Alton Drive-In Theater

mcdude · 01-23-2010, 02:57 PM

Did you know that Alton used to have a drive-in theater? It was located on the site of McGrath's, and more recently, the Lakeside Variety (five and dime). Our forum friend RLW sent these along to me so I thought I'd post them for all to enjoy! The movies featured would indicate that this brochure is from 1958.

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RLW · 01-23-2010, 05:34 PM

I went to this drive-in to see Payton Place. Guess one couldn't be much closer to the area that it was written about to watch it.

Pineedles · 01-24-2010, 09:19 AM

For those not familar with RLW's movie experience.

The author, Grace, Metalious, wrote "Peyton Place" while living in Gilmanton, NH. The plot bears resemblances to a real-life story, in which a Gilmanton woman confessed to killing her father after years of abuse and burying the body beneath a sheep pen. In the book, character Selena Cross does the same with her stepfather

Nice post! Love the part about "Plus Cartoon".

Just Sold · 01-24-2010, 10:38 AM

Never got the chance to go there but I do remember when it was open. Thank RLW & McD.

riverat · 01-25-2010, 08:34 AM

Thanks McDude, I never knew there was a drive-in there, been going by that area since I was born (1954) in the back of my fathers studebaker, on the way to"camp" but cannot recall it.

RLW · 01-25-2010, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pineedles

For those not familar with RLW's movie experience.

The author, Grace, Metalious, wrote "Peyton Place" while living in Gilmanton, NH. The plot bears resemblances to a real-life story, in which a Gilmanton woman confessed to killing her father after years of abuse and burying the body beneath a sheep pen. In the book, character Selena Cross does the same with her stepfather

Nice post! Love the part about "Plus Cartoon".

You're right about the cartoons to keep the kids happy and usually they fell asleep before the main show came on. Also notice that you got 2 not just 1, but 2 movies with the cartoons.

SIKSUKR · 01-26-2010, 01:41 PM

Yikes, the Fraulein (It means girl good at bed) on the billboard. Pretty racey for 1958.

robmac · 01-26-2010, 07:02 PM

Wish I had been there then but never made it. Great though to hear about things around the lake that one were. Thanks McD

ghfromaltonbay · 01-27-2010, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

Yikes, the Fraulein (It means girl good at bed) on the billboard. Pretty racey for 1958.

It says "It means girl good or bad"....Fraulein is actually German for a young, unmarried woman. Frau is a married woman. But I do agree a racy title for 1958. Maybe it was banned in Boston so they played it in Alton.

Our first year at the lake was 1959, but at age 6 we wouldn't have gone to see this anyway. Bambi or Old Yeller was more our taste back then.

Tallyho · 01-28-2010, 11:26 AM

I remember the Alton Drive In, we would go two or three times a summer. One of the movies we saw was, "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon", with John Wayne. I was pretty young so, I don't remember too much about the movie. Being allowed to have popcorn, and candy, (Good and Plenty, Milk Duds, Sugar Babies, or Turkish Taffy), was probably the best part! Having a Coke would have been a treat too! In those days, we didn't have soda pop in the house all the time.

Gearhead · 01-28-2010, 12:35 PM

Where was it, and when did it come down? these days you can put a wide screen plasma TV on the wall in the garage for your own personal drive-in.

I recently drove up 28 from Allenstown to Wolfeboro following the vestiges of the old road. It's an interesting drive through the small towns in between, because the new highway often was cut through people's back yards. Some of the grand old homes that once greeted you along the road are now on a side road and forgotten like an old packard left in the woods a generation ago.

Gearhead · 01-28-2010, 12:38 PM

Um, okay I just re-read the first post and now I see where it was.

SIKSUKR · 02-03-2010, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghfromaltonbay

It says "It means girl good or bad"....Fraulein is actually German for a young, unmarried woman. Frau is a married woman. But I do agree a racy title for 1958. Maybe it was banned in Boston so they played it in Alton.

