Fun-Lan Drive-in (Closed)
Tampa, FL
Photo courtesy Georg Balandran

The bright neon marquee at Fun-Lan Drive-In promised another night at the movies along Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa. Beyond the entrance waited the outdoor screens, concession stand, and rows of cars settling in for the evening. For generations of local moviegoers, this was a familiar place for family outings, first dates, and a double feature beneath the stars.

Opened in 1950, Fun-Lan belonged to the postwar generation of drive-ins that made the automobile part of the entertainment. Its early attractions included a children’s playground, giving youngsters something to do before darkness arrived. Parents could relax nearby while everyone waited for the screen to light up and the evening’s program to begin.

Additional screens and a busy swap shop helped the property adapt over the decades. Bargain hunters browsed during daylight hours, while movie audiences arrived for the evening shows. Fun-Lan outlasted many neighboring outdoor theaters, becoming Tampa’s last operating drive-in before its abrupt closure in December 2021 ended more than seventy years of movies.

Terraserver Image of Fun-Lan
Tampa, FL
Courtesy Andy Callahan

UPDATE : The Fun-Lan, which opened January 10, 1950 is celebrating it's 50th year! Many thanks to Andy Callahan for information.

UPDATE: The property has been redeveloped as Marquee Square apartments, but the famous neon sign escaped demolition. Local artists dismantled and rescued it in December 2021 for a planned immersive art attraction. Its eventual public display could not be confirmed, but saving the marquee preserved an important piece of Fun-Lan’s roadside identity. 07-26

The entrance and ticket booth Tampa, FL Photo courtesy Georg Balandran	Screen 2 Tampa, FL Photo courtesy Andy Callahan

Silver Moon Drive-in
Lakeland, FL
Photo courtesy Georg Balandran

The screen tower at Silver Moon Drive-In Theatre in Lakeland gives passing motorists something to admire before the movies begin. Its tropical mural of palms, water, and a silvery moon turns the highway-facing wall into a roadside attraction of its own. Add the neon moon character and theater lettering, and this is a picture show worth a second look from either side of the screen.

Opened on April 14, 1948, the Silver Moon was Lakeland’s first drive-in. Its opening feature was Up Goes Maisie, starring Ann Sothern and George Murphy, with admission priced at 35 cents. The evening also included a short subject, cartoon, and newsreel. Vendors circulated among the cars selling refreshments, bringing the concession stand experience right to the audience.

A tornado severely damaged the original screen on May 23, 1950, sending heavy debris onto the office roof while the manager was inside. Fortunately, he survived, and the rebuilt theater reopened on July 1. Carl Floyd purchased the Silver Moon in 1952 and later added improvements that included a new concession building and the flashing neon sign that became another familiar landmark.

Silver Moon Drive-in
Lakeland, FL
Photo courtesy Georg Balandran

UPDATE: Here's a close up look at the Silver Moon Drive-in lettering that's located at the top of the screen tower. Check out the neon moon character on the sign. Many thanks to Alan Culley for photo update. 11-08

UPDATE: The Silver Moon remains open with two screens, double features, and sound delivered through patrons’ FM radios. Weekend mornings bring a different crowd as the grounds become a swap shop. More than seventy-five years after opening, this longtime Lakeland attraction continues combining roadside character with movies beneath the stars. 07-26

Silver Moon Drive-in Lakeland, FL Photo courtesy Georg Balandran	Silver Moon Drive-in screen lettering Lakeland, FL Photo courtesy Alan Culley