This Calgary mall sits on the site of an old drive-in movie theatre
CF Chinook Centre is one of the busiest shopping centres in Calgary, but long before it was the bustling retail hub it is today, the site was home to a popular drive-in movie theatre.
The drive-in opened on May 12, 1949, and was owned and operated by Western Drive-In Theatres Ltd., a Calgary-based company that invested in the drive-in trend sweeping across North America.
Opening night featured a screening of Perils of Pauline, featuring Betty Hutton. Admission was just $0.60 for adults, while children under 12 got in for free, making it an affordable outing for Calgary families.
The theatre was built during the North American drive-in craze, right along MacLeod Trail. It featured a massive 60 feet by 45 feet outdoor screen and space for 650 cars, each spot equipped with its very own speaker box. Â
Provincial Archives of Alberta
The Chinook Drive-In was a Calgary summertime favourite, rain or shine; there were two screenings each night.
The theatre was only open for less than a decade. As Calgary’s population and city limits grew, the land just off McLeod Trail was becoming incredibly valuable.
On Sept. 13, 1958, the drive-in held its final screening of The Enemy Below, and only six days later, it was demolished to make way for the new Chinook Centre.
The drive-in is just one part of Calgary’s vast history, from storied neighbourhoods and nicknames for our city to funky facts about the city; every corner of Calgary has a story to tell, and the Chinook Drive-In Theatre is another piece of the puzzle.