Chief Drive-In

5600 N. Lamar Boulevard,
Austin, TX 78751

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Claude Ezell and Associates Inc., Trans-Texas Theatres

Architects: Jack M. Corgan

Previous Names: Joseph's Drive-In, North Austin Drive-In

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chief drive in

The Chief Drive-In was opened in September 19, 1947 by Claude Ezell & Associates Inc. The opening movie was Joel McRea in “The Virginian”. It was Austin’s oldest drive-in. In 1964 the screen was resurfaced and a twin box-office was built, plus a new marquee and remodeled concession area. The Chief Drive-In parked 814 cars and was a Trans-Texas Theatre. It was closed on July 24, 1973 with Charlton Heston in “Soylent Green” & Charlton Heston in “Skyjacked”.

Contributed by MikeRogers

Recent comments (view all 15 comments)

chica
chica on October 22, 2013 at 8:06 pm

I remember this place well. I grew up in the trailer under the movie screen. Lil Toot was always fun to ride. I guess what I remember the most was learning how to ride my bike up and down the rows, and watching the movies from the front of my yard.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on July 30, 2016 at 1:47 pm

A brief article with two photos depicting the recently-opened family dining room and television lounge at the Chief Drive-In appeared in the May 9, 1960, issue of Boxoffice.

rivest266
rivest266 on March 10, 2018 at 12:29 pm

The Montopolis and Chief drive-in theatres both opened on September 19th, 1947. Grand opening ads below and the photo section.

Chief and Montopolis drive-in theatres openingsChief and Montopolis drive-in theatres openings · Fri, Sep 19, 1947 – 16 · Austin American-Statesman (Austin, Texas) · Newspapers.com

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on March 10, 2018 at 1:08 pm

This weblog post from Preservation Austin credits architect Jack Corgan with the design of the Chief Drive-In. There’s a nice black and white photo of the screen tower, featuring a Texas longhorn painted by Dallas muralist H. R. McBride.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on March 10, 2018 at 8:37 pm

Whats “Little Toot”?

driveinfan
driveinfan on May 11, 2018 at 5:15 am

Little Toot was the kiddie train at the drive in.

RSM3853
RSM3853 on June 16, 2018 at 1:22 pm

The Chief Drive-In closed after the night’s showings on Tuesday, July 24, 1973. The last films to play there were a double bill of Soylent Green and Skyjacked.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on May 10, 2019 at 11:53 pm

Opened as the Chief Drive-in with a colour cartoon(not named), and “The Virginian”.

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on August 15, 2019 at 11:23 am

“The Chief Drive-In now has a giant chief on horseback on the front of its motion picture screen tower – the side facing the highway. The figure was painted by H. R. McBride, artist whose work appeared on the covers of the old Liberty and Colliers magazines. The Indian and horse are approximately 50x30 feet.” — Boxoffice, July 18, 1960

exspook
exspook on December 22, 2020 at 8:03 pm

I raced there in 1958 dodging the speaker poles going over the humps.

Seems like yesterday…vivid memories of winning a race passing a yellow Kool Kart.

Still racing 62 years later. Some things do not change

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