Southwest Twin Drive-In

4233 S. 3rd Street,
Memphis, TN 38103

1038 cars

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Malco Theatres Inc.

Previous Names: 61 Drive-In

Nearby Theaters

Southwest Twin Drive-In

Opened as the single screen 61 Drive-In (for Highway 61 which is also S. 3rd Street) on June 26, 1956 with Barbara Stanwyck in “Cattle Queen of Montana”. It had a capacity for 600-cars and operated to 1965.

Re-opened in 1968 as the Southwest Twin Drive-In, it was the last drive in to open in Memphis. It was owned and operated by Malco. From the mid-1980’s through the early-2000’s, the Southwest Twin Drive-In and the Summer Quartet Drive-In were the only drive-ins in Memphis. I believe it closed in 2001. The last time I drove by, it was still completely intact, though that has been several years ago. It was still in that condition in 2016.

Contributed by Bob Brown, Vincent Astor

Recent comments (view all 9 comments)

ChrisB
ChrisB on July 5, 2013 at 6:30 am

Property is going up for auction on Wednesday, July 31, 2013. Info and photos here:

http://www.treasury.gov/auctions/treasury/rp/thirdstreet.shtml

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois on July 6, 2013 at 10:39 am

Also home of Memphis Jockey Lot, Flea Market.

vastor
vastor on October 7, 2014 at 9:06 am

61 DRIVE-IN 1961-65, SOUTHWEST TWIN 1968-2000

TomMc11
TomMc11 on September 5, 2017 at 2:27 pm

October 2016 Google Street View shows the drive-in pretty much still intact. The marquee sign is long gone though. There is a public auction sign near one of the exits that has the words “seized property” on it, but I cannot read any of the smaller words.

Iceberg
Iceberg on October 10, 2017 at 12:05 pm

The 61 Drive-in was open earlier than stated above. It was open in 1956, at least, and that may have been the year it began operation. There hasn’t been any mention here of the Rosalie, which was a drive-in theater that I think was on Highway 61 and which operated for a few years in the 1940’s. I think it was Memphis' second drive-in to open, following several years after the one on Lamar. Does anyone know if it was in the same location as the 61 and Southwest Twin later were?

dansdriveintheater
dansdriveintheater on April 1, 2021 at 12:18 pm

still intact as of september 2019

rivest266
rivest266 on August 13, 2021 at 6:45 am

This opened on June 26th, 1956, as the 61 Drive-In. Grand opening ads posted.

Kenmore
Kenmore on August 13, 2021 at 9:46 am

“Intact” seems like a strong word to use. While the screens are still up, the buildings are in shambles. It would take some major renovating to get this property back into shape assuming someone wanted to re-open the drive-in.

rivest266
rivest266 on August 13, 2021 at 4:42 pm

Closed as the 61 in 1965 and reopened as the Southwest Twin on March 14th, 1968, by Malco. Grand opening ad posted.

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