2012 THE LAWRENCE DRIVE IN THANKS TO CAM CAMERON!

I have been a "nostalgia merchant" for well over 60 years, so PLEASE, I ask you to refrain, indeed, spare me of your story of 2, 3, or more people hiding in the trunk of your car and gaining access to the wonderful world of what we all knew as the "PASSION PIT." For years I have been searching for a graphic showing that late, great movie venue. Lo and behold, here's a view from the Duke University Library R.C. Maxwell Collection. As usual, the photo is a pristine view of a U.S. Route 1 before it became busier than 5th avenue and 42nd street in the big apple.

JUST LOOK AT THE RURAL COUNTRYSIDE!

SO THERE I WAS, VERY HAPPY TO FIND THE ABOVE GRAPHIC FROM THE R.C. MAXWELL COLLECTION, AND ALONG COMES CAM CAMERON WITH THE FOLLOWING BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS OF THE LAWRENCE DRIVE IN DATING BACK TO OPENING NIGHT,
AUGUST 23, 1949. I HAVE DELETED THE EARLIER POST ON THE LAWRENCE AND ADDED CAM'S OFFERING. CAMERON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THESE EXCELLENT PHOTOS FOR OUR CURRENT VISITORS, AND FOR THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO VISIT IN THE FUTURE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE LAWRENCE THEATER MAP WAS PROBABLY TAKEN WITH A DIGITAL CAMERA AND THE DETAIL IS LOST, BUT IT STILL GIVES AN IDEA OF THE LAYOUT OF THE LAND.

Anonymous said...

Tom you mention rural; in 1960 we would play a game on trips with Dad. After a jaunt to Vermont and getting off the Parkway, there were only three or four traffic signals till home in Trenton. The object was to not stop at a red light. I loved that stretch especially for the Swifts or Clarksville Diner or the Stewarts Root Beer.

Passing the Drive In meant you were home.

Ed Millerick

Monday, June 11, 2012

Anonymous said...

Sorry Tom; allow me a last comment. What amazed me was how straight and true US 1 was. From the high point of Sand Hill in South Brunswick you could see that straight concrete line right to Lawrence. It was like an arrow. Question? Why did they call the intersection at Princeton on US 1 ... "Penn's Neck Circle" ??

Ed M

Monday, June 11, 2012

Anonymous said...

Correction: "Dutch Neck Circle" .. oops.