9. Moncrief Drive-In

5139 Moncrief Road

Opening to the public in March 1953, the Moncrief Drive-In served Jacksonville’s African American community. Constructed by National Theatre Enterprises, it was one of the city’s smallest drive-ins, accommodating up to only 350 parked vehicles. Adjacent to Moncrief Springs, it was later operated by Bailey Theatres. The Moncrief Drive-In closed and was replaced by multifamily housing in 1971.

10. Oceanway Drive-In

13141 Main Street North

The Oceanway Drive-In was Jacksonville’s northernmost drive-in theater. Independently owned and operated, the one screen theater was located on U.S. Highway 17 between Elizabeth and Drury Lanes. During the early 2000s, the former theater property became a part of the right-of-way acquired for the construction of Airport Center Drive.

11. Pine Drive-In

139 Eastport Road

The Pine Drive-In opened as a single screen drive-in theater during the 1950s. It was owned by Clark Film and located on Eastport Road, just east of U.S. Highway 17. During the early 1970s, the complex was expanded into a triple screen theater that could accommodate 300 vehicles. The theater closed for good during the mid-1980s. The 11-acre site is now the location of Fiber International, LLC. Fiber International is a global exporter of Southern Yellow Pine.

12. Playtime 3 Drive-In

6300 Blanding Boulevard

The Twin Hills Drive-In opened on Blanding Boulevard in 1948. Eventually rebranded as the Playtime 3 Drive-In, the property was expanded with additional screens during the 1980s and 1990s. The Playtime 3 Drive-In remained in business until closing its doors in May 2008.

13. Ribault Drive-In 1 & 2

4819 Soutel Drive

The Ribault Drive-In opened on Soutel Drive, near the Sherwood Forest neighborhood in 1955. The one screen theater was built to accommodate up to 400 cars. During its early years, it was operated by the Eastern Federal Corporation. In 1957, it was notable for an August 24th advertisement containing a quadruple run with films that began with the word “Hell.” When business began to decline, the property was then leased to independent operators until closing for good in the mid-1980s.

14. Skyview Drive-In

1887 Kings Road

Designed by noted local architect Roy Benjamin, the Skyview Drive-In was an exception to the typical drive-in movie theater in Jacksonville. While most were located on the edge of the city, the Skyview was located one block from Edward Waters University in an urban setting. Opening to the public in 1949, it was located on Kings Road and served the city’s African-American community. With a capacity for 375 cars, the one-screen Skyview operated for 15 years before closing for good in 1964. In 1968, the former Skyway Drive-In property was redeveloped into the Campus Towers multifamily housing complex.

15. Southside Drive-In

5515 Phillips Highway

Built by Joseph Ripley, the Southside Drive-In opened around 1952. Upon completion, the one-screen theater was leased out to Fred Kent as the operator. Located near the intersection of Philips Highway and University Boulevard, the 600 car capacity theater closed in 1980 and was demolished in the same year.

16. University Drive-In

3425 University Boulevard North

The University Drive-In opened during the mid-1960s to serve the then rapidly growing Arlington community. It was owned and operated by Eastern Federal Corporation, which also used the site as the chain’s district office for many years. In 1975, it became the subject of United States Supreme Court case Erznoznik v. City of Jacksonville. U.S. Supreme Court. This case presented a challenge to the facial validity of a Jacksonville ordinance that prohibited showing films containing nudity by a drive-in movie theater when its screen was visible from a public street or place. During the late 1970s, the theater site was acquired by K-Mart. After K-Mart’s closure, the property was renovated into a public library branch.

Beach Drive-In

1200 Shetter Avenue

Located in Jacksonville Beach, the Beach Drive-In was a one screen drive-in capable of accommodating 450 cars. Initially owned by Talgar Theatre Company chain, the drive-in opened in 1952 and was built by J.T. McCormick. A few years later, it was operated by Kent Theatres. Beach Drive-In did not stay in business long. In July 1960, the business closed.

Editorial by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com. Historic aerials are courtesy of the University of Florida. Current aerials are courtesy of Google Maps. Remaining photographs are courtesy of Cinematreasures.com