270 Drive-In
3003 Dunn Road,
Florissant,
MO
63033
3003 Dunn Road,
Florissant,
MO
63033
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A 1974 aerial does show a completed West Florissant Road while the drive-in was still operating. The original entrance road was replaced and the new entrance road was created which connected the drive-in at approximately 11206 West Florissant Avenue.
Having said that, there are two smaller entrance roads with all three leading to the ticket booth. One just south of the main entrance on West Florissant and the other further east at roughly 3206 Dunn Road which is now an entrance road to the mall.
At this point, I really don’t care whether the address is changed or not. But what is true is that the original entrance was changed when the drive-in was in operation.
I understand that the drive-in may have advertised itself using an intersection. And I don’t want to get into an argument over what criteria is to be used. It’s up to the admin, I’m providing the address I found.
@jwmovies: You are correct about the location of the 270 Drive-In. However, in newspaper listings, the location was always given as I-270 and West Florissant Rd. Not arguing your point at all (I’m sure it’s valid), but giving the location as I-270 and West Florissant made it easier for folks to figure out where it was.
I grew up in St. Charles and never made it to this drive-in (sadly) but I remember seeing that marquee all lit up on Sunday nights when my folks would drive us home from Sunday evening services at Third Baptist Church.
A more accurate address for this theater is 3003 Dunn Rd, Florissant, MO 63033. This points to West Florissant Avenue and Dunn Road. W. Florissant (which didn’t exist north of Dunn when this drive in was open) is where the entrance road was located. The above address is incorrect and points to the Dunn Center west of the theater’s location.
Please update.
September 1st, 1965 grand opening ad in photo section.
My uncle Managed this Drive in in the 70’s. He also managed the Cross Keys and later the Fox downtown. I worked at the Cross Keys and the Fox for years and it was a blast. Working the Springsteen concert at the Fox is still a vivid memory.
What I remember most about the 270 was the playground. They had this large metal turtle, about the size of a sea turtle, I would guess, that kids could climb on.
True…but the 4 Screen did eek out 7 more years after the Arthur shutdown. Last time I went there was to see “Blue Thunder” in early summer 1983.
Valid point, Chris…although, to be fair, I believe Wehrenberg continued that tradition after they took over the St. Ann 4 Screen…which, of course, wasn’t for very long.
AND…they ran the same double feature on 2 screens at the 4 Screen instead of running 4 different double features. They missed out on some SERIOUS cash with that flawed strategy!
Good point, Norm…although Mid-America overdid it, in my opinion. A rather poorly done twin in any little strip shopping center they could find (South City, Manchester, Paddock, Four Seasons, etc). At least the Cave Springs was a free standing theater with its own building…
Another comment on Arthur Theaters: They actually did move into the county in the 60s and 70s, opening theaters in St. Ann and Ellisville in addition to the Cross Keys and St. Andrews…but almost all their theaters had only one screen. Mid-America had the foresight to at least open several twin theaters and expand the Esquire and Village Square to three screens. Wehrenberg also went multiplex, with the Westport Twin, Cinema 4 Center, and Des Peres 4. Arthur just didn’t seem to recognize that the multiplex was the new way to go with movie theaters…despite the fact they ran the St. Ann 4 Screen Drive-In!! Go fig…
Mid-America especially. They put up those little twin theaters all over the place.
@royals: In my opinion, what cause Arthur Theaters to go bankrupt was they took too long to expand into St. Louis county. Most of their theaters (Fox, Shenandoah, etc) were in the city of St. Louis and, by the time the late 1960s/early 1970s rolled around, Wehrenberg, Mid-America, and General Cinema (along with a few others) had opened several new theaters in St. Louis County. Arthur tried to play “catch-up” with the Cross Keys, 270 Drive-In, and St. Andrews Cinema, but they were too late to totally commit to the county.
Just my opinion, of course…others can feel free to share other thoughts on this…
I worked at 270 drive inn , with Marv Stivers, my mom and dad worked for him in the very early 50’s and introduced them ,I will ask my dad which theater it was in st. louis
More pics of the 270 (and other St. Louis area theatres & drive-ins) here: St. Louis Flashback Movie & Drive-In Theatres
You can see an aerial view from 1971 if you enter the theater address on this site.
View link
Operation held on until September 1984. Final bill: Bolero & Last
American Virgin.
Does anyone know what caused Arthur Enterprises to go bankrupt?
Does anyone know what became of Marvin Stiver or Joan/Mary Shook?
Due to problems, the 1964 planned opening was missed. Venue finally opened on September 1, 1965.
The last season was that of 1984.
When exactly did the 270 open in 1964? I’m doing some research on what movies played in St. Louis at certain drive-ins and I’m up thru August 1964 and I have yet to come across any advertising for the 270 Drive-In.
So Mr. Stivers was the one that bought the hand truck.
This was the last exhibition operation of Arthur Enterprises with Wehrenberg taking over in 1981.
I was employed by the 270 Drive In for a period of 4 years from 1965-1969 as a Janitor. The Manager was a Mr. Marvin Stivers, whose assistant was a Ms. Joan Shook. Ms. Shook also worked with a Mr. Arthur Amsinger at the 4 Screen Drive-In in St. Ann.
Take the safe, but leave the little hand truck…
http://tinyurl.com/ywy9vu
Only went here once in the 1970’s to see a Mel Brooks movie with my dad and aunt. It was a fun night.