Merritt Island Drive-In

323 E. Merritt Island Causeway,
Merritt Island, FL 32952

350 cars

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Talgar Theatre Company

Previous Names: Cocoa Drive-In, Island-Beach Outdoor Theatre

Nearby Theaters

Cocoa Drive-In - Cocoa, FL

Located on the south side of beach highway about one and a half miles from down-town Cocoa. The Merritt Island Drive-In was opened on June 5, 1952 with Betty Grable in “Wabash Avenue” & Gene Autry in “Gene Autry and the Mounties”. In late-summer of 1954 it was renamed Cocoa Drive-In. In January 1957 it was renamed Island-Beach Outdoor Theatre. In 1959 it reverted back to its original name Merritt Island Drive-In. It had a capacity for 350 cars and was owned by Talgar Theatre Company. It was closed in late-1967 or early 1968.

Contributed by john m story

Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on February 2, 2020 at 12:24 am

I wonder if they sold hot cocoa in the concession stand?

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on May 28, 2020 at 12:33 pm

The Merritt Island Drive-In Opened Its Doors On June 5th, 1952 And I Cannot Find The Opening Attraction To This According To The Miami Herald. By Late Summer Of 1954, It Became The Cocoa Drive-In Only For A Bit More Than 5 Years Before Changing The Name Back To The Merritt Island Drive-In For The Rest Of The Theater’s Life, And Was Also Used For Church Serves As Well. It Is Either Closed In Either Late 1967 Or Early 1968.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on December 16, 2021 at 9:16 pm

Opened on 3rd June 1952 with a colour cartoon (not named?), “Wabash Avenue” and “Gene Autry and the Mounties”.

Kris4077
Kris4077 on June 11, 2023 at 6:30 pm

I think this should map as 322 E. Merritt Island Causeway. There’s currently a Harbor freight there know. The street overlay on historic aerials also shows modern day building outlines and it looks like the harbor freight building.

Kenmore
Kenmore on June 11, 2023 at 6:35 pm

A closer address is 323 E Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island, FL which is the address of Harbor Freight Tools that currently sits on the property.

The drive-in had been demolished by 1984, but the outline, ramps, and entrance/exit road was still present.

https://tinyurl.com/mv96cpsb

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on May 15, 2024 at 11:32 am

Once known as Island-Beach Outdoor Theatre (renamed in January 1957).

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