Cinema 69 Drive-In

1116 S. George Nigh Expressway,
McAlester, OK 74501

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: United Artists Theater Circuit Inc.

Nearby Theaters

Cinema 69 Drive-In

At one time there were several drive-ins in McAlester and the vicinity. The Cinema 69 Drive-In was the last to be built (1973). It was built in conjunction with an indoor cinema on the same premises. As the indoor cinema grew into a quad, a lot of the drive-in space was taken up. By then the drive-in qualified as the smallest operating drive-in in Oklahoma. Due to local curfews the drive-in went from double bills to single bills.

Cinema 69 was the only indoor and outdoor theatre sharing the same projection booth and concession stand. Audio at the drive-in was provided over FM radio.

It was closed in 2004, and has been demolished, apart from the screen which still stands in July 2022.

Contributed by Chuck Van Bibber

Recent comments (view all 9 comments)

brentclarkf
brentclarkf on December 15, 2004 at 1:53 am

I spoke to the owners, and they’re aren’t planning on reopening this drive-in this comming summer. They’re going to use it for parking as they expand their “Monster-plex” next door! What a crime! I encourage drive-in lovers everywhere to speak up. Drive-ins are a piece of Americana. They deserve to be saved! We only have 7 left in the entire state of Oklahoma.

Maxclark19862005
Maxclark19862005 on February 23, 2005 at 4:01 pm

I work in this little theater it is always clean but the mnagers are some of the rudest people you will ever meet. It is like a mega plex in the two newest theaters the drive in is closed forever. and we are opening two new screens.

brentclarkf
brentclarkf on May 9, 2005 at 12:46 pm

We’re to late for this one. It’s gone. It’s now a parking lot and a “Monster-plex” addition. What a shame!

xxx
xxx on October 23, 2005 at 8:28 pm

For images of other McAlester theaters see historic photo pages;
http://www.dancingrabbitgallery.com
http://www.mcalester.lib.ok.us/

missmelbatoast
missmelbatoast on March 12, 2007 at 1:17 pm

Cinema 69 and Cinema 69 Drive-In were one and the same. United Artist Theatres originally opened this complex as an indoor twin cinema with an adjoining drive-in. In the early 1990’s UA sold this complex, and it was eventually expanded to six indoor screens. As listed above, the drive-in is now only a memory.

rivest266
rivest266 on October 19, 2008 at 2:13 pm

Miss Melba Toast, UA had many indoor-outdoor drive-ins-cinemas in the NYC area. They were marketed as “all-weather drive-in”. All are now closed now.

NYozoner
NYozoner on January 19, 2011 at 8:40 pm

The status of this drive-in should be updated to closed/demolished.

OKCdoorman
OKCdoorman on October 11, 2021 at 8:42 pm

The screen itself was still up as of today (new picture in the photo section). “Mostly' demolished, I guess….

Kenmore
Kenmore on June 11, 2022 at 3:15 pm

As of May 2022 the screen is still present.

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