Al's Drive-In

2907 U.S.-90,
Bonifay, FL 32425

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Al's Drive-In

Opened in June 1953, when the owner of Al’s Drive-In was B.H. Schuessler. A.C. Saunders owned Al’s Drive-In circa early-1960’s. Capacity was 175 cars.

It was still open in 1980, and possibly lasted a little longer. By 2014, the screen had gone.

Contributed by Ken McIntyre

Recent comments (view all 12 comments)

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on March 17, 2010 at 9:11 pm

You think so ken mc.

AndyCallahanMajorMajor
AndyCallahanMajorMajor on April 5, 2010 at 7:44 pm

Looks like it’s been gone awhile.

US 90, west of town:

View link

rivest266
rivest266 on November 7, 2011 at 1:43 pm

I have uploaded an aerial photo from 1966.

zebulongrady
zebulongrady on June 5, 2012 at 12:09 pm

The last time I saw this drive in, the poles for the marquee were still standing and the concession projection building was still intact. Cows were grazing on the lot.

jwmovies
jwmovies on September 1, 2012 at 2:49 am

Approx. address is Hwy 90 and Henry Grey.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on January 26, 2022 at 10:44 pm

This drive-in must have opened before 1955. An item datelined Bonifay, Fla., in the January 17, 1953 issue of Boxoffice said “Al Saunders has installed new Century equipment in his 250-car Al’s Drive-In here”.

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on January 27, 2022 at 9:04 am

Looks like Joe Vogel nailed the opening year.

Boxoffice, June 20, 1953: “Bonifay, Ala. (sic) - Al’s New Drive-In opened here recently. It is owned by Al Saunders.”

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on January 27, 2022 at 9:18 am

Also, the property was sold as a “drive-in movie location” in May 2020. The asking price had been $225k. More details and a video at this Facebook page.

Kenmore
Kenmore on January 27, 2022 at 12:27 pm

A 1984 aerial shows the drive in intact, but it may have been closed as several trucks/containers (hard to tell) are sitting near the entrance.

By 1994, the screen was gone.

Sold as a “drive in movie location” in 2020, that is the definition of “technically true”.

Kenmore
Kenmore on June 2, 2023 at 6:34 pm

A closer address is 2907 US-90, Bonifay, FL.

Google Maps has updated their addresses. This puts it right on the property.

Apart from the faint outline and ramps, there is nothing remaining of the drive-in. The building that stands where the projector booth/concession stand once stood may be the same one. But this structure has a gable roof. So, it might have been rebuilt or it might be new.

https://tinyurl.com/3chcpmt5

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