On July 15, 1949, the Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre south of Henderson began showing its first movie, “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” making it the oldest drive-in movie theatre still operating in North Carolina.
Mark and Jennifer Frank bought the theatre in December 2011 and have made a few changes since then. They upgraded to 4K digital projection in 2014 and expanded the dinner menu to include cheese steak sandwiches, fresh-cut French fries and funnel cake fries. The couple shows first-run movies every weekend.
These days the movie sound is heard on FM radio. “Most bring a portable FM radio, blankets and folding chairs to sit outside, in the back of their SUV or in the bed of their truck,” Mark Frank said.
Mark and Jennifer say it is a labor of love and they enjoy watching people experience the way movies have been seen for generations. “It is all about the memories” one set of grandparents said to Mark during a busy night. Another older couple brought the whole family to the drive-in and proceeded to show their kids and grandkids where they parked for “Rocky” starring Sylvester Stallone back in 1977.
The theatre is located about 20-25 minutes north of Wake Forest at 3336 Raleigh Road. Check out the theatre’s website, www.raleighroaddrivein.com, for movie show times, menu, and first-timers checklist page.
