Theatair X
4505 Highway 31 East,
Clarksville,
IN
47129
4505 Highway 31 East,
Clarksville,
IN
47129
1 person
favorited this theater
Showing 24 comments
Posted an March 2022 streetview, looks empty.
new video and some history
It took the lawyers 32 years to close this place.
Closed August 30, 2021 following legal challenges.
History:
Theatair X history Thu, May 2, 2019 – A6 · The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky) · Newspapers.com
Town of Clarksville says Theatair X owes nearly $800,000 in code violations
https://www.wave3.com/2019/12/19/town-clarksville-says-theatair-x-owes-nearly-code-violations/
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – The Town of Clarksville wants adult business Theatair X to pay $770,000 in past code violations.
While both sides are tangled up in a court battle, a judge has ruled Theatair X must comply with two new city ordinances regarding adult businesses.
One says the business must close between midnight and 6 a.m.
The other requires the owners to reconfigure the inside of the building so managers have a clear line of sight to all public areas except restrooms.
Attorneys for the Town of Clarksville claim the business is closing overnight, but the interior layout has not changed.
They’re now asking a judge to fine the business and hold the property owner in contempt of court.
Locals are trying to shut the theater down again.
Searching Google News brings lots of results for the Theatair
More trouble: http://courier-journal.newspapers.com/clip/3435695/theatair_x/
http://courier-journal.newspapers.com/clip/3435590/theatair_x_article/
Also uploaded the May 27th, 1966 grand opening ad Theatair, “the New Drive-In Theatre”
June 23rd, 1947 grand opening ad in photo section.
According to the local newspaper, Theatair was architected by G.H. Richardson & Associate of Jeffersonville and built by Ehirnger Construction in 1947. The April 15, 1947 grand opening was pushed back by Theater Enterprizes Inc. and General Manager Bob Harned due to lack of a projection lens as well as torrential rain. The steel screen tower contained its concession stand and banquet hall. Its grand opening was in July of 1947. It was robbed twice in its first season. It closed for the season and its 1948 season was delayed by yet more torrential rain. The drive-in was said to be about 1.5 miles south of Cementville on Highway 31. In 1955, it gets new operators.
But American Films Limited turned Theatair into Theatair-X causing an uproar and a First Amendment battle. Clark County prosecutors successfully brought an obscenity charge against AFL and Theatair-X against five films in 1989. I’m assuming those were overturned on appeal. Then in a clever move in 1991, the local government decided to push for an interchange off of nearby Interstate 65 and what once was US 31 that would go directly through the Theatair. The theater successfully fought against that proposal and was able to continue operations into the 21st Century. Indecency charges in 2008, protests from an interest group called Reclaim Our Culture, a prostitution sting in 2012, citations for peepholes in 2014, and charges of indecency for customers in 2015 were just part of the standard operating procedures at the drive-in-less Theatair-X.
DavidZornig, There is an entry for the Lakewood Drive-In, under ‘Demolished’ Jeffersonville, Indiana theaters. http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/45633 Perhaps it was posted after your entry above. The Lakewood Drive-In stood across the road, not far from the Sunset Mobile Home Park, on Charlestown Pike. The area has been greatly built up with various new home subdivision projects over the last 30 years or so.
Correction: It was originally Theatair. Then the Twin. Sat idle for a few years … then Theatair X. I’m including an ad from 1951.
The address is correct. The Lakewood was always the Lakewood. Originally this was the Twin Drive-In. The western screen was demolished when I-65 was constructed.
There was a Lakewood Drive-In in Jeffersonville Indiana, that does not have a Cinema Treasures page. Is it possible that it was this theater first? There are images of posters and tickets on a Clark County Facebook page I can post here, if it is indeed the same. If not, should I add Lakewood Drive-In as a theater?
Hello all,
I am doing a large-scale research project on adult theatres and would be very interested to hear from anything who either worked at or attended this theatre during its time showing adult films. If you would like to help me out, you can email me at .
Thanks!
Picture of it at View link
THIS THEATER IS STILL OPEN, maybe not the drive in part. But yes it is open, and the did not make the on ramp there. Nor are they going too. They built an on and off ramp on the other side of the road.
Not sure if this theater will still exist in a few years or not, but if it must be known it does have two screens showing pornographic material 24/ 7, I was one of the first of my group of friends to turn 18 and was, well put up to the task of checking it out and giving them the inside scoop. Two screens, maybe 60 seats each, and sticky floors. You wont be gettin' popcorn in this theater, but hey if thats your thing, it don’t bother me.
I grew up in Jeffersonville and passed this site frequently. This was in fact a former drive in movie theater. In the late 1970’s, the owners converted the venue to a adult movie theater and opened an adult bookstore in the former snack bar. Local civic leaders did bring obscenity charges and frequently tried to close the place. At one point, the property was surrounded by a 25' privacy fence to keep the presentations and viewers, private.
The growth of Clarksville, Jeffersonville, and Sellersburg on all sides of it would have doomed this venue regardless of what it was showing. The vicious nature of small town politics, only adds to the manner in which it was apparently taken by immenent domain.
‘warrenthewimp’ feel free to verify the address of Theatair X. You will find that the address is accurate. Unlike the incorrect addresses given on many theatre listings by you fella; this address is correct. I do not patronize porn theatres. I also do not discriminate against them as you do. haha
Drove past this place but didn’t go in. Not sure if its gay or straight.
Interesting name, someone tell us about this one :)