Diamond State Drive In - Felton, DE - Closed Drive-In Theatres on Waymarking.com

I've been to this drive in a hand full of time for double and triple features. It was a fun place to see a movie and had very reasonable prices. I am very sad to see it close down but am happy that it will be returning in the future although, even further from me than its current location.

History from their website:

The Diamond State Drive-In Theatre opened for business on August 12, 1949. As developed by Courtney Evans, on land owned by Mildred and Albert Steele, the drive-in in 1949 was quite different than it is today. During its first year of operations, two large speakers mounted on opposite sides of the screen broadcast the sound. When conditions were right, it was possible to hear the movie three miles away in the town of Felton. Not surprisingly, when the Steeles purchased Mr. Evans’ interest in the operation in 1950, this system was replaced by in-car speakers. The original screen was also quite different from the one that you are familiar with today. Transplanted from Camden, New Jersey, it was constructed of fabric and could be raised or lowered on a supporting framework. A well-corroborated story has it, that one night some local boys cut the tethers during a show, sending the screen to the ground just as a plane in the picture went down in flames. This curiosity was eventually replaced by a rather small but more conventional movie screen, which was succeeded, in 1972, by the structure now in place.

While the amenities of public accommodations have changed along with popular expectations, those found along rural roadsides in the 40’s and 50’s were often quite rudimentary by contemporary standards. The facilities featured at the Diamond State Drive-In Theatre during this period were certainly no exception. Until the Diamond State Roller Rink opened in 1954, ladies and gentlemen were offered restroom accommodations in outhouses concealed behind a rose trellis. When the adjacent roller rink opened in ‘54, ladies were offered accommodation inside; the gentlemen’s outdoor facilities prevailed until 1968 when the current restrooms were constructed.

Although details vary through the decades, with the exception of it’s nine-year hiatus from 1986 until 1995, the Diamond State Drive-In Theatre has been a focal point of entertainment in central Delaware.

During the drive-in’s early years, Delaware’s Blue Laws prohibited the exhibition of motion pictures on Sundays. To circumvent these restrictions, the Steeles presented music shows on a stage in front of the screen. Albert’s band, The Blue Hen Ramblers, was a familiar attraction, as was Pollie Peach Tree, a comedy routine between sets, featuring Mildred Steele. Bill Haley performed at the Drive-In, without his Comets, as did Tex Ritter.

In 1966, the Drive-In was leased to a Baltimore-based exhibition circuit for the next 20 years. Disappointed with the results from their initial engagements, R/C Theatres ventured into the burgeoning field of adult entertainment. Though tame by the standards of contemporary features, the adult films of the late 60’s were an instant success at the drive-in. Consequently, the Diamond State Drive-In’s name was changed, and for nearly 20 years the Hi-Way 13 Drive-In prospered with this new and controversial fare. By the mid 80’s, though, even this market had lost its vitality, and as occurred with so many outdoor theatres at the time, the Hi-Way 13 closed its doors as audiences migrated to a new generation of indoor theatres and patrons stayed at home choosing movies on cable television and video cassette instead.

Looking back across the years, prior to the establishment of the theatre on this site, the land was once occupied by a neighborhood ball field. Considering the drive-in’s timeline and what preceded it, it is evident that this location has been a source of recreation and amusement for the surrounding community for nearly three-quarters of a century, perhaps even longer.

Current condition: Still standing (could be re-opened) Address: 9690 S Dupont Hwy Felton, DE USA 19943 Web Page: [Web Link] Rating: Unknown Name: Not listed Drive-In For Sale!: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   09/02/2010 muffy53 visited it