September 4th, 2015: Fly In Movies

Yes, the first Fly-In & Drive-In Theater, in what is now Wall Township, NJ.
Edward Brown Jr. was 10 when he talked his father into taking him to NYC to see Lindbergh’s triumphant return. From that day he was plane crazy and learned to fly in his teens. In 1938 bought 700 acres, then asked the Belmar American Legion Post if he could borrow the WW I tank sitting out front. They told him the government disabled it before giving it to them, but have at it. Took him four hours to get it running and used it to clear his land and build a rudimentary airport.

In 1940 he became a Navy pilot, and flew the films of the Normandy Invasion to President Roosevelt. After being discharged he worked on the airport then in 1948 opened the first Fly-IN Drive-In movie, with room for 500 cars, and 25 small planes in the back two rows. They would land at his airport, taxi into the movie through a separate entrance, and after the show he would tow then back to the airport with a Jeep.



As the years went by, he added restaurants, a bowling alley, a train ride to tour part of the airport and a miniamusement park, with a full-size Ferris wheel, miniature golf, a tilto-whirl and a merry-go-round. He also had a sand&gravel quarry. Brown's Monmouth Executive Airport became the largest private airport in the country. Not bad for a local kid.
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Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce Yes, the first Fly-In & Drive-In Theater, in what is now Wall Township, NJ. ...

In Wall Townshpi.

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Originally Posted by Scriveyn A theatre it is.

Just sayin' what it says on the photo ^^^

Good catch, I didn't notice that.
When my eyes scan across the photograph, left to right as I'm not oriental, they are drawn to the cars before I get to the end of the sign. It comes from a lifelong habit of ignoring billboards and watching traffic.

That was 1948 when we were putting on airs, trying to look edumacated, after being thrust into the position of leadership as a result of the world wide brawl we were much better suited for.

New Jersye.

I see deep in the crystal ball... deeper and deeper.. ah, now it's clear, you will have company... in a big black limousine... two men get out... very large men... the limousine sighs... they're twins... in fedoras... Vito and Guido... they knock on your door... the door opens... from the top... it's getting hazy, drat, I've lost reception.