Federal Drive-In
6401 N. Federal Highway,
Fort Lauderdale,
FL
33308
6401 N. Federal Highway,
Fort Lauderdale,
FL
33308
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The Federal Drive-In opened March 22, 1956 with Olivia De Haviland in “Not as a Stranger” & Paul Muni in “Black Fury”. It was closed in 1973.
Contributed by
Al Alvarez
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
Bell South (now AT&T) and Imperial Point Medical Center now occupy the acreage once held by the Federal Drive-In, not too far from the Ft. Lauderdale/Pompano Beach city line. Nothing fancy about the place, just memories of seeing Don Knotts comedies (“The Ghost and Mr. Chicken” and “The Shakiest Gun in the West”) on first run. Drive-in worship services were held Sunday mornings in at least the Federal’s later years.
A popular movie destination for my family (then later, for me and my girlfriend) during the 1960s. Personal favorites were Poe/Corman films (“House of Usher”, “Pit and the Pendulum”), other AIP titles (“Master of the World”), and plenty of mainstream family fare such as comedies of the Doris Day and Jerry Lewis variety.
Any photos anyone.
I believe this was the Pompano Drive-In from 1953- 1959.
I uploaded the USGS aerial photo in this theatre’s photo section from the address provided.
Thank you — again!
Having lived here in Oakland Park (north Lauderdale) since 1955, I can vividly recall many trips with my family (and later into the 1970’s with car-fulls of my best friends) to the classic ‘Federal Drive-In’ theater on an almost weekly basis! During the early 1970' the theater (specifically) would host all-night “Dusk-to-Dawn Horror-thons” and “Sci-Fi” features on most weekends … what a blast! I have been searching the web for ANY images of this theater, but have found absolutely NOTHING of importance. PLEASE, if knows of, or has any old photos to share … I am sure that the original resident fans and other drive-in theater enthusiasts nationwide would LOVE enjoying and sharing those images. These photographs would be of great historical reference. Please consider ~ Thanks!
Remember staying at a motel right next to the Federal Drive-In…we would turn up the speakers that were near some of the motel’s patio tables. Got to see and hear “Man with the Golden Arm”!
This opened on March 22nd, 1956. Its grand opening ad can be found in the photo section for this cinema.
Opened with “Not as a stranger” and “Black fury”.