The Riverside Drive In
by Ben T. Runner, Jr.
The Riverside Drive In opened on June 27, 1950 with the movie "Boy from Indiana". Admission for adults was 45 cents and children under 12 were admitted free. In August 1985 the theater showed it's last movie. Almost ten years later in May 1995
the drive in was leveled to make way for a shopping center. These photos were taken in late 1994 and early 1995.
The entrance sign. Pointing the way to the ticket booth.
This sign greeted people passing on 31W for almost 45 years. It was taken down just days after this photo was taken in 1995. The Kentucky Museum has it in storage today.
A sunseting on the multi story screen.
This is all that was left of the ticket booth in late '94
The screen grown up with weeds and some small trees.
The projection booth and concession stand.
A rusty speaker stand already marked for destruction.
Where once there were rows of cars with speakers in their windows these poles are sharing space with brush.
A door to the concession stand.
The projection room. Circa 1994
A film rewinder was still ready to be used when the roof was crumbling down in the projection room.
Being a modern theater the Riverside at one time used the AM brodcast band to transmit to the audience. Now you didn't have to hang a speaker from the window.
This was taken Thanksgiving day 1994 with a 1940's model Rollecord.
All works copyright 1994, 1995. All rights reserved.