13-24 Drive-in
Wabash, IN Photo courtesy Steve Felder
Few drive-in theaters have a name quite as practical as 13-24 Drive-in Theatre. The theater takes its unusual title from its location on State Road 13, just north of U.S. Route 24, making it easy for generations of moviegoers to find. Since opening on August 23, 1951, it has remained one of Indiana's enduring outdoor movie destinations, complete with a classic neon marquee that still welcomes visitors today. 11-10
Opening night featured the swashbuckling adventure Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, with admission costing just 50 cents for adults. Like many drive-ins of the era, the theater catered to families with more than just movies. Children could enjoy a miniature train ride through the playground before the evening's feature began, creating the kind of all-night entertainment that made drive-ins such a beloved American tradition.
The 13-24 Drive-in Marquee
Wabash, IN Photo courtesy Mark Hackett
The marquee is one of the theater's greatest treasures. Its distinctive Googie styling is highlighted by a rare ram's head-shaped neon arrow, an unforgettable design unlike any other drive-in sign in the Midwest. Along with the original ticket booth and concession stand, it helps preserve the authentic character of a 1950s drive-in experience.
UPDATE: The 13-24 Drive-In remains open under the stewardship of the Honeywell Foundation, which acquired the theater to ensure its long-term preservation. More than seventy years after opening, moviegoers can still enjoy first-run films beneath the stars while passing through one of Indiana's finest surviving drive-in marquees. 06-26
Ford Drive-in (formerly Ford-Wyoming)
Dearborn, MI Photo courtesy Mark Hackett
The Ford Drive-In opened in Dearborn on May 19, 1950, as the Ford-Wyoming. Its first feature, The Man from Colorado, starred Glenn Ford—a fitting name for opening night. The single-screen theater initially accommodated 750 cars. 04-01
By the early 1990s, it had expanded to nine screens and more than 3,000 vehicles, earning recognition as the world’s largest drive-in by capacity. Its Art Deco-inspired screen tower remained the architectural attraction, with offices housed inside the massive structure.
Ford Drive-in (formerly Ford-Wyoming)
Dearborn, MI Photo courtesy Steve Felder
UPDATE: The drive-in is now called the Ford Drive-in. They closed screens 6 thru 9 on Wyoming Avenue and had them torn down. The drive-in is still open for movies on Ford Road but it's only a five screen drive-in theatre now. Many thanks to David Hughes for update. 12-10
UPDATE: Ford Drive-In remns open year-round, making it one of the few drive-in theaters in the United States to operate through every season. More than 75 years after opening, it continues to entertain moviegoers while preserving one of America's greatest surviving drive-in andmarks. 06-26
Monticello Drive-in Theatre (Now Lake Shore Drive-in) Monticello, IN Photo courtesy Don Gardner
The Monticello Drive-In Theatre, now Lake Shore Drive-In, has entertained visitors near Indiana Beach since 1949. Its straightforward screen tower shows that outdoor theaters didn’t need elaborate architecture to become local landmarks. 11-10
The property expanded from one screen to two, keeping double features part of summer visits to Monticello and Lake Shafer.
After nearly twenty-five years under Earl and Phyllis McLachlan, local preservationists Ryan Harrison and Ryan Crawford purchased the theater in late 2024.
UPDATE: Lake Shore remains open seasonally, continuing its longtime place among Indiana’s surviving drive-ins. 06-26
Clarksville Drive-In Theatre (Demolished)
Clarksville, IN Photo courtesy Steve Felder
The weathered Clarksville Drive-In Theatre marquee stood before a silent screen when photographed. Opened in 1950, the southern Indiana theater welcomed families from around the Louisville area for summer movies beneath the stars. 04-01
Its approximately 300-car lot served audiences until 1984. The abandoned marquee and screen lingered afterward, becoming familiar subjects for photographers drawn to disappearing drive-ins.
UPDATE: The theater has been demolished, and the site now houses the Clarksville Wastewater Treatment Facility. Nothing remains of the old movie grounds. 06-26
Oasis Drive-in (Demolished)
Davenport, IA Photo courtesy David Johnson
The Oasis Drive-In Theatre brought colorful Space Age styling to Davenport’s Brady Street. Its geometric marquee was still welcoming motorists when this circa-1982 view was taken. 10-08
Opened on September 1, 1961, with Konga and The Angry Red Planet, the $300,000 theater accommodated 800 cars beneath a 120-foot-wide screen. A specially designed entrance kept waiting vehicles from backing onto U.S. 61.
The Oasis showed its final movies on August 30, 1987, before redevelopment claimed the property.
UPDATE: The screen, buildings and distinctive marquee are gone. Commercial businesses now occupy the former drive-in site. 06-26
The 13-24 Drive-in Marquee
Ford Drive-in (formerly Ford-Wyoming)
Ford Drive-in (formerly Ford-Wyoming)
Monticello Drive-in Theatre (Now Lake Shore Drive-in)
Clarksville Drive-In Theatre (Demolished)
Oasis Drive-in (Demolished)
