The Sinking Spring Drive-In was opened on August 3rd, 1955. It was considered a first-class operation at the time of it’s opening. Those driving east on Route 422 from Wernersville could see the screen from nearly a half a mile away.
Shortly after it’s opening, it was bought by Fox Theatres of Reading, PA, whom also operated the Reading Drive-In and the Mt. Penn Drive-In. They continued operating until the late 1980’s when the Drive-In was initially closed down. With a renewed interest in drive-in theaters, it opened again around Memorial Day 1990, debuting with Back to the Future III. It was then operated until 1996 when it was sold to be razed and strip mall shopping center to be built in it’s place.
In 1958, three years after Sinking Spring Drive-In opened, there were approximately 5,000 American drive-ins. Today, there are only about 400.
The huge screen, 86 feet high and 142 feet wide, will receive images from a powerful projector with a “throw” of 380 feet. The average drive-in uses projectors having a throw of 200 to 225 feet.
For the opening night, orchid corsages flown from Hawaii, will be distributed to the first 10000 women entering the theater. Free popcorn will be distributed to children. Among the added features of the theatre will be free milk and bottle warming services for infants, a patio of light green concrete with umbrella-covered tables for dining and outdoor dancing.
Kemper said a swimming pool will be added to the operation next summer. It will be open for day and night use. Unfinished for the opening night is a proposed rainbow fountain and rock garden at the entrance. Landscaping too, has been delayed by the dry weather.
As far as I know, the swimming pool plans never came to fruition. However a weekend flea market did operate on the site in the mornings for many years.
All Pictures from May 1992 from the John Lewis collection.
Newspaper Article from the August 2nd, 1955 Edition of the Reading Eagle
Information credit: Cinematreasures.org
It should be mentioned that a flea market operated on the site for many years
I remember seeing the movie Twister there. Wish they world reopen it again.
how are they gonna reopen it when they tore it down?????
Still standing on Friday.
Movie screen in sinking spring still standing?where?Redners is where it was
My Aunt and Uncle lived in a house on the right of the theatre. When you drove in to pay just drove to left and there it was. I could see the screen in back yard but the back of screen faced us so would take a blanket and sit on grass on the side and watch movies. When I was older worked in snack bar with young kids worked all summer and saved money for vacation last 2 weeks of August. Then for years worked in kitchen at Flea market for years. Loved those years tired but so much fun because I also had a full time job as a hairdresser ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I have great memories of that snack bar at the flea market and their outstanding frenched fries!! I remember they used to come in those brown paper cups with the french fry graphics on them (just like the one in the picture below!). I used to hang out outside there all the time at the Marx TV Games video game stand. He used to set up right against the snack bar wall.
I remember going to the flea market with my parents when i was little. Wish this was still around to share with my kods
I saw Woodstock there. The giant screen really enhanced the experience. I remember sitting out on a lawn chair at the Drive in on a beautiful warm summer night under the stars. It was great.
Also, remember taking the kids there on a few Sunday nights in the PJs. It was a nice cheap family night out.
Thanks for the memory,Alexa.
I was born in 1986 and have GREAT memories of the flea market that used to be here. It was HUGE. I remember Mark from Marx TV Games in Shillington (used to be right next to the old K-Mart up on the hill) always set up an awesome stand here up against the wall of the snack bar. I used to love wheeling and dealing for video games and eating those awesome hand cut frenched fries from the snack bar. I remember Jake Haine, owner of the nightclub Unisound used to always set up there too to sell car stereos and the like.
Coming from a family that was always VERY into flea markets, we were VERY sad to see the place go. Of course it located 1/2 mile down the street at Willow Glen park, which has been going strong since, but is sadly a mere shadow of what the drive-in flea market was. Funny, at this point the flea market has probably been at the Willow Glen location longer than it ever was here.
As far as the theater is concerned I can remember seeing three movies there. Pure Luck with Danny Glover and Martin Short, Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead with Christina Applegate, and my best memory was going in my dad’s copper 1975 Chrysler Cordoba to see Doc Hollywood with Michael J. Fox. Sad to say, I’ve never had the privilege of going to a drive-in theater since, but would relish at the opportunity!
Hey Kevin,
I enjoyed watching your comments come in as you worked your way through the site. Thanks for adding your thoughts, insights and memories!