Skyline Drive-In
2395 Carolina Beach Road,
Wilmington,
NC
28401
2395 Carolina Beach Road,
Wilmington,
NC
28401
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Joe Bob Briggs, Jan. 9, 1985: “Miracle in Carolina! Last week, just in time for Christmas, the Skyline Drive-In in Wilmington, N.C., was resurrected for the first time since Hurricane Diana made it look like a permanent screening of Friday the 13th in 3-D. They call it the Skyway now, and they’re back to four bucks a carload, except for people from Raleigh who have to pay five.”
Same drive-in? The Carolina Beach Road Drive-In was listed under Wilmington in the 1948-56 Theatre Catalogs, always owner W. E. Thrush, capacity growing from 200 to 300 cars.
Boxoffice, March 24, 1958: “L. G. Harris jr. is opening immediately the Sea Cliff Drive-In, Wilmington, formerly the Carolina Beach Road Drive-In. The Sea Cliff will be for Negro patronage only.”
1951 print ad image added via Thomas Landen.
Odd? Was this Drive-In theater open at the same time Starway Drive-In was open? Seems to me the competition would have hurt the two theaters. According to a neighbor who went to both each weekend I understand they did “very” well in the early sixties but suffered badly starting in the seventies. Still,they were almost across the street from each other. How could they survive on those Crown International “B” movies they showed? Doesn’t make sense building theaters so close to each other!
2395 Carolina Beach Rd, Wilmington, NC 28401
The above address will map accurately to the location of the drive-in, which was across Carolina Beach Road from the Star Way Drive-In, also in Wilmington.
There is a gas station where the entrance used to be, and the location of the drive-in is now a medical complex with a large drainage pond.