66 Drive-In
- Retro roadside
- In Carthage, Missouri
- 0.1 mi from Route 66
- National Register of Historic Places
The 66 Drive-In, a historic outdoor movie theater, stands on the old Route 66 alignment in Carthage, MO. It opened in 1949, a good four years ahead of the first TV stations in the Joplin and Springfield area. It closed in 1985, then came back to life after a renovation in 1998. Named for the highway it faces, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
What is 66 Drive-In?
The theater spreads across a nine-acre site, with a big screen facing rows of parking. In the early years, car radios were far from standard equipment, so the lot was fitted with poles that held loudspeakers for each car. The speakers are gone now, but many of the poles still stand, a reminder of how people once heard the movie.
A playground was added during the baby boom years. The screen itself was made wider sometime after 1953 so it could show the new widescreen films.
History of 66 Drive-In
Opening night was September 22, 1949. Local television did not arrive for another four years, and when it did, Hollywood fought back with wider pictures; the drive-in adjusted its screen to match.
It eventually went dark, closing in 1985. A renovation brought it back in 1998, and it now shows films every week. Fans of the Pixar film Cars (2006) may notice that a drive-in with many similar features, including pole speakers and a neon marquee, appears in the movie's closing scenes.
Visiting 66 Drive-In: tips
The best way to experience it is to watch a movie, so check the schedule on this page before you plan an evening around it. It is listed as wheelchair accessible. Even in daylight, the marquee and the old speaker poles make a good photo from the road.
It sits a few miles from the heart of Carthage: the Cassill Place Historic District is under 3 miles away, the Boots Motel about 3 miles, and the Carthage South Historic District just over 3. Dinner in town, then a movie here, makes a classic Route 66 night.
Practical info
- Address
- 17231 Old 66 Boulevard, Carthage, MO 64836
- Phone
- +1 417-359-5959
- Website
- 66drivein.com
- Hours
- We have no opening hours for this stop yet — check the official site.
- On site & nearby
Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix
On the map
Full map66 Drive-In with the 6 closest stops. Tap a marker for details.
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Stops near 66 Drive-In
All of Missouri
2.7 mi from 66 Drive-In
.jpg/500px-Boots_Motel_(US_66).jpg)
3.0 mi from 66 Drive-In
3.2 mi from 66 Drive-In
3.2 mi from 66 Drive-In
3.9 mi from 66 Drive-In
5.5 mi from 66 Drive-In
Questions about 66 Drive-In
Does the 66 Drive-In still show movies?
Yes. It reopened in 1998 after a renovation and shows films on a weekly schedule. Check the times on this page before you go.
Is the 66 Drive-In in the movie Cars?
A drive-in with many similar features, such as pole-mounted speakers and neon signs on the marquee, appears near the end of the 2006 Pixar film Cars.
When did the 66 Drive-In open?
It opened on September 22, 1949.
Own or run 66 Drive-In? Send us a photo or a correction.