The Johnny All-Weather Drive-in Theater

Back in the days of drive-in movie theaters, Copiague boasted one of the largest drive-in move theaters the country! It operated from 1957 to 1964. There was also a movie house in Copiague in the 1920s. There are no movie houses in Copiague today (year 2007).

The Johnny All-Weather Drive-in was located on Sunrise Highway near where the Ford Dealership is today. The All-Weather was considered one of the nation’s largest drive-ins. It was called an “all weather” theater because in addition to the outside screen, there was also an indoor theater. There was parking for 2,500 cars. The indoor theater held 1,200 people. The site also included a playground, restaurant, cafeteria, and shuttle train to transport customers around the 28-acre facility.

Another movie house in Copiague

In the 1920s, Copiague had an indoor movie theater in the Marconiville section of town. As they were moving the movie house to a different location, a storm occurred. The movie house was destroyed¹.

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Footnotes

1. Eide, Elizabeth. “Copiague-Your Town and Mine.” Board of Education, Copiague Public Schools, Copiague, NY ©Elizabeth Eide 1973.

Web Explorations (external links)

information and posters advertising the drive-in theater—
http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/nytallid

Additional information about the Johnny Drive-In http://cinematreasures.org/theater.php/4666