V Drive-In

Hi! I was a kid growing up in farm country on the outskirts of Windsor, NY, in the ‘70s-mid-'80s & was frustrated I couldn’t see all the horror movies that played here, incl. the dusk-to-dawn shows, or the triple feature of “Last House on the Left,” “The House that Vanished,” & “Don’t Look in the Basement,” which was advertised in the local paper as a big deal ev. summer, and which played well into the '80s. (As a kid I thought it was the title of one long movie! HA!) When I was finally 17 (1984?), both local drive-ins were showing A-grade movies, & it didn’t help when it closed around when the Walmart/mall went up. (I’m now 50, & it still bugs me!) I still feel like I missed something monumental, ya know? I don’t remember any crime, but I was younger & didn’t read the paper like I do today. It repeated the lst movie on Fri. & Sat., otrwise not. I remember it played “The Warriors” & “My Bloody Valentine” for 2 wks, & “Ruby” & “Legend of the Wolf Woman,” ag'n, for 2 wks, if I remember correctly. Finally saw “Wolf Woman” (it looks like Clint E.’s “Sudden Impact” ripped it off!), & it’s likely b/c it had lots o’ skin! This never did interest me. It killed me when “The Exorcist” was paired w/“LHOTL,” & the otr 2….could anyone tell me what it was like when any of these movies were playing & at the dusk-dawn shows? It still feels like I missed some big party (that prob'ly never existed, I know…!). Many thanks. Last I knew this D/I charged $6 a carload — don’t know if that ever went up tho. How’s that for a bargain? THANK YOU for this wonderful trip down memory lane!/Glenn

This opened on August 18th, 1958. Grand opening ad in the photo section.

Dear lalainthelibrary, the car dealership you mentioned was Ken Wilson Chevrolet … a parabolic arch roofed building. Yes it still stands (though out of business). The V Drive-In was to the left of Ken Wilson’s as you faced it. If you hunt a bit you should be able to come up with an aerial photograph which shows the drive-in & the white parabolic roof of Ken Wilson’s is visible to the right of the drive-in. Jim Macumber

If this is the correct address I am really confused because the original V-shaped entry/ticket booth was made into a car dealership office that is still on the Parkway, today. Was the structure moved, or is the above location incorrect? The last movie I remember seeing there was one of the Star Wars. I have no idea which one, but it was more than likely the last of the first trilogy.

Here is a photo:
http://tinyurl.com/33om3b