About the Diamond State Drive-In Theater

The Diamond State Drive-In Theatre opened for business on August 12, 1949. As developed by Courtney Evans, on land owned by Mildred and Albert Steele, the drive-in in 1949 was quite different than it is today. During its first year of operations, two large speakers mounted on opposite sides of the screen broadcast the sound. When conditions were right, it was possible to hear the movie three miles away in the town of Felton. Not surprisingly, when the Steeles purchased Mr. Evans’ interest in the operation in 1950, this system was replaced by in-car speakers. The original screen was also quite different from the one that you are familiar with today. Transplanted from Camden, New Jersey, it was constructed of fabric and could be raised or lowered on a supporting framework. A well-corroborated story has it, that one night some local boys cut the tethers during a show, sending the screen to the ground just as a plane in the picture went down in flames. This curiosity was eventually replaced by a rather small but more conventional movie screen, which was succeeded, in 1972, by the structure now in place.

While the amenities of public accommodations have changed along with popular expectations, those found along rural roadsides in the 40’s and 50’s were often quite rudimentary by contemporary standards. The facilities featured at the Diamond State Drive-In Theatre during this period were certainly no exception. Until the Diamond State Roller Rink opened in 1954, ladies and gentlemen were offered restroom accommodations in outhouses concealed behind a rose trellis. When the adjacent roller rink opened in ‘54, ladies were offered accommodation inside; the gentlemen’s outdoor facilities prevailed until 1968 when the current restrooms were constructed.

Although details vary through the decades, with the exception of it’s nine-year hiatus from 1986 until 1995, the Diamond State Drive-In Theatre has been a focal point of entertainment in central Delaware.

During the drive-in’s early years, Delaware’s Blue Laws prohibited the exhibition of motion pictures on Sundays. To circumvent these restrictions, the Steeles presented music shows on a stage in front of the screen. Albert’s band, The Blue Hen Ramblers, was a familiar attraction, as was Pollie Peach Tree, a comedy routine between sets, featuring Mildred Steele. Bill Haley performed at the Drive-In, without his Comets, as did Tex Ritter.

In 1966, the Drive-In was leased to a Baltimore-based exhibition circuit for the next 20 years. Disappointed with the results from their initial engagements, R/C Theatres ventured into the burgeoning field of adult entertainment. Though tame by the standards of contemporary features, the adult films of the late 60’s were an instant success at the drive-in. Consequently, the Diamond State Drive-In’s name was changed, and for nearly 20 years the Hi-Way 13 Drive-In prospered with this new and controversial fare. By the mid 80’s, though, even this market had lost its vitality, and as occurred with so many outdoor theatres at the time, the Hi-Way 13 closed its doors as audiences migrated to a new generation of indoor theatres and patrons stayed at home choosing movies on cable television and video cassette instead.

Looking back across the years, prior to the establishment of the theatre on this site, the land was once occupied by a neighborhood ball field. Considering the drive-in’s timeline and what preceded it, it is evident that this location has been a source of recreation and amusement for the surrounding community for nearly three-quarters of a century, perhaps even longer.

As operators of the Diamond State Drive-In Theatre since 1995, it has been a privilege to serve this community as custodians of Delaware’s only drive-in theatre.

Since its debut in 1949, as Kent County’s first auto-theatre, the Diamond State Drive-In has evolved with its surroundings. As new residents moved to Kent County, many became new patrons at the theatre. Parallel to the benefits of this growth, an ominous threat ushered in by the community’s changing land use patterns, has been the escalation of real estate values along Route 13.

As many long-time residents and frequent drive-in patrons will recall, from the theatre’s inception in August 1949 until June 2007, the Diamond State Drive-In Theatre remained under the ownership of Mildred and Albert Steele. The passing of Mildred (who would often be seen by the ticket booth), in 2005, and of Albert, in 2007, marked the end of this continuum. With their passage, ownership of the property was transferred.

Subsequent to this transition, an appraisal by Dover Consulting Services, Inc. in July assessed the likely return on the sale of the land, upon which the drive-in is situated, at $1.2 million. To prepare the site for sale, the appraiser recommended that the land be vacant.

The Diamond State Drive-In Theatre is a roadside cultural attraction from an era far removed from present land use patterns. The drive-in operation can not survive on property where prospective land values mandate a higher intensity use. Consequently, 2008 will be the Diamond State Drive-In Theatre’s final season of operations.

While our operations continue during the coming months, we would like to extend our gratitude to you for your support throughout the past 13 years. The residents of Kent County incorporated the Diamond State Drive-In Theatre into the fabric of the community to a measure which exceeded our expectations; we hope that our presentation of the theatre has met yours.

Unlike 1995, when the theatre reopened, there will be no sequel to this story. When the Diamond State Drive-In Theatre closes at the end of the 2008 season, its screen will go dark forever.

As you consider the imminent departure of the drive-in, evaluate it in perspective with the state of our community today. Please, don’t lament the loss of the drive-in; savor your memories of it, and instead, focus on the preservation of Delaware’s other threatened resources.

Collectively, we are responsible for the state of our community. Our actions as residents, elected officials, realtors, developers, and land owners & buyers must reflect that social conscience, or it will be no small wonder when Delaware’s limited historical and cultural assets are vanquished. The vanity of progress will leave the streetscapes of our state as homogenized and indistinct as any other suburban location: our legacy for generations to come.

‘Til we meet again on a starlit night.

Although the end of 2008 will see the closing of the Diamond State Drive-In at its current location, this does not mean that the Drive-In will close forever!

We are looking for 6+ acres of land in Kent or Sussex county in Delaware, or Caroline county in Maryland. If you own or know of someone who owns a parcel of land and who is willing to discuss sale or long term lease, please contact us, including your name, phone number, location and acreage of the lot. We will get back to you promptly.