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Orleans Drive-in
Status: Abandoned
Location: 13750 Rte 31, Albion, NY 14411
Screens: 1
Capacity: 400 cars
Original owner: Clarence D. Miller; operated later by Lee Fried.
Opening date: July 14, 1955
Final season: 1985
What's there now: Undeveloped, overgrown lot. Marquee and snackbar building is still standing, screen town and ticket office demolished.

This page was last updated on January 19, 2023.

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Quadrangle map from 1998, courtesy of NYS GIS. Aerial image from 1995, courtesy of TerraServer USA. Aerial image from 2006, courtesy of Google Earth. Aerial close-up image from 2006, courtesy of Google Earth.
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Grand opening article from the Albion Advertisor on July 14, 1955. Grand opening ad from the Albion Advertisor on July 14, 1955. Orleans Drive-in marquee from 1999, courtesy of Jack Cindrich. Orleans Drive-in entrance from 1999, provided courtesy of Jack Cindrich.
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Orleans Drive-in screen from 1999, courtesy of Jack Cindrich. Orleans Drive-in snackbar from October 2007, courtesy of Rick Cohen. Orleans Drive-in brick oven from October 2007, courtesy of Rick Cohen. Orleans Drive-in projection room from October 2007, courtesy of Rick Cohen.

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Share your memories

To whom it may concern:
Here it is 4:30 in the morning and I've been up all night at the library. I had nothing better to do, but to think of some years gone by like way back in the 60's and 70's. For those of you that don't (but I believe you do)life was more simpler then, less violent, less complicated.
I think about these things alot and tonight I was going over the Internet checking out things "of the past"---oh, by the way, some people will tell you to forget that old past, but you know it's times like these when you remember things in your life that were good and did you no harm and it is good for you to still remember.
And so with that all in mind I came across this drive-in theatre in my browsing the Internet tonight. One that was out in the country (not a city)and I had forgotten all about it until tonight. And there she sits, in the open fields with all the trees around and it is good to see it.
I went to it with some neighbors back in the 60's. I see the old Rt.31---still going today and has always been there. You know, kind of faithful. You can always depend upon it to be there. But, I remember this drive-in (and I am glad to, too, because it surely was life to me and a simple one at that)just outside of Albion, N.Y. up by the old curve. Thanks for the pictures.
Thank you for time and I guess we are living in some difficult times, but we can look at pictures like these and remember how life was meant to be.
Thank again.

Sincerely,
Todd DeFrank
#1 - Todd DeFrank - 09/25/2008 - 04:44
To whom it may concern,
I forgot to add in my first email that is above this one, that I also went to this drive in with my parents a couple of times or so and I remember, but I was very young.
It is a good place to have one with all of the woods and fields around it.
By the way, why don't you bring it back. Seriously. I can't think of things that make a comeback, but you probably know what I mean. You could remodel the old concession stand (that way you could keep the same vintage one)and put in a new screen, clear the area for parking, and whatever. Drive-ins are still around and with Albion's higher population since the drive-in was closed, you may draw a crowd
and even people that would go to Lockport(The Transit Drive-In) or wherever to a drive-in; that is if you had decent movies.
I wish I could think of a great comeback (and I read about them once in awhile), but you must have heard of businesses that closed for years or been around for years and declined, but decided to try it again and remodel or start over again on the same property. So, why not? It just might work.
Thank you for your time and does anyone read these emails?
Take care.

Sincerely,
Todd DeFrank


#2 - Todd DeFrank - 07/07/2009 - 13:56
Dear Staff:
I am writing a third time just to say again, it was good going to the drive-in, because I was young and loved to enjoy life.
I love these pictures and it does bring back memories of life. The physical life when I was healthy and the beauty of that area. Also, just in general, how the future was way off and the real world was sort of across the ocean or outside of the county. Life was better then; not so difficult, but simple. Thank you for listening and for your time and I hope someone writes also.

Sincerely,
Todd DeFrank
#3 - Todd DeFrank - 05/10/2023 - 21:07
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