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Airline Drive-In Theatre
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4412 Newcastle Rd
Oklahoma City OK
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| Record #16406 |
Opened: June 9, 1950
Closed: September 15, 1973
Demolished: Yes (date unknown)
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Capacity: 600 cars
Architect(s):
Architectural Style(s):
National Register:
Current Organ: none |
| Also Known As: |
| Previously operated by: Barton Theatres, Gulf States Theatres |
Information for this tour was contributed by Wesley Horton. The Airline Drive-In was located at Newcastle and Meridian and opened on Friday, June 9, 1950 with "Wagonmaster" starring Ben Johnson and "The Gal Who Took the West". The 600-car theater was owned by Barton Theaters and was leased to Gulf States Theaters from 1970 to 1972.
The theater closed with "Bullitt", "Bonnie and Clyde" and "Shootout" on September 15, 1973.
The Airline Drive-In closing corresponded with the insolvency of Greater Oklahoma City Amusement Corp. They ceased operations in the city on September 15, 1973, closing not only the Airline Drive-In, but the North Penn Twin Drive-In, Northwest Highway Drive-In, the Soldier Creek Drive-In, the Sooner Twin Drive-In, and the 77 Drive-In Theatres. The Northwest Highway, Sooner Twin and possibly the Soldier Creek drive-in would be operated briefly under different ownership.
The Airline Drive-In was located on Newcastle Road near Will Rodgers Airport. During the 1950s and early 1960s its location placed it in a rural area midway between the city and the airport. One of the things which doomed this drive-in was an expanding highway system in the city area. Part of the drive-in was taken by imminent domain for use as a highway to the airport. Although the state took a small part of the land located at the back of the lot, this was enough to doom the drive-in during the 1970s. Today, a drive down Newcastle Road to Meridian reveals the former site of the Airline only by the presence of several large evergreen trees which formerly lined the screen.
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Last featured 8/27/2002. Last edited 9/4/2022.
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