Hi-Way Drive-in (Demolished)
Frackville, PA Photo courtesy Mark Hackett
Here is the Hi-Way Drive-in near
Atlas, Pennsylvania. The photographer "stumbled across this graveyard"
on a trip out to Hersheypark. This drive-in definitely has a "California-style"
look, with pastel colors and holes in the framework. A gem.
Opened in 1948 along old Route 122, the Hi-Way spent more than 50 years showing movies to cars parked beneath the Pennsylvania sky. By the time it was stumbled across on a road trip to Hersheypark, though, the place had become something of a drive-in graveyard. The screen and its unusual California-style framework were still there, slowly fading away.
The Hi-Way finally closed for good in 2002. Too bad, because that screen alone was worth pulling over for.
UPDATE: Like
the Greater Pittsburgh 5, the Hi-Way has met its fate with the wrecking
crew. Many thanks to Mark Hackett for update. 09-02
UPDATE: The old drive-in has since been demolished, including its colorful screen structure. The property was cleared and redeveloped for retail use. 08-26
Weirs Beach Drive-in Theatre
Weirs Beach, NH Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Check out the great neon marquee at the Weirs Beach Drive-in Theatre, sitting along Route 3 right across from the famous Weirs Beach sign. With four screens showing movies after dark, this was still one busy roadside stop. 12-07
The Weirs opened in 1949 as a single-screen drive-in with room for about 500 cars. After the Baldi family took over in 1974, it eventually grew to four screens. The neon marquee alone is worth a look, especially after dark when cars start rolling in for the evening show.
The theater went dark for the 2024 and 2025 seasons after longtime owner Pat Baldi retired, but fortunately the story didn't end there.
UPDATE: The Weirs Beach Drive-In reopened in May 2026, with movies once again playing on its four screens. The old roadside marquee is still there too, lighting the way to another double feature. 08-26
Moonlite Drive-In Theatre
Abingdon, VA Photo courtesy Barry Wells
Pulling along Lee Highway in Abingdon, the Moonlite Drive-In Theatre looks like a nice survivor from the days when drive-ins seemed to be everywhere. The big screen, old entrance and roadside setting are still here, ready for another summer night at the movies.
The Moonlite opened in 1949 and became a familiar stop for generations of southwest Virginia moviegoers. It even picked up some national attention over the years, including features in USA Today. With its original mid-century look still largely intact, the theater was eventually placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Moonlite went through some dark years and eventually closed, leaving its future uncertain. Fortunately, the screen didn't stay dark forever.
UPDATE: After an extensive family-led restoration, the Moonlite is open again with digital projection and movies once more playing beneath the Virginia sky. The old drive-in remains remarkably recognizable more than 75 years after it first opened. 08-26
Mahoning Drive-in
Lehighton, PA Photo courtesy Mark Hackett
Whatta arrow! Sitting just off Route 443 near Lehighton, the Mahoning Drive-In Theater has one of those roadside marquees that practically points you right into the entrance.
The Mahoning opened in 1949 with room for about 500 cars facing its big wooden screen. While most theaters eventually switched to digital, this place stuck with the old stuff and became famous for showing classic, horror and cult movies exclusively on 35mm film.
UPDATE: The Mahoning, like all other drive-in theaters, is being required to convert to digital projection as film companies will soon stop releasing movies on film. The hope is that the theater will be able to afford the digital projection equipment which runs about $60k, or chances are the theater will be forced to closed. In Spring of 2013, local volunteers in Carbon County spent weekends fixing up the Mahoning with the hope of preserving the theater for many more summers of fun. See this WNEP article about the volunteer effort . 07-13
The drive-in nearly disappeared in 2021 when the property was threatened with redevelopment, but movie fans rallied and helped keep the show going.
UPDATE: The Mahoning remains open, running vintage 35mm film through its projectors while that great old arrow marquee continues pointing the way. 08-26
Pike Drive-In
Montgomery, PA Photo courtesy Mark Hackett
Just off Route 15 in Montgomery, the Pike Drive-In Theatre is another Pennsylvania ozoner that has managed to keep the movies going. Opened in 1953, the Pike started with a single screen before adding screens two and three in the 1990s.
For years you could still catch movies here the old-fashioned way, projected from 35mm film onto the big outdoor screens. Eventually Hollywood's move to digital caught up with the Pike, and the theater converted to digital projection in 2016.
Three screens, double features and cars lined up beneath the Pennsylvania sky. Sometimes the old way of watching a movie is still the best way.
UPDATE: The Pike Drive-In remains open along Route 15, showing movies on all three screens during the warmer months. 08-26
Buffalo Drive-In Theatre (Demolished)
Buffalo, NY Photo courtesy Steve Felder
Buffalo wasn't spared from the great drive-in elimination derby of the ’90s. Sitting along Harlem Road, the Buffalo Drive-In Theatre was one of the last around town, and check out that great three-dimensional marquee out front.
The Buffalo opened in 1948 with room for around 850 cars. For more than 40 years, headlights rolled onto the lot for double features beneath that big screen. By the early ’90s, though, the end was near.
The final double feature played on September 8, 1991, with “Doc Hollywood” and “Child’s Play 3.” Quite a combination for one last night at the drive-in.
UPDATE: The Buffalo Drive-in closed up back in October of 2007 after the 2007 drive-in season. The drive-in was torn down in the Spring of 2008 to make way for a medical office complex. Many thanks to David Hughes for update. 12-10
UPDATE: The Buffalo Drive-In was demolished in 1992, and that great roadside marquee disappeared along with it. The former drive-in property was redeveloped for commercial use. 08-26
Hi-Way Drive-in (Demolished)
Moonlite Drive-In Theatre
Mahoning Drive-in
Pike Drive-In
Buffalo Drive-In Theatre (Demolished)
