Pioneer Drive-In
2099 SE 14th Street,
Des Moines,
IA
50320
2099 SE 14th Street,
Des Moines,
IA
50320
1 person
favorited this theater
The Pioneer Drive-In opened in August 19, 1959 with June Allyson in “Stranger in My Arms” & James Cagney in “Never Steal Anything Small”. Car capacity was 700 cars. The drive-in was operated by Dubinsky Bothers. It was closed on September 11, 1983 with a triple bill program of comedy movies starring Cheech Marin & Tommy Chong. “Cheech & Chong’s Up in Smoke”, “Cheech & Cong’s Still Smokin'” & “Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie”.
The site, with the screen still standing in 2022, is now the Autorama RV Center.
Contributed by
Chris1982
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
August 19th, 1959 grand opening ad in photo section.
Variety, June 24, 1964: “Richard L. Davis … manages the Pioneer Drive-In Theater … (which) is being remodeled at this time, with 200 speakers being added.”
After closing in 1987, A bit of the traces became an AutoRama RV Center, but otherwise the entire theater was still attached until the parking traces were converted into a parking lot for RVs in the latter half of the 1990s. As of 2022, the screen was still there, mainly covered by trees.
Boxoffice, July 8, 1963: “Nature put on quite a performance with an early evening windstorm Friday, June 29 … the Pioneer’s attractions board was a crumpled shambles following the 70-mile-an-hour blow.”
The Pioneer closed on a high note after with a Cheech & Chong triple feature with “Cheech & Chong’s Up in Smoke,” “Cheech & Chong’s Still Smokin'” and “Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie.” Despite strong snack sales on September 11, 1983, the venue didn’t open the next season.