Our first year at the lake was 1959, but at age 6 we wouldn't have gone to see this anyway. Bambi or Old Yeller was more our taste back then.

I should have put my glasses on.

01-23-2010, 02:57 PM	#1
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,367 Thanks: 374 Thanked 1,057 Times in 495 Posts	Alton Drive-In Theater Did you know that Alton used to have a drive-in theater? It was located on the site of McGrath's, and more recently, the Lakeside Variety (five and dime). Our forum friend RLW sent these along to me so I thought I'd post them for all to enjoy! The movies featured would indicate that this brochure is from 1958. . __________________

01-23-2010, 05:34 PM	#2
RLW Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Alton Bay on the mountain by a lake Posts: 2,023 Thanks: 563 Thanked 444 Times in 311 Posts	Alton Drive-In Theater I went to this drive-in to see Payton Place. Guess one couldn't be much closer to the area that it was written about to watch it. __________________ There is nothing better than living on Alton Mountain & our grand kids visits.

01-24-2010, 09:19 AM	#3
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,542 Thanks: 1,071 Thanked 667 Times in 366 Posts	Peyton Place For those not familar with RLW's movie experience. The author, Grace, Metalious, wrote "Peyton Place" while living in Gilmanton, NH. The plot bears resemblances to a real-life story, in which a Gilmanton woman confessed to killing her father after years of abuse and burying the body beneath a sheep pen. In the book, character Selena Cross does the same with her stepfather Nice post! Love the part about "Plus Cartoon".

01-24-2010, 10:38 AM	#4
Just Sold Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Suncook, NH, but at The Lake at Heart Posts: 2,615 Thanks: 1,083 Thanked 434 Times in 210 Posts	Never got the chance to go there but I do remember when it was open. Thank RLW & McD. __________________ Just Sold At the lake the stress of daily life just melts away. Pro Re Nata

01-25-2010, 08:34 AM	#5
riverat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Alton, NH Posts: 722 Thanks: 337 Thanked 280 Times in 123 Posts	Thanks McDude, I never knew there was a drive-in there, been going by that area since I was born (1954) in the back of my fathers studebaker, on the way to"camp" but cannot recall it. __________________ Waking up in the morning is the greatest, everything after that is a bonus

01-26-2010, 01:41 PM	#7
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	Yikes, the Fraulein (It means girl good at bed) on the billboard. Pretty racey for 1958. __________________ SIKSUKR

01-26-2010, 07:02 PM	#8
robmac Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nashua,Meredith Posts: 951 Thanks: 213 Thanked 106 Times in 81 Posts	Wish I had been there then but never made it. Great though to hear about things around the lake that one were. Thanks McD

01-28-2010, 11:26 AM	#10
Tallyho Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 312 Thanks: 439 Thanked 16 Times in 13 Posts	Alton Drive In I remember the Alton Drive In, we would go two or three times a summer. One of the movies we saw was, "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon", with John Wayne. I was pretty young so, I don't remember too much about the movie. Being allowed to have popcorn, and candy, (Good and Plenty, Milk Duds, Sugar Babies, or Turkish Taffy), was probably the best part! Having a Coke would have been a treat too! In those days, we didn't have soda pop in the house all the time.

01-28-2010, 12:35 PM	#11
Gearhead Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Alton Posts: 166 Thanks: 13 Thanked 19 Times in 8 Posts	Where? Where was it, and when did it come down? these days you can put a wide screen plasma TV on the wall in the garage for your own personal drive-in. I recently drove up 28 from Allenstown to Wolfeboro following the vestiges of the old road. It's an interesting drive through the small towns in between, because the new highway often was cut through people's back yards. Some of the grand old homes that once greeted you along the road are now on a side road and forgotten like an old packard left in the woods a generation ago.

01-28-2010, 12:38 PM	#12
Gearhead Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Alton Posts: 166 Thanks: 13 Thanked 19 Times in 8 Posts	Um, okay I just re-read the first post and now I see where it was.