfiv 1407]

okie, here are a few...and the weather was awful for most of them!

first up, the telephone twin:

this is in front of one of the driveways off of telephone:

this is little farther in:

the old snack bar?

..............................................

the epsom auto cine:

the town and country:

..............................................

and the red bluff (not a whole lot to see):

[57Tbird 29]

Does anyone know the address of the old South Main Drive-in?

The South Main Drive-in was just west of the Stella Link and South Main intersection. If I remember correctly, the street just north of it was Willowbend. Went there many times in my youth.

[Ashikaga 3]

The South Main Drive-in was just west of the Stella Link and South Main intersection. If I remember correctly, the street just north of it was Willowbend. Went there many times in my youth.

Drive-Ins.Com simply says that the South Main Drive-In was located on Old Fort Bend Road.

[Ashikaga 3]

I'm now 47. When I was between 4 and 6 years old I lived in Houston. I remember my parents and I going to the Winkler Drive-In Theatre, which closed down many years ago. I found out that it was located at 205 Winkler Drive at Telephone Road. Does anyone out there have any information about it?

Chet Cuccia

On DriveIns.Com, someone who identified themself only as "A Former Houstonian" posted that the Winkler Drive-In Theatre was located at 205 Winker Drive. I once looked on a map of Houston and it showed that it was on the corner of Winkler Drive & Flowers Street. Someone on this forum told me that a Home Depot now occupies that spot of land.

[bigdukem69 0]

The South Main Drive-in was just west of the Stella Link and South Main intersection. If I remember correctly, the street just north of it was Willowbend. Went there many times in my youth.

I think that was probably the old McLendon Tri-plex Drive-In. I don't think that is considered S. Main. I grew up in that area and S. Main was more west closer to S. Post Oak. I don't ever remember going to the S. Main Drive-In. I think it was closed already when I was a kid.

Drive-Ins.Com simply says that the South Main Drive-In was located on Old Fort Bend Road.

The trick now is finding out what Old Fort Bend Rd. is or was at the time. It doesn't exist anymore and no reference of it on the net that I could find. A good ol' fashioned library would probably be the best recource.

[57Tbird 29]

I think that was probably the old McLendon Tri-plex Drive-In. I don't think that is considered S. Main. I grew up in that area and S. Main was more west closer to S. Post Oak. I don't ever remember going to the S. Main Drive-In. I think it was closed already when I was a kid.

The trick now is finding out what Old Fort Bend Rd. is or was at the time. It doesn't exist anymore and no reference of it on the net that I could find. A good ol' fashioned library would probably be the best recource.

Sorry! You're wrong! South Main and the South Main Drive-in theater were my habitats from the day I got my driver's license in 1950 on into the 60's. I know what I'm talking about here. South Main, in my era, started at about the Sears and Delman theater location and went on out way past Post Oak. It may not have officially been South Main out that far, but we would take our cars out "South Main" to about where Hiram Clarke was and race between there and Post Oak.

[bigdukem69 0]

Sorry! You're wrong! South Main and the South Main Drive-in theater were my habitats from the day I got my driver's license in 1950 on into the 60's. I know what I'm talking about here. South Main, in my era, started at about the Sears and Delman theater location and went on out way past Post Oak. It may not have officially been South Main out that far, but we would take our cars out "South Main" to about where Hiram Clarke was and race between there and Post Oak.

Well if that's the case then the S. Main was within a couple miles of the McLendon when it was built in the early 70's. I grew up in the 70's. No recolection of the S. Main theater. It must have been closed around the time the McLendon opened up perhaps. I agree that S. Main was considered "S. Main" all the way from about Hiram Clarke on into Missouri City. I would like to know where the Old Fort Bend Rd. comes into play because that is Harris County not Fort Bend. Although I know Houston annexed many parts of Missouri City from the 70's on up.