Hi-Way Airport 9 Drive-In

326 S. Federal Highway,
Dania, FL 33004

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wmu81
wmu81 on November 14, 2020 at 3:31 pm

The address does not really work-the location is now part of the Ft. Lauderdale airport. Tarmac to the east of Terminal 1 Southwest gates.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on July 22, 2020 at 7:59 am

Wow, what a big and colourful marquee!!

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on July 22, 2020 at 7:57 am

Opened as 5 screens on 3/10/1972 with on screen 1 with “Billy Jack” and “The Omega Man”, screen 2 with “Mash”, Vanishing point" and “Welcome home solider boy”, screen 3 with “Super fly” and “There was a crooked man”, screen 4 with “Easy rider” and 5 easy pieces", no movies listed for screen 5.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on July 22, 2020 at 7:49 am

Opened on 5/2/1951 with “Who done it”. Opened as a twin on 23/6/1971 with “Vanishing point” and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”. Opened as a triple screen on 15/10/1971 with on screen 1 with “Your cheating cheat” screen 2 with “The return of Count Yorca” and “Frankstein conquers the World” and screen 3 with “Shaft” and “Pretty maids all in a row”.

Ken_Ashworth
Ken_Ashworth on July 22, 2020 at 6:52 am

Al Alvarez, no I do not but I suspect that it may have been in the mid to late 50’s. Uncle Arthur and Aunt Peg had their first child in 1956. This may have prompted the family to move to their permanent residence, and my uncle to begin his career as an insurance agent. Unfortunately Broward County online property records only go back to 1978.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on July 21, 2020 at 7:14 pm

Do you know when he sold the Hi-way?

Ken_Ashworth
Ken_Ashworth on July 21, 2020 at 3:06 pm

Arthur Ashworth was my uncle and the eldest son of Samuel Arthur Ashworth (my grandfather), who also went by the name S. Arthur Ashworth. It was my grandfather who was owner of both the Hi-Way and the Hallandale Drive-in during the 1950’s. My uncle Arthur managed the Hi-Way and for a time lived on the property with his wife. My father, Ken Ashworth, managed the Hallandale Drive-In and we lived in Hollywood.

You can see the close relationship between the two Drive-Ins by the shared flyer shown in the Photo Section…

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/24521/photos/121736 (Hi-Way) http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/24521/photos/121735 (Hallandale)

Kris4077
Kris4077 on October 29, 2019 at 12:33 pm

The Most Accurate address on Google maps for this D-I is: 50 Terminal Dr, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 this is the address for one of the main terminals. Most of the land that used to be the D-I is now runways, ramps, and tarmac. On Historic Aerials if you use the road overlays you’ll see that at one point during ongoing construction of the airport perimeter road ran through the center of what use to be the original theater field.

Kris4077
Kris4077 on October 29, 2019 at 12:05 pm

On google maps and historic aerials this maps as 326 N. federal Hwy.

rivest266
rivest266 on April 1, 2017 at 3:34 pm
  • 2 screens on June 23rd, 1971 ad in photo section

  • 3 screens on October 15th, 1971 ad in photo section.

  • 5 screens on November 3rd, 1972 Ad in photo section.

  • 7 screens on August 24th, 1973 – Rebranded Airport Drive-In

  • 8 screens on February 8th, 1974

  • 9 screens on March 8th, 1974

rivest266
rivest266 on March 4, 2017 at 10:52 am

This opened on January 5th, 1951. Grand opening ad in the photo section.

Pat R.
Pat R. on November 29, 2014 at 3:06 am

Used to love coming here with mom and dad. This was located in a heavily wooded area near the intercoastal waterway so mosquitos would eat you alive in the summertime! At the entry gate, they gave FREE coil looking things that that you lit and sat on your dash during the movie! They would smolder and smoke. This repelled mosquitos! The further “back” into the complex you drove, the more mosquitos you would encounter. You prayed that the film you were planning to see was NOT being shown on screen 9! AND, being directly in the flight path of the airport, jets would drown out the sound every 5-10 minutes sometimes! hahaha! I saw Zardoz w/2001 Space Odyssey, Gone in 60 Seconds and many more. GREAT place, great times!

RRF
RRF on July 12, 2013 at 6:28 am

This theater was owned at one time by the late Theater operator and film producer distributor Joe Fink. He was a big roly poly showman with constant cigar. He was known for burying 100s of old prints on the property, most flammable Nitrate film stock.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on February 23, 2010 at 10:12 am

The Hi-Way is already listed in the 1953 Film Daily Yearbook.

sporridge
sporridge on February 22, 2010 at 6:55 pm

IIRC, “The Last Picture Show” was reportedly saved for the end of the farewell evening, as the other eight screens went dark. (In the 90s, Wometco’s Miracle in Coral Gables would end its movie theatre life with the same feature.)

Harvey
Harvey on February 2, 2010 at 9:36 pm

Miami News article on closing of Hi-Way Airport here.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on July 23, 2008 at 6:44 pm

Not in Florida. I saw it at the Golden Glades Drive-In first run.

R2D2
R2D2 on July 23, 2008 at 5:27 pm

I thought the original runs of STAR WARS were shown exclusively in “hardtops” and that any drive-in runs didn’t take place until the summer 78 reissue.

Coate
Coate on July 23, 2008 at 1:27 pm

“Star Wars,” during its original 1977 run, played here for 24 weeks.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on July 23, 2008 at 10:40 am

I believe this was the largest drive-in in the country for a while.

Harvey
Harvey on June 26, 2008 at 5:39 pm

Article on the closing of the Airport Hi-Way 9 here.