Kenwood Drive-in (Demolished)
Louisville KY
Photo courtesy Steve Felder

Traveling around Louisville after a Cardinals game? If you had a little extra time, the Kenwood Drive-In Theatre made a great place to end the evening. The theater itself was fairly simple, but the colorful roadside marquee did a fine job of letting passing motorists know a movie was waiting just ahead.

The Kenwood opened in 1949 and entertained Louisville moviegoers for nearly 60 years. With room for about 700 cars, it became a favorite spot for families, first dates, and anyone looking to enjoy a movie beneath the stars. Sitting right next door to Ken Bowl, it made this stretch of Southside Drive a fun destination for an evening out.

Kenwood Drive-in Theatre
Louisville, KY
Photo courtesy Rosalind Causey

UPDATE: Here is a more recent photo of the Kenwood Drive-in Theatre in Louisville. Many thanks to Rosalind Causey for update. 04-08

UPDATE: The Kenwood Drive-in of Louisville KY has screened its last picture. The theater was to celebrate its 60th anniversary this summer, but it was not meant to be. The family favorite and city landmark will be greatly missed. No word yet on what the site will be used for. Many thanks to Rosalind Causey for update. 04-08

UPDATE: The drive-in closed in 2009 and was demolished a few years later. The familiar marquee was restored and still welcomes visitors to the business park that now occupies the site. 08-26

Skyvue Twin Drive-In Theatre (Closed)
Winchester, KY
Photo courtesy Barry Wells

If you're traveling old U.S. 60 through Winchester, it's worth slowing down for the Skyvue Twin Drive-In Theatre. The entrance didn't have an elaborate marquee, but once you spotted the pair of giant screens rising above the trees, you knew you had found one of Kentucky's classic outdoor movie theaters. It was the kind of place that made you think about warm summer evenings, a bag of popcorn, and a double feature beneath the stars.

The Skyvue first welcomed moviegoers in 1948 as a single-screen drive-in before later expanding into a twin. For generations it entertained families from Winchester and the surrounding countryside, eventually earning the distinction of being Kentucky's oldest continuously operating drive-in. Whether you listened through the old window speakers in the early years or tuned your car radio in later decades, the experience was much the same. Find a good parking spot, make a trip to the concession stand, and settle in as the sun slipped below the horizon.

Skyvue Twin Marquee
Winchester, KY
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

One of the things that made the Skyvue memorable was its unusual twin-screen arrangement. The two towering screens stood at different angles across the property, giving the drive-in a distinctive look that was easy to recognize from the highway. Even after the final movies were shown in 2015, the empty lot still held onto its drive-in character. The silent screens, quiet parking rows, and abandoned concession stand were enough to stir memories of busier nights when hundreds of cars filled the lot.

Sadly, nature had the final say. In March 2023, a powerful windstorm tore through Clark County and heavily damaged the long-abandoned theater, bringing down much of the towering screen structure that had stood watch over moviegoers for decades.

Skyvue Twin Marquee
Winchester, KY
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

Old drive-ins have a way of sparking the imagination. Even after the projectors go dark, it's easy to picture children playing before dusk, families unfolding lawn chairs, and the glow of a movie lighting up the Kentucky sky. Places like the Skyvue remind us that some of the best roadside discoveries aren't always the ones that are still open.

UPDATE: The Skyvue is now closed. 12-15

UPDATE: The Skyvue Twin Drive-In closed in 2015. Much of the remaining theater was destroyed during a severe storm in 2023. 08-26

Beverly Drive-in Theatre (Demolished)
Hattiesburg, MS
Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack

After driving through nothing but the rural farmlands of Mississippi, the 100 x 75 foot screen of the Beverly Drive-In in Hattiesburg is a sight for sore eyes. The twin screen theater opened on May 29th, 1948. It suffered several closings during 1987 until it went under for good. In 2001 it was reopened and is being leased from the daughter on the original owners by the chain of Norton and Suick. Neon stars dance in blinking patterns on the backside which faces Route 49 and remnants of a miniature golf course are visible. The Beverly parks 500 cars. Many thanks to Steve/Back on Tack for info.

The Beverly first opened on May 29, 1948, and eventually grew into a twin-screen theater that welcomed generations of moviegoers. With room for hundreds of cars, it became a favorite place for family outings, first dates, and warm summer nights beneath the stars. One of its more unusual features was the owner's home, built right beneath the giant screen tower. Remnants of a miniature golf course beside the theater added to the roadside appeal, making it more than just a place to catch a movie.

Beverly Drive-in Theatre (Demolished)
Hattiesburg, MS
Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack

After closing in 1987, the Beverly got a second chance when it reopened in 2001. For a few more years, movie fans once again filled the lot and watched films beneath the big screen. Sadly, Hurricane Katrina brought that comeback to an abrupt end in 2005, heavily damaging the theater and ending its run for good.

The old drive-in stood abandoned for several years, becoming one of Mississippi's most recognizable forgotten landmarks. Its historical significance was recognized when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008, but preservation came too late. A fire in 2010 destroyed much of what remained, leaving only memories and photographs of one of the state's great roadside theaters.

UPDATE: The Beverly Drive-in had a fire back on Saturday October 30, 2010 in the early morning. According to the Hattiesburg American article, just the screen tower's metal framework remains. The drive-in had been closed since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Many thanks to David Hughes for update. 11-10

UPDATE: The Beverly Drive-In has since been demolished, and the property has been redeveloped. 08-26