Reading Drive-In
5314 Allentown Pike,
Temple,
PA
19560
5314 Allentown Pike,
Temple,
PA
19560
4 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Fabian Theaters
Architects: Leon M. Einhorn
Previous Names: Temple Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
Located in the Temple district, north of Reading, the Reading Drive-In opened on August 1, 1949 with Betty Hutton in “The Perils of Pauline” & Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson in “Hellzapoppin”. It had a capacity for 744 cars.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
Good guess,Drive-ins everywhere were closing quick in those years.thanks for the story.
PLEASE CHANGE ADDRESS TO:
U.S. 222 BUSINESS & LEESPORT AVENUE, TEMPLE, PA 19560
SORRY
Rick Wolfe, Thanks for the info. Check out the map now, is that about right?
Pretty close location. About a block to the left. The side fence ran very close to Las Vegas Drive. I spent my teen years at the corner of Kutztown Rd. and Leesport Ave. shown on the map. Worked there as a ramp boy for several years in the early 60’s.
The Reading Drive-In was built by Philadelphia theater owners Jay Emanuel and Frank L. McNamee in partnership with the Fabian circuit, according to an item about the groundbreaking in the June 18, 1949, issue of The Billboard.
Approx. address for this drive-in was 5314 Allentown Pike. Now Sam’s Club.
August 26th, 1949 grand opening ad in photo section.
My dad managed this theater for several years, starting around 1958 or so…maybe earlier. I started working there around 1962, I think and worked there for 4 years. We lived in the neighborhood right behind the screen tower.
Opened with “Perils of Pauline” and “Hellzapoppin” 800 cars. Demolished(date unknown?). Site is now Sams Club.
Also called Temple Drive-in.