It was actually in 1949 that Mr. Harry Chertcoff planned to build a 1,000 car drive-in about four miles east of Lancaster along the Lincoln Highway. Was going to cost him about a quarter of a million dollars. But, it never happened. Three more outdoor theaters were proposed in the next few years, but the only one that was ever built was that original one that Mr. Chertcoff proposed. On May 23, 1950 the "Sky-Due" theater opended on Lincoln Highway East, at the site of what is now Tanger Outlets. A full-page ad in the newspaper told of the opening with a playground for kids and a refreshment stand.
Opening of the Sky-Vue |
Another full-page ad was posted in the local newspaper. This time the movie was "Rhapsody" which starred Elizabeth Taylor. Then in 1956 a Maryland-based partnership began to build a theater along Route 462 just east of Columbia. It opened on August 9, 1956 with the movie "A Man Called Peter". When baby-boomers reached their teen years, the number of drive-ins had grown to an all-time high in the USA of 4,063 in 1958. A few years later I turned 16 and before long I had a 1958 Chevy Impala convertible which was a real hit at the drive-in. Put the top down on it and I could sit three in the front and four in the back. Didn't make for a very romantic evening at the outdoor movies, but that was reserved for another evening the following week with my special girl. In 1962 a battle raged in Lancaster over the long standing "Blue Laws" that forbid entertainment venues from operating on Sundays unless township residents voted to allow such operation. Didn't bother the drive-in owners, since they probably factored in the fines in their ticket price for the Sunday movies.
The screen of the Columbia Drive-In could be seen from the road. X-rated movies slowed the traffic. |
So true and the days of the drive in movies were the best. The Sky view, the comet. So much fun. We were lucky to have had all of that entertainment. I bet you were not the only one to drive away with a speaker.
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