The Story of the Twin Drive-In Theater
Image courtesy cinematreasures.org.
After nearly 60 years of entertaining visitors, the Twin Drive-In Theater in Independence has permanently closed.
The closure is reportedly due to the property’s landlord increasing rent by 350%, per a report from KCUR.
Originally opened in 1965, the Twin Drive-In entertained countless visitors under the stars for six decades. The iconic theatre featured two outdoor screens with a capacity of 1,400 cars. Audio was provided via FM radio broadcast.
Image courtesy cinematreasures.org.
Image courtesy cinematreasures.org.
During COVID, drive-ins were among the few entertainment venues that could remain open and experienced a surge in popularity.
Movies scheduled for the theater's final weekend on November 15-17 included Goonies, Jurassic Park, Elf, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Over 1,600 cars packed the drive-in for the final weekend.
The closure leaves Kansas City with only one remaining drive-in theater: the Boulevard Drive-In, located between I-35 and Merriam Lane in KCK, which plans to open in 2025 for it's 75th season.
Read more: KCUR // KMBC // KCTV // Cinema Treasures