Bath Drive-in (Demolished)
Bath, NY
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

“Closed for the season.” Those words on the marquee at the Bath Drive-In Theatre hopefully meant there would be another season when this shot was taken. The little drive-in had been showing movies along Route 415 since 1949, with room for around 350 cars. 11-00

The Bath eventually did go dark after the 2005 season, but that wasn't quite the end. Movies returned in July 2007, and the following year the place became Papa's Place Drive-In. Unfortunately, the comeback didn't last, and the screen went dark again after the 2008 season.

UPDATE: Just a note that Bath drive in has been closed since the fall of 2005, a very sad state for many of us here. However, as of July 20, 2007 it has re-opened with the Rat Movie and Pirates 3. It will be open weekends only hopefully for a long long time. Many thanks to Dave Bentley for update. 07-07

UPDATE: The Bath Drive-in was open for the 2007 season. In the Spring of 2008, they re-named the Bath Drive-in to Papa's Place Drive-in. The drive-in only lasted for one season under the new name. The drive-in was closed after the 2008 season. . Many thanks to David Hughes for update. 12-10

UPDATE: The Bath Drive-in is gone, destroyed to build apartments It's a shame that drive-ins are rapidly going the way of the dodo bird. Many thanks to Connie Weller for update. 12-13

UPDATE: The Bath Drive-In never reopened again. After sitting abandoned for several years, the old screen and remaining theater structures were demolished by 2013. 08-26

Silver Lake Drive-in Theatre
Perry, NY
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

“Closed for the season.” Fortunately, those words on the sign at the Silver Lake Drive-In Theatre in Perry really did mean just that. With a fresh coat of snow covering the grounds, this old drive-in looks like it’s simply taking a winter break before the movies return. 11-00

The Silver Lake opened in 1949, with “The Green Promise,” starring Marguerite Chapman and a young Natalie Wood, appearing on the screen that first season. For more than 50 years it remained a single-screen drive-in, complete with all the familiar summer-night rituals. Things got even better after new owners took over in 2003. A second screen was added the following year, turning the place into the Silver Lake Twin. There’s also miniature golf, an arcade and the nearby Charcoal Corral, making this one a pretty good place to spend an entire evening.

Silver Lake Drive-in Theatre
Perry, NY
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

So don't let that snowy “closed” sign fool you. This drive-in still has plenty of shows ahead.

UPDATE: The Silver Lake Twin Drive-In remains open seasonally, with two screens still lighting up after dark. More than 75 years after opening, cars continue pulling in for movies during the warmer months. 08-26

Black River Drive-in Theatre
Watertown, NY
Photo courtesy Jay Lin

Now here's a drive-in that looked like it had seen its last movie. The Black River Drive-In Theatre near Watertown was almost swallowed by overgrown brush when these shots were taken. Look closely through the weeds and you could still spot the old marquee, projection booth and screen tower standing in the distance. It must have been quite a sight coming across this place along Route 3.

The Black River opened in August 1950 with room for more than 500 cars. For years it was another summertime stop around Watertown, where you could pull in before dark, find a good spot and wait for the big screen to come alive.

Black River Drive-in Marquee
Watertown, NY
Photo courtesy Jay Lin

By the mid-1980s, though, the movies had stopped. A fire badly damaged the concession building after the theater closed, and the property was left sitting for nearly 20 years. Trees and brush moved in, the marquee nearly disappeared and the old parking ramps slowly became part of the landscape. About the only thing missing was a movie still playing on that lonely screen.

But don't count this one out.

Plans to bring the Black River back eventually started taking shape, and in 2005 work began clearing away years of growth and rebuilding the theater. New water and sewer service helped make the unlikely comeback possible. The marquee was uncovered, the grounds cleaned up and the old drive-in slowly began looking like a drive-in again.

Screen Tower and Projection Booth
Watertown, NY
Photo courtesy Jay Lin

Then on August 18, 2006, after roughly two decades of darkness, the Black River reopened.

Things are a little different these days. Digital projection replaced the old film equipment and movie sound comes through the car radio instead of those familiar speakers hanging from the window. But once the sun goes down and the picture hits the screen, it's still a night at the drive-in.

Not bad for a place that once looked like it was disappearing into the weeds.

UPDATE: Very recently, a local couple put a lot of work into the theater, building a new concession stand and refurbishing the screen tower and yesterday (August 18, 2006) the drive-in was opened to the public for the first time in over 20 years! Many thanks to Erin Bastedo for update. 08-06

UPDATE: The Black River Drive-In remains open seasonally near Watertown. The overgrown marquee and abandoned grounds seen here were restored, and movies are once again playing on summer nights. 08-26