Kenwood Drive-in (Demolished)
Louisville KY
Photo courtesy Steve Felder

The Kenwood Drive-In marquee gave Louisville motorists a colorful invitation to finish the evening with a movie. Along Southside Drive, the theater offered outdoor entertainment beside Ken Bowl, making the neighboring properties a recognizable recreation destination. The sign supplied the introduction before customers reached the ticket booth.

The Kenwood opened on July 31, 1949, with the western El Paso, starring John Payne. Its single screen served generations of moviegoers through the rise of television, suburban cinemas, and home video. By the end of its run, it had become Louisville’s last operating drive-in—a distinction that made its closure especially significant locally.

Kenwood Drive-in Theatre
Louisville, KY
Photo courtesy Rosalind Causey

UPDATE: The Kenwood Drive-in of Louisville KY has screened its last picture. The theater was to celebrate its 60th anniversary this summer, but it was not meant to be. The family favorite and city landmark will be greatly missed. No word yet on what the site will be used for. Many thanks to Rosalind Causey for update. 04-08

UPDATE: The Kenwood closed in 2009 and was subsequently demolished after preservation efforts failed to secure its future. A historical highway marker later recognized its six decades of entertainment. The theater is gone, but its place in Louisville’s moviegoing history received a lasting public acknowledgment. 11-26

Skyvue Twin Drive-In Theatre (Closed)
Winchester, KY
Photo courtesy Barry Wells

The screens at Skyvue Twin Drive-In Theatre gave travelers along U.S. 60 near Winchester a clear indication that outdoor movies were part of the local entertainment scene. Their different angles made the property recognizable from the highway, even without an elaborate entrance marquee.

The Skyvue dates to the late 1940s, although sources differ between 1948 and 1949. Contemporary opening information places a planned debut in June 1949, delayed by rain, with The Babe Ruth Story advertised as the feature. The original single-screen operation later became a twin and continued entertaining local audiences into the 2010s.

UPDATE: The Skyvue is now closed. 12-15

UPDATE: The Skyvue had closed by 2015. In March 2023, powerful winds tore apart much of the surviving main screen and damaged the sign. The storm brought substantial losses to a property that had retained recognizable drive-in features for years after regular moviegoing ended. 11-26

Skyvue Twin Marquee Winchester, KY Photo courtesy Devil Doll	Skyvue Twin Marquee Winchester, KY Photo courtesy Devil Doll

Beverly Drive-in Theatre (Demolished)
Hattiesburg, MS
Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack

After driving through nothing but the rural farmlands of Mississippi, the 100 x 75 foot screen of the Beverly Drive-In in Hattiesburg is a sight for sore eyes. The twin screen theater opened on May 29th, 1948. It suffered several closings during 1987 until it went under for good. In 2001 it was reopened and is being leased from the daughter on the original owners by the chain of Norton and Suick. Neon stars dance in blinking patterns on the backside which faces Route 49 and remnants of a miniature golf course are visible. The Beverly parks 500 cars. Many thanks to Steve/Back on Tack for info.

After closing in 1987, the Beverly reopened in 2001, giving local audiences another chance to enjoy outdoor movies. Hurricane Katrina severely damaged the property in 2005 and ended that comeback. Recognition followed when the theater entered the National Register of Historic Places on July 30, 2008, acknowledging its importance to Mississippi’s roadside and entertainment history.

Beverly Drive-in Theatre (Demolished)
Hattiesburg, MS
Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack

UPDATE: The Beverly Drive-in had a fire back on Saturday October 30, 2010 in the early morning. According to the Hattiesburg American article, just the screen tower's metal framework remains. The drive-in had been closed since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Many thanks to David Hughes for update. 11-10

UPDATE: An early-morning fire on October 30, 2010, destroyed much of the remaining theater, including the landmark screen structure. The site was subsequently cleared and redeveloped as the Village at the Beverly apartments, which opened in 2016. The name survives, but the neon stars and unusual screen-tower home are gone. 11-26