I unearthed some more photos I shot of another abandoned drive-in theater, probably some time in the early 1990s. This one looks to be the Meadowbrook, but I can't say from where. I originally thought it might be in Florida, as I travelled there back then and vaguely recall taking pictures of a place like this. However, the flora doesn't look very Florida-like. An internet search tells me there was a Meadowbrook Drive-In in Middleboro, Massachusetts that closed in 1987. This is probably it, but I don't remember being in Middleboro. My archivist brother would be reprimanding me for not labelling these precious artifacts properly. If anybody knows anything about the Meadowbrook, I'd sleep better having solved this mystery.
This appears to be the Meadowbrook in Middleboro. I was down there today, and it very much resembles it, including the building. It is far more overgrown today, but it is located on Rt. 44 just east of the Raynham town line.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anonymous!
ReplyDeleteWas wondering, after seeing the Maine photo's taken in what we call "The County" in Northern Maine...Any chance that pic's may have been taken near Bar Harbor off Rt. 1 in Trenton, Maine...Looks just like the old Drive-in and entrance property to me!!!
ReplyDeleteYou know, that's a good possibility because we did take a trip to Bar Harbor back in the early 90s (although I don't specifically remember seeing a drive-in on that trip). Wish I had labelled the photo! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis is most definitely the Meadowbrook Drive-In in Middleborough, MA. I was out there just the other day. Sadly, it doesn't even closely resemble this anymore thanks to 22 years over overgrowth since its closing and the building decay.
ReplyDeleteI have posted some pictures online of what it looks like now:
www.photobucket.com/meadowbrook
Guest Password is: meadowbrook
enjoy :)
I filmed this drive in...at night and wanted to ask if I could use your images for a short documentary of "off the beaten path" stuff.
ReplyDeleteI believe this is the Meadobrook in Mass...in two images, there are obviouse Autumn foliage that Florida would never have. Plus the screen looks like the one I saw, and the speaker poles were white, and the shap of building/snack bar is the same.
Peace, John.
This is definately Meadowbrook in Middleboro,Ma. I live about five miles from there and distinctly remember the sign. It is wayyyyy more overgrown and did close in 1987.
ReplyDeleteGrew up in Middleboro and use to go to this drive in quite a lot. Couldn't believe how awful it looks now. It clsed the year I graduated H.S. in 1987. Really wish they would have been able to keep it open. Again thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteI heard a rumor recently that the Meadowbrook Drive In theater may reopen.
ReplyDeleteThey had the best snack bar eva the clam cakes were better then kennys in onset i loved this place mike mecke
ReplyDeleteDefinitely the Meadowbrook Drive-in In Middleboro. Go by it frequently. A lot of good times!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely The Meadow rook in Middleboro , Ma. Saw the original Woodstock move there in 1970. . . About 5 times. Also frequented the Raynham Drive In owned by good family friends, Bill and Louise Murby and family and my father was a projectionist there during summer seasons. Saw Beatles Hard Days Night and Help there when first released. Also spent many youthful nites at the Sky view Drive In in Brockton. Fondest memories of Raynham Drive In though cos I grew up in that once small town about 35 miles south of Boston. Gary Voller/Vero Beach Florida
ReplyDeleteWould enjoy exchanging comments/memories with anyone else who remembers these days of simpler entertainment/life garyvoller@Comcast.net
ReplyDeleteGrew up down the street from there ! Dad was a police officer and would get free admission . Seen so many movies , I think my first was either Flubber or Herbie . They had the BEST crab cakes !
ReplyDeleteThank you for your posts about the Meadowbrook Drive In. Unfortunately, I moved to area in 1989 and missed all but the decay of this old drive in. Does anyone know if this land is for sale?
ReplyDeleteJohn - 774-218-4321 call or text
This is definitely the Middleboro Drive-In in Middleboro Mass. I live directly up the street I used to frequent the place many many times, I have also been there to take photos I was there last week you can't even get through the brush and trees anymore. However the screen still stands.
ReplyDeleteWent there back in 2016. The brush is extremely bad. The screen and projection building are still standing, but the building is very decomposed. Always used to see the screen from the road and wonder what it was. After doing some google earth research, I made the track in there.
DeleteDefiantly Meadowbrook, saw a few movies there when I was young. Herbie and pink Panther movies.
ReplyDeleteThis is the Meadowbrook Drive-In, located in Middleboro, MA 02346. You can clearly see the name "Meadowbrook" on the sign, although it is faded. It was originally called the Middleboro Drive-In. According to the records I have researched they say that this drive in closed in 1962. But I remember going there to watch "The Incredible Mr. Limpet" followed by "My Fair Lady" with my Dad later than that. The Incredible Mr. Limpet was released on January 18, 1964, so it couldn't have closed then. I then found this; ...The Middleboro Drive-In was a large 1,100-car drive-in on Route 44 in Middleborough, MA which opened by 1958. Later renamed Meadowbrook Drive-In, it was closed on August 12, 1982, with Henry Thomas in “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” & Burt Reynolds in “Smokey and the Bandit”. The screen still stands, as well as the remains of the snack bar/projection booth. It has since been sold to a developer. On 12/3/2013 this was published in the Wicket Local Newspaper: Middleboro drive-in lot sells at auction
ReplyDeleteAlice Elwell Enterprise Correspondent
MIDDLEBORO – A large swath of land along Route 44 was sold for $575,000 Thursday at a private auction to Wareham-based ABC Commercial Properties.
The land has been unoccupied since 1986 when the last movie was shown at the Meadowbrook Drive-in.
Justin Manning of JJ Manning Auctioneers auctioned it, and asked for an opening bid of $2 million. There was no action until he dropped the price to $500,000. “Now we have an auction,” Manning said when two of the six registered parties began to bid.
Bharat Patel, ABC’s president, said after the auction that it was too early to speculate on how he’ll develop the property. Patel plans to sit down at the drawing board with engineers to figure out its best use.
These are all facts, my friends. You can look them up. Some of them I remember, as watching The Incredible Mr. Limpet with my Dad in 1964 and sadly the closing.