Route 35 Drive-In
2821 State Route 35,
Hazlet,
NJ
07730
2821 State Route 35,
Hazlet,
NJ
07730
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The Route 35 Drive-In was first operated by Loews Inc. and opened its gates on June 29, 1956 with John Wayne in “The Searchers” and Jack Carson in “Magnificent Roughnecks” with no extra short subjects.
Last operated by National Amusements, the Route 35 Drive-In was a first-run theater throughout its history except on its final day. Unlike most drive-ins, the Route 35 Drive-In closed its gates for the final time on September 5, 1991 with a very special tribute and a traditional classic double-bill run of 1956’s “The Girl Can’t Help It” and 1958’s “The Fly”.
The theater was demolished in early 1992 to make way for the 12-screener.
Cinemark Hazlet 12 is the multiplex.
There was plenty of space in this drive-in theater for a second screen at the back of this very long drive-in site.
Closed in 1991 with “The girl can’t help it”(one of the movies screened in the drive-in’s first year of operation), and “The Fly”(1958 version). Admission on the final night was $10. The drive-in was demolished(date unknown?), and a twelve screen multiplex(name unknown?) was built on the site.
Also included the ad from the New York Times (in blue)
June 29th, 1956 grand opening ad in photo section.
“The Searchers” (1956 Warner Bros.) starring John Wayne (1907-1979) and Jeffrey Hunter (1926-1969) plus “Magnificent Roughnecks” (1956 Allied Artists) starring Jack Carson (1910-1963) and Mickey Rooney (1920-2014) opened the Route 35 Drive-In. Since “Magnificent Roughnecks” was not released until Sunday, July 22, 1956, the Route 35 could not have opened any earlier.
Went there as a child. Had a really cool train that circled the screen. One of the places that inspired this song. Check out track #7, THE DRIVE IN PICTURE SHOW, by Roger “Hurricane” Wilson. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rhwilson
Here is a link to an article describing the drive-in when it opened. http://www.boxoffice.com/the_vault/issue_page?issue_id=1956-8-4&page_no=126
DEFG..You posted some great pictures! Did you work there?
I uploaded it, is from 1979..what happened to the old picture?
Thanks John.
This drive-in can be seen in the horror film BLOOD RAGE (aka NIGHTMARE AT SHADOW WOODS), produced in 1983.
Joshua, I was working for National Amusements at the time, I have sent you an E-Mail, perhaps I can help.
Ectojed, I opened the Hazlet Multiplex and remember 50 cent day, it is kind of a blur because we were swamped from opening to closing. The complex was sold out for much of the day, in fact the box-office lines often streached all the way to Route 35. By the way everything was 50 cents, including all the concession items. For $2 you could get a ticket, popcorn, hot dog and a soda.
I remember the drive-in very well. It was a major factor in our family travels from Brooklyn to New Jersey. The only movie I distinctly remember seeing there though was “Arachnophobia” and for good reason. It was a hot summer night when we saw it and we were sweating buckets in the car. We rolled down the windows and being in the middle of a grass lot that probably wasn’t the best idea. The bugs (mosquitoes specifically) started to creep in and watching “Arachnophobia” really didn’t help.
It was still a great and unique attraction which I really wish remained. It sadly gave way to a completely foreign establishment to us New Yorkers a wholesale warehouse known as the Price Club (now Costco) and the Multiplex Cinemas. The Multiplex instantly tried to win over saddened drive-in goers by showing a few blockbusters for like 50 cents a pop. I think they showed “Batman,” “Ghostbusters,” and “Wayne’s World,” but I could be wrong. Does anyone remember?
This ad lists the Loew’s Route 35 Drive-in as showing a closed circuit tv fight. I don’t recall shows like this at Drive-in’s?
View link
I was there on closing night with my camcorder, covering the event for the TV station I worked for at the time. I have some footage of the booth, a short interview with the manager and some shots of the screen during the showing of the two closing movies. Very sad to see the closing of the last drive-in in NJ. I’ll see if I can find the tape so I can possibly post some screen captures. I also have the last night of operation of Menlo Park Twin Cinemas on tape.
He played at a drive-in? Did drive-in theatres often do shows?
A very young Bruce Springsteen played here in 07/29/66 – Loew’s 35 Drive-In, Hazlet, N.J. I believe his band was called the Castiles.
I grew up in Hazlet and was very proud that the Route 35 Drive-In was the very last New Jersey drive-in to resist the wrecking ball when it closed in September of 1991. I remember that the marquee used to have a tall, light-up tower on it back in the 1960s and there was once a playground at the base of the screen. It was an all-year theatre for most of its run but in the 1980s went on a warm-weather only schedule. I have fond memories of seeing such movies as The Great Escape, The Nutty Professor, The Russians Are Coming The Russians Are Coming, Ice Station Zebra, Patton, Paper Moon, The Bad News Bears, and many others there.
found this on a google search…..It was New Jersey’s last drive-in. On closing night, the theater ran The Fly and The Girl Can’t Help It, the first two movies they played back in ‘57.
I have some ads showing the Loew’s Rte 35 Drive-In from the 1963.
Mentions CARTOON-A-RAMA every Sat & Sun. FREE Candy Cane Playground & Midget Railroad.
Some fun programming. Captain Sinbad, Nutty Professor, Donovan’s Reef, etc. Seemed to have two bills per week. Wed-Sat; Sun-Tues.
My New York Times ads from the 50s shows the theater listed separately in the Loew’s ad. OPEN ALL YEAR-FREE CAR HEATERS.
Jerry
The Route 35 Drive-In, previously known as the Loew’s Open Air Theatre, was actually located in Hazlet, NJ and operated from 1956-1991. National Amusements now operates the 12-screen Hazlet Multiplex Cinemas on that site, located at 2821 Route 35, Hazlet, NJ 07730.
Therefore, while a drive-in did once operate in Paramus (the Paramus Drive-In, which was just one of many that operated in the area), this theatre was not it. The Paramus Drive-In was located on Route 4, near the Route 4/Route 17 cloverleaf. (Route 35 is nowhere in the vicinity of Paramus.)
The address of this theatre should be changed to reflect this.
Loews operated this Drive-In