…like when you park behind the abandoned Pennsauken Drive-In Theatre when you go out to dinner 😁😁😁😁😁
drive in theater lawnside new jersey
White Horse Pike Drive-In (Closed, NJ)
A white horse stands tall atop a towering post, in the center of the Lawnside Village shopping center. The last remnant of the White Horse Pike Drive-In Theatre.
If ever there were a mystery to solve about a drive-in, the White-Horse Pike Drive-In would be it! I pass this location almost daily and am astonished at the lack of information available on this drive-in. Usually my searches lead to numerous hits, resulting in time-consuming sorting through of information. However, I have hit a roadblock, a blockade! Here is what I can tell you about the drive-in:
- The drive-in opened between 1963 and 1965. I know this because of Aerial shots of the location. The 1963 photo does not show any development of the drive-in. By 1965 the drive-in is visible from above. (http://historicaerials.com/)
- The drive-in was owned by Sameric Theatres (Sam Shapiro). Sameric also owned the Black Horse Pike Drive-In Theatre. Sameric ran the Eric Theatres as well, including one in Pennsauken. Here is an advertisement from 1967 from the Courier Post newspaper:
- An advertisement for Burger Chef, a once popular fast-food chain, boasts being next to the drive-in theatre (September 1966): http://jsfburgerchef.homestead.com/BCLawnside.html
- The drive-in closed and was demolished by 1969 (no exact date found…).
- The 1970 aerial shows the Lawnside Shopping Center already developed on the site.
- There is a May 18, 1970 advertisement for Rickel Home Center store. It says that it is next to the Pathmark, indicating Pathmark is already there! http://www.flickr.com/photos/42444189@N04/5846126871/in/set-72157632475918257
- Two Guys Department Store opened in 1969 at the Lawnside Shopping Center. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42444189@N04/5769039301/)
Okay, to sum it up:
White Horse Pike Drive-In Theater
- Opened: Between 1963-1965
- Closed: By 1969
- Owned by Sameric Theatre Corp.
White Horse Pike Drive-In
310 White Horse Pike
Lawnside, NJ 08045
Any additional information would be appreciated!
A huge thank you to John (http://www.flickr.com/photos/42444189@N04) – he provided the advertisements seen on this page. Check out his flickr page for local advertisements and photos.
Drive-In Theater Adventures 