Cranston Drive-In
1400 Oaklawn Avenue,
Cranston,
RI
02920
1400 Oaklawn Avenue,
Cranston,
RI
02920
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Affiliated Theatres
Previous Names: Cranston Auto Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
The Cranston Auto Drive-In opened by the Columbia Amusement Co. on August 28, 1948. It was still operating under this name in 1957. It became the Cranston Drive-In which closed in 1979.
Contributed by
TOM CONTI
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 19 comments)
3-D Movie at Drive-In Provides Police with 4-D Traffic Tieup
That was the headline of a Providence Journal newspaper article on July 13, 1953 reporting that the showing of a 3-D movie at this drive-in the night before combined with volumes of traffic returning from the R.I. beaches had caused a monumental traffic snarl in the area. The movie was Fort Ti which played with the 3-D short Spooks, featuring the 3 Stooges.
I spent many a summre’s evening as a boy with my family at this long-ago delight. Every year when they closed, they would post on their sign; “Had to close before we froze. See you when the crocus grows."
:–)
Bill Gannon
I believe this drive in installed 70mm in the early sixties. National Theatre Supply ran an ad in the tradepapers for their Ventarc blown arc lamp with a picture of the booth. They also had Norelco DP70’s. The screen size was given as 114 ft.
I just rechecked the ad and screen size was given as 50'x122' and a projected pcture of 47'x118' at a 240' throw. Light readings were 6 fl. for 35mm and 8 fl. for 70mm.
The Cranston Drive-In was equipped with 3-D projection capability in 1953, with the first offering being “Man in the Dark” per an item in Boxoffice mahgazine, July 4, 1953.
Cranston Drive-In sues gas station for removal of annoying blinker sign,
item in Boxoffice magazine, August 5, 1950:
View link
What year did it close? I remember going their in 1979
When they closed for the winter, the marquee read;
“Had to close
Before we froze
See you when
The crocus grows
Boom tisch!!
The site is now a shopping centre(Marshalls Plaza).