Vanguard Drive-In

3645 US-1,
Cocoa, FL 32926

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Kent Theatres Inc.

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Vanguard Drive-In - Cocoa, FL

Located at Highway 1 and Cross Road. The Vanguard Drive-In was opened on December 3, 1959 with Ernest Borgnine in “The Rabbit Trap” & Bob Hope in “Alias Jesse James”. It was closed in 1973 and stood abandoned until it was demolished on April 29, 1987. J and B Transmission took up residence at the theatre entrance for many years.

The theatre itself is now Vanguard Estates Mobile Park.

Contributed by James Monroe

Recent comments (view all 5 comments)

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on May 28, 2020 at 12:55 pm

The Vanguard Drive-In However Had A Bit Of A Dangerous Life Than The Normal Happy Life For The Merritt Island Drive-In. The Vanguard Drive-In Opened On December 3rd, 1959 With Ernest Borgnine In “The Rabbit Trap” And Bob Hope In “Alias Jesse James” (Both United Artists Films).

Various Robberies Were Reported At The Vanguard Drive-In Throughout The Years, And The Theater Continued To Show A Mix Of First-Run And Variety Films Only For A Few Years Until Parts Of The Mid-1960’s Came Along When They Were Somehow Stuck With Drive-In Films, B-Films, Some X-Films, And Horrors. And Then Until The 1970’s Roll Along, In Which Later On The Vanguard Was Mainly Stuck With R-Rated Films Being Close To X (Even Some X Films Did Show At The Vanguard, But One Time Including Only 5% Of Family-Fare When The Vanguard Did Show The Planet Of The Apes Marathon Runnings In January Of 1972. I Do Think That The Theater Wanted To Be Nice Only For Once Until They Continue Show Random R And A Bit Of X Films Again) Throughout The End Of Its Life Until Closure A Year Later In 1973. It Was Left Abandoned Until April 29th, 1987 And The Vanguard Is Demolished.

Kenmore
Kenmore on September 21, 2021 at 2:27 pm

Only the entrance and exit roads remain along with what might be the marquee.

Kenmore
Kenmore on December 17, 2021 at 4:03 pm

As of March, 2021, the marquee is still standing. Over the past 15 years, it has been used to advertise a few of the businesses occupying the building.

It is now blank which may indicate that J&B Transmission is no longer operating since their sign was present on the marquee a few years ago.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on May 16, 2024 at 6:34 am

The Vanguard actually closed in 1975.

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