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Queens
Chapel Drive-In
Ager Rd. at Hamilton St., off
Queens Chapel Rd., Hyattsville, Md.
capacity: 1000 cars
years of operation: 1955-83
currently: the West Hyattsville Metrorail
station
Built on the site of the former Queenstown Airport by the DC-based Johnson-Saunders chain, this drive-in made its mark by introducing stereophonic drive-in sound (a speaker on each side of the car!) to the Washington market, along with "the world's largest CinemaScope screen". The box office had six lanes, as did the cafeteria. In 1957 it was bought by the Redstone Drive-Ins chain (later National Amusements). The low-lying drive-in had a tendency to flood in heavy rains, unfortunately; in 1967 three employees were almost killed when flood waters trapped them in the concession/projection building. In 1983, the WMATA took over the property via eminent domain, and the drive-in closed to make way for a station on the new Metrorail Green Line.
Click here to see the 1979 USGS map depicting the drive-In and surrounding area. Notice the huge snack bar in the center!
Got some additional information, or some pictures or stories about this drive-in you'd like to share? Email me -- thanks!
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