Delsea drive-in theatre ..back from the dead

The Delsea drive-in theatre, in Vineland, NJ, opened in 1949, & closed in 1987. It was last managed by Crazy Bob Madara, & Joe Pepitone, who is now a Cumberland county freeholder, & Crazy Bob's next door neighbor. They worked for AMC theatres in 1987. Bob was also a rural letter carrier, & Joe was teaching at a local school.

The drive-in sat idle & deteriorating for 17 years. In the spring of 2004, Bob, who was now retired from the US Postal Service & doing a daily radio show for WVLT Vineland, got a call from the new owner of the Delsea, DR. John Deleonardis. The DR. wanted to make the drive-in smaller, & put in a indoor skateboard park, & resteaurant in the back section. Bob took a leave of absence from WVLT, & help the DR. get the drive-in open by July, 2004.

On labor day weekend, the Delsea had an all night show. Over 700 cars showed up & nearly 300 had to be turned away. This was with no electric or water. Generators & portapots were brought in.

The opening ceramony was performed by local Philadelphia TV legend, Sally Starr, who cut the strip of film at the box office.

Crazy Bob Madara now owns the Moon drive-in in Linden, PA.
moondrive-in.com

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• drive-in
• theater
• entertainment
• news
• sally
• starr
• joe
• pepitone
• vineland
• nj
• crazy
• bob
• madara
• corky
• warren
• wvlt
• dennis
• burke

[Broncort1]

They tore down the Atco Drive-in back in 1990 to build a multiplex....and that is now closed, too. Time to get back at the multiplex and tear IT down and build a drive-in :-)

[crazybobdj]

@Broncort1 The Atco Drive-In is still there! It's behind the mutiplex. You can see it on Google Earth. If someone wants to restore it, I can help. Thanks, Crazy Bob.

[TakeDetour]

Thank God for drive-ins!!!

[markjerno]

I was here at the grand reopening of the Delsea Drive-in, I saw Sally Starr cut the film / ribbon. good time..

[monkeymhn7]

I lived in Vineland untill I was about nine years old. My family and Iused to frequent the drive in in those days. Untill a few weeks ago 1977 wsa the last time Id seen it. I sincerly hope to revisit it next time Im in N.J. KEEP IT ALIVE FO ME!!!

[TheZeke1974]

I wish someone would buy and restore the M 60 Drive In up near Mendon, Michigan. thats one of my fave ghost drive ins but id like to see it reopened. Its pretty much intact.

[lauberlandstudios]

I used to go there with my friends as a teen. Fantastic video, and I'm glad people can still enjoy the magic of a drive-in movie! Sorry, I may have snuck in a few times! LOL Kudos, Bob!!!

[snicker3001]

theres no skatepark behind the drive in

[pichahtakah]

Hey Bob! Don & Patty from Diamond State. Love your video just came across it .

[adoggperson]

I am orig. from Salem County NJ. I remember hearing about this theater when I was younger. Wasn't thee a drive-in off of 295 near woodbury, NJ? Thanks for posting.