Ralph Semb, owner of Weatherheads Convenience Store in Erving on Route 2, has told me that there was a drive-in theater located on the Weatherheads property many years ago.
Located in Turners Falls on Turnpike Road was the Park Villa, once a popular place to go. The Park Villa Apartments are now on that property.
On the Mohawk Trail just beyond the power station near Charlemont was another drive-in theater. There was another in South Deerfield off Routes 5 and 10 but I don’t remember its name.
All of these drive-ins had a post near each car that held a speaker that gave people the sounds from the movie being shown.
The last one is the Northfield Drive-In Theater located just over the line in Hinsdale, N.H.. This one is still open but people use their car radio to get the sounds of each movie being shown.
Drive-in theaters were very popular in this area years ago. It was a fun night out for most families and hopefully Northfield’s will continue to operate.
Just another memory of mine of years gone by.
Robret Bitzer, a frequent contributor, lives in Erving.