Lorain Drive-in's New Concession Stand Opens – April 1958

A lot of the fun of going to a drive-in movie is hitting the concession stand to get some goodies. I'm partial to Sno-Caps, in addition to a glutton-size tub of buttered popcorn (hopefully with free refills).

Sixty-five years ago, the Lorain Drive-in was announcing the Grand Opening of its brand new cafeteria-style concession stand. Above is the full-page ad which ran in the Journal back on April 11, 1958.

According to the article below, which ran in the paper on April 10, 1958, the old concession stand had been destroyed in a fire on November 26, 1957. The new one was capable of handling 1,000 people in 20 minutes – which is pretty good, if you've ever been in a line during intermission.

The ad and the article reveal the names of the key people behind the theater operation: theater manager Richard Kline; concession manager Mary "Dolly" Henry; cashier Jesse Jeffrey; chief projectionist Henry Hoffner; Fieldman Jim Jeffrey; and field manager "AP" Williams.

Besides the movies (Island in the Sun, and The Lonely Man), there were some special incentives to attend the drive-in that night: 100 free pizzas; free flowers for the first 200 ladies; free popcorn and a free gift "for the kiddies"; a $10 cash prize "for the car with the most occupants"; a free treat "for doggie"; and Tricky Harry from WEWS TV "in person for the kids."

Tricky Harry?

Regular readers of this blog know that they're talking about Harry Albacker, who enjoyed a fine career as a professional magician and called Lorain home for a time. (Harry's been featured on this blog a few times.

Anyway, the concession building that was new in 1958 is still out there on the former Lorain Drive-in property. Today, it is the office for Hold-it Self Storage. Click here to visit its website, which has a special 'Drive In Nostalgia' page. (I have a storage unit there; the staff is terrific and the price is more than reasonable.)

Finally, here's a pair of aerial views where you can see the building. The vintage view is courtesy of the Lorain Historical Society; the lower one is from Google Maps.