Ruskin Family Drive-In

5011 Highway 41 N,
Ruskin, FL 33572

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Showing 21 comments

Mikeoaklandpark
Mikeoaklandpark on January 14, 2023 at 8:40 am

Drive-In 54 Can they actually show scope films in scope on the screen?

Drive-In 54
Drive-In 54 on January 11, 2023 at 4:20 pm

Nope…Floyd Theatres are long gone. Ted Freiwald bought the drive-in when Floyd Theatres got sold. Ted and is wife operate it now.

Mikeoaklandpark
Mikeoaklandpark on January 11, 2023 at 11:59 am

Moviefan Is it still operated by Floyd Theaters? Also, do they have actual real scope. I hated Floyd theaters because their idea was the screen had to be full all the time so and scope pictures were off the screen. It was so ridiculous

Moviefan333
Moviefan333 on January 9, 2023 at 8:36 pm

This is a fantastic place to go to the drive-in theater with your wife girlfriend boyfriend family. The owners are very friendly. Everything at the snack bar is delicious and very reasonably priced. I always get something at the snack bar when I go to the drive-in theater when visiting a friend in Florida. Ticket sales go right back to the studio so that Theatre makes next to nothing on tickets. So grab a popcorn candy soda cheeseburger french fries hotdog. Enjoy a movie under the stars

Mikeoaklandpark
Mikeoaklandpark on December 14, 2022 at 2:07 pm

Does this theater have 1.85 flat and 2,36 scope capabilities?

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on December 14, 2022 at 8:21 am

The Tampa Bay Times ran an article about Ted Freiwald, who owns the Ruskin Family Drive-In with his wife Karen. According to the Times, the drive-in opened on April 16, 1952, Freiwald’s 19th birthday.

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on April 28, 2021 at 5:40 pm

Boxoffice, April 4, 1960: “A new member of the Floyd (Theatres) circuit is the Ruskin Drive-In, Ruskin, which formerly was operated by Harry Jones”

dansdriveintheater
dansdriveintheater on January 16, 2019 at 2:53 pm

it was at a danger of closing last year due to the lights of the parking lot at the publix’s supermarket next year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2F2nSFrEI0

Drive-In 54
Drive-In 54 on September 30, 2014 at 3:53 pm

Yup..look at the pictures. A few years ago.

Mikeoaklandpark
Mikeoaklandpark on September 30, 2014 at 3:01 pm

Have they gone digital?

Drive-In 54
Drive-In 54 on September 29, 2014 at 4:08 pm

I stopped in and took some pictures of the Ruskin Drive-In. Also, I talked to Ted and Karen Freiwald the owners. They are very nice people and love to talk about the drive-in. If you need to find out anything about drive-in theatres in Florida, Ted is your man.

Chris1982
Chris1982 on September 19, 2014 at 1:11 am

The Ruskin Drive-In opened in 1952 with “Singing In The Rain”

jwmovies
jwmovies on November 18, 2012 at 9:59 pm

Above address dos not map properly. Use 5011 U.S. 41, Apollo Beach, FL 33572.

cvolosin
cvolosin on March 28, 2012 at 3:04 pm

www.ruskinfamilydrivein.com is the official website. The last 35mm print was John Carter, then they re-opened the following friday in Digital..

Its been a while since we have been to the ruskin, now that the baby is 9 moths old we might try getting out there as it is only 10 min from our house.

I’m definatly looking forward to a brighter picure it was really hard watching Harry Potter on the screen with so many dark scenes!

RickB
RickB on March 22, 2012 at 7:58 am

Digital projection has been installed: Tampa Bay Times story here. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune has a story about the Ruskin and the Fun-Lan in Tampa in today’s print edition but I can’t find it online.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on January 21, 2012 at 10:03 am

I favored the Drive-in!!!!!

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on January 21, 2012 at 10:01 am

thanks Nick for the newstip.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on January 21, 2012 at 10:01 am

This just in,THE RUSKIN FAMILY DRIVE-IN could be driven out of business if it can’t find the cash to convert to digital. Well,that is about all I am reading,mom and pop outfits getting the dog ditch.What was so bad about 35mm film.Progess I know,tell it to the Ruskin’s folks,tell it to them.

FloridaDriveIns
FloridaDriveIns on December 12, 2011 at 4:25 pm

Video from 1996: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Puyd2YfFxbA

42ndStreetMemories
42ndStreetMemories on April 24, 2005 at 8:54 am

Here are some nice shots of the Ruskin. Still going strong.

http://www.ruskinonline.com/DriveIn.htm