59 Outdoor Theatre

1643 Arcadian Avenue,
Waukesha, WI 53186

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Standard Theaters Management Corp.

Previous Names: Hiway 59 Outdoor Theatre

Nearby Theaters

59 Outdoor Theatre

The single screen 59 Outdoor Theatre (also known as the Hiway 59 Outdoor Theatre after its location on Highway 59 East) opened on August 11 1967 with Sandy Dennis in “Up the Down Staircase” & Rod Taylor in “Hotel”. It operated until 1984, and was later demolished.

A go-cart racetrack was built on the site, which itself was replaced by a car wash, which is still there today.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

Recent comments (view all 11 comments)

Jack1
Jack1 on July 31, 2006 at 6:50 pm

Me too. I had the time of my life at the 59 theatre. I was class of 1984, Kettle Moraine H.S.. I’ll always treasure the memories I had there and look back with nostalgia to that time in my life. BTW, I knew a lot of people from arrowhead and especially from the class of 85. I probably partied with you!

Jack1
Jack1 on July 31, 2006 at 6:50 pm

Me too. I had the time of my life at the 59 theatre. I was class of 1984, Kettle Moraine H.S.. I’ll always treasure the memories I had there and look back with nostalgia to that time in my life. BTW, I knew a lot of people from arrowhead and especially from the class of 85. I probably partied with you!

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on November 28, 2006 at 8:24 pm

Here are some newspaper ads from drive-inthruwisconsin.com:
http://tinyurl.com/y43xs4

MrDriveIn
MrDriveIn on December 3, 2008 at 10:18 pm

Any comments or questions regarding any drive-in theater in Wisconsin, please check out my website at
www.drive-inthruwisconsin.com Or contact me at I will give you complete and accurate information about Wisconsin drive-in theaters, just ask. Thanks, Charles Bruss

BTW, THE 59 OUTDOOR OPENED IN 1967 NOT IN 1968.

rivest266
rivest266 on October 23, 2010 at 12:39 am

August 11th, 1967 grand opening ad is at
View link
It was owned by Standard Theatres

NYozoner
NYozoner on January 13, 2011 at 2:55 am

Here is a 1970 aerial photo of the drive-in, courtesy of HistoricAerials.com:

View link

craiga
craiga on April 12, 2011 at 1:11 pm

I remember my parents taking me and my brother and sister to see Sinbad and the eye of the tiger there in 1977.

jwmovies
jwmovies on October 18, 2014 at 10:50 pm

Please update.

The address for this drive-in was 1643 Arcadian Ave. Waukesha WI 53186. Part of this is now Public Storage.

The car wash actually stands east of where the theater was located.

mrfixx
mrfixx on March 18, 2017 at 2:17 pm

Ahh I regret the loss of this place. Saw “Rabbit Test” and “Convoy” there back in the day…

Kenmore
Kenmore on July 21, 2017 at 2:35 pm

It does appear that the projection booth/concession stand is still standing.

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