It will be Southern colonial in appearance and will be a thing of beauty residents will be proud of.” Despite the fight for the location at 103 rd and State Line, Dickinson was unable to continue his plans and bought land further to the south at 123 rd and State Line where the population was scarce. There were no zoning laws prohibiting its construction, but residents nearby weren’t about to go down without a fight.ĭickenson told the Kansas City Times, “We plan to call it the Leawood Drive-In. The land fell in Oxford Township, where the zoning board for the area wasn’t yet established until August 1952. They cited “traffic dangers, noise, and trash” that would result from the business. Within a short time, 10 residents in the area filed a petition to stop the construction that had already begun. In 1952, he had plans to build on a 32-acre tract of land at 103 rd and State Line on the Kansas side, just to the west of the small town of Dallas, Mo. In 1946, Dickinson expanded into the drive-in business, opening theaters in Salina, Shawnee and Pittsburg. By 1930, he had 30 theatres in operation in Missouri and Kansas. With two screens, it was an immediate success and allotted him the funds to buy another theatre in Lawrence, Ks. After abandoning his family’s Ford tractor business, Dickinson bought his first movie theatre in Manhattan, Ks. The Leawood Drive-In would have never happened without the enterprising spirit of businessman Glen W. Leawood Drive-In opening – 1953 Dickinson Pushes the Drive-In Business The drive-in’s demise and a new owner’s fight for a commercial enterprise in the heart of a residential area showcases an interesting period of history that many will not soon forget. For over two decades, the Leawood Drive-In entertained thousands of people. The Leawood Drive-In was one of several drive-in movie theaters in the Kansas City metro area, but its remote location and state-of-the-art facility were something to remember. Armed with buttered popcorn and sodas from the concession stand, people sat excitedly in their vehicles with their attention toward the big screen. With easy entertainment on their minds, they drove their cars to 123 rd and State Line to catch the latest box office hits. Warm summer nights drew hundreds of people to the countryside. Courtesy Leawood Drive-In was host of many memories in the Southland Sign up for a FREE email newsletter subscription to get the best Kansas City deals delivered to your inbox daily.Photo: Leawood Drive-In in 1953. Posted by Amy on September 5, 2020| Updated August 12, 2022Filed Under: Entertainment The Boulevard Drive In Theatre is located at 1051 Merriam Lane, Kansas City, KS.Ĩ:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Kansas City Automotive MuseumĤ:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Beltonġ2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | $5.00 | The UndergroundĨ:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | The Undergroundġ:00 pm | $10.00 | Boulevard Drive-In Theatreġ0:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Spillman Event Centerġ0:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Kansas City Automotive Museum Entry fee is $30 and includes two weekend passes (including the movies). Spectators: Tickets are $10 per day and allow you to stick around for the drive-in movies shown on both nights.Ĭar Show Entries: If you want to show off your own ride, you can enter any make, model or year – if it has wheels, it’s welcome. Tickets to the Pistons ‘N’ Pin Ups Car Show are a great all-day value. Just put on your best bell bottoms, maxi dress or other vintage clothing. Rusty Metal Productions and The Boulevard Drive In Theatre are co-hosting this family-friendly event at the theatre Saturday, September 3 and Sunday, September 4.Ĭome enjoy hot rods, live music, vendors, fun photo opportunities and drive-in movies. Enjoy two days of Rockabilly and Zombie-themed fun over Labor Day Weekend in Kansas City at the Pistons ‘N’ Pin Ups Car Show.
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