Historic Houston Drive-In Theaters

[hartwell]

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]

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

[Subdude]

Check out the aerial shot:

Google maps

[sevfiv]

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]

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]

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]

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...

[bigdukem69]

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]

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]

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]

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

[sevfiv]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[57Tbird]

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.

I do remember a multi-screen drive-in at the southeast corner of the intersection of South Main (90A) and Hiram Clarke. I think maybe built in the 60's.

[Ashikaga]

I do remember a multi-screen drive-in at the southeast corner of the intersection of South Main (90A) and Hiram Clarke. I think maybe built in the 60's.

When I've done research on closed down drive-in theatres, I would go to a public library and look for old city directories and/or telephone directories from the time that certain theatres were open. On DriveIns.Com there are photographs of the South Main and the Shepherd Drive-In theatres.

If any of you find out actual physical addresses of any of those drive-in theatres, just click on "Submit A Factual Update" and enter the infomation that you found.

[sevfiv]

alrighty - the address for the south main drive-in theater was 11510 south main (for some relativity, playland park was at 9201 main).

[Subdude]

Thanks. Was that from the city directory? That would have put it at the location 57Tbird mentioned: South Main at Stella Link and Old Main Street Loop Road.

[sevfiv]

yeah from the 1955 city directory. i wish i had more from different decades...alas!

[57Tbird]

alrighty - the address for the south main drive-in theater was 11510 south main (for some relativity, playland park was at 9201 main).

sevfiv.... Thanks for verifying what I had stated. I always envied the people who lived in the houses on Willowbend, right behind that drive-in. They could sit on their front porches and watch the movies...with no sound though. I remember parking my car on Willowbend and watching what must have been one of the first closed-circuit television broadcasts of a world champion heavyweight boxing match between Floyd Patterson and Roy Harris, who was from the small East Texas, piney woods town of Cut-and-Shoot. I think that was in the late 50's.

There was a facility by the name of Brochstein's that was just south, across the railroad tracks, from the drive-in. They had a big light shining on their sign that was distracting if you parked in a particular area to watch the movie. Wonder if it's still there.

Since you have a 1955 directory, how about looking up the address of the old Post Oak Drive-in that was on Post Oak about where the Galleria is now. That was another drive-in I went to regularly. I think it was still in operation in 1955. The old KPRC-TV studios were in the same area.

[Ashikaga]

sevfiv.... Thanks for verifying what I had stated. I always envied the people who lived in the houses on Willowbend, right behind that drive-in. They could sit on their front porches and watch the movies...with no sound though. I remember parking my car on Willowbend and watching what must have been one of the first closed-circuit television broadcasts of a world champion heavyweight boxing match between Floyd Patterson and Roy Harris, who was from the small East Texas, piney woods town of Cut-and-Shoot. I think that was in the late 50's.

There was a facility by the name of Brochstein's that was just south, across the railroad tracks, from the drive-in. They had a big light shining on their sign that was distracting if you parked in a particular area to watch the movie. Wonder if it's still there.

Since you have a 1955 directory, how about looking up the address of the old Post Oak Drive-in that was on Post Oak about where the Galleria is now. That was another drive-in I went to regularly. I think it was still in operation in 1955. The old KPRC-TV studios were in the same area.

Like I said, you can log on to DriveIns.Com and click on "Submit A Factual Update" on any drive-in movie theatre. A lot of them list either approximate and/or inaccurate street addresses. If you find the correct physical addresses, if you'll update them, you'll satisfy a lot of people out there who want to know about the drive-ins that they went to in their youth. For example, the theatre that I'm trying to find out information about (the Winkler) was listed as being located on Winkler Drive at Telephone Road. Then one person on this forum found out that it was located at 205 Winkler Drive where a Home Depot is at now. I found out on a map search that it was actually located on the corner of Winkler Drive and Flowers Street, which is east of where Winkler Drive intersects with Telephone Road.

[Ashikaga]

the post oak drive-in was at 2900 south post oak, which is right about where williams (transco) tower sits now. kprc was at 3014 south post oak (which would be behind the waterwall at hidalgo street).

i have been trying to add pictures and now addresses to drive-ins.com if i have em

I just looked on DriveIns.Com. It lists the "Post Oak II Drive-In". It says that it was located at 1255 North Post Oak Road. Is this one different from the one that you're talking about? Someone named Nancy Burnett posted a comment which said that on the screen was a mural of a black duck named Dinky. Could this be a "sister" of the drive-in that you're referring to?

[Subdude]

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.

I looked on some old maps and couldn't find Old Fort Bend Rd., but I'm guessing it was just South Main continued out to Missouri City. A 1956 map shows that about the only main roads headed southwest were South Main, Richmond (now Bissonnet), and Aldine/Westheimer (now Westpark). It is interesting that most of the roads from Fondren west are listed as being gravel/shell, rather than paved.

[Ashikaga]

I looked on some old maps and couldn't find Old Fort Bend Rd., but I'm guessing it was just South Main continued out to Missouri City. A 1956 map shows that about the only main roads headed southwest were South Main, Richmond (now Bissonnet), and Aldine/Westheimer (now Westpark). It is interesting that most of the roads from Fondren west are listed as being gravel/shell, rather than paved.

Well, 1956 was the year that President Eisenhower signed the Interstate Highway Act. After that, roadways improved due to Federal aid. Those streets to which you refer might have been gravel/shell back then, then they were paved with Federal aid. Just a conjecture.

[57Tbird]

I just looked on DriveIns.Com. It lists the "Post Oak II Drive-In". It says that it was located at 1255 North Post Oak Road. Is this one different from the one that you're talking about? Someone named Nancy Burnett posted a comment which said that on the screen was a mural of a black duck named Dinky. Could this be a "sister" of the drive-in that you're referring to?

Don't recall any drive-in called the Post Oak II, or any, that far north on Post Oak. Doesn't mean there wasn't one though. sevfiv confirmed the location of the one I used to go to.

[Guest danax]

I remember parking my car on Willowbend and watching what must have been one of the first closed-circuit television broadcasts of a world champion heavyweight boxing match between Floyd Patterson and Roy Harris, who was from the small East Texas, piney woods town of Cut-and-Shoot. I think that was in the late 50's.

8-18-58. Here's a little info on Harris.