MOVIE THEATERS:
Most folks born after 1970 cannot comprehend the idea that movie theaters in the 'good old days' featured just one (1) screen.  One (1) movie.  If you didn't like what's showing, you just hoofed it down the street to another theater.  Chances are, at least one of the downtown movie houses was playin' something you wanted to see.

Theaters, like motels and many restaurants, made works of art out of their marquee.  Birmingham had more than her share of neon beauty.  Pictured are but a sampling, provided to BIRMINGHAM REWOUND through the high generosity of the Dixie Neon Company, who created all this eye candy.......

No section on movie theaters is complete without a nod to a certain downtown theatrical landmark.  This picture is dated April 10, 1942, and is of the side entrance.

Turn down all sounds in your house, and put your ear to the monitor .... you just might be able to hear Stanleigh Malotte playing the Mighty Wurlitzer (the organ's real name is Wurlitzer Opus 1783).

Before its renovation and repurposing, it was the Carver Theater, bringing first-run movies to the African-American population in the days before integration.

According to this entry in Wikipedia, the Carver first opened its doors in 1935.  The picture to the right is from 1941.

Not much is known about this theater.  I can only venture a guess that it opened in 1941 (unless it had an earlier sign).   If anyone has further info, please enlighten us!

Dixie Neon Company is busy installing the sign for the new Auto Movies #1 on the Bessemer Super Highway. 

(Auto Movies #2 was in Montgomery)

I read somewhere that this drive-in had metal stalls for each vehicle to block the light and glare from Bessemer Super Highway, which in those pre-interstate days was a busy stretch of asphalt.

I believe this was part of the Waters chain (Newman Waters, who later conceived and built Eastwood Mall). 

This website says a tornado took out the screen tower in 1967, although the theater itself survived. 

It would open later in the year.  Newman Waters owned the theater and the adjoining property ... on which he built Eastwood Mall next door in 1960.  Today, Kmart and the rest of Eastwood Plaza occupy this site.

Picasso couldn't have created an artistic masterpiece this good.  The neon companies of the day had some incredibly creative minds at the helm. 

My spousal unit would have to mop my buttery remains off the floor if I were to see color film footage of this sign all lit up at night.

Early 1965 brought the arrival of a new drive-in.  The Airport existed until about 1973, when it was demolished to make way for expansion of the Birmingham Airport.

Hmmmm, Strange Bedfellows was also showing at the Eastwood Mall Theater at the same time.

This must be "eye candy"; my eyes are having a mean sugar rush right about now. 

One of the downtown movie houses which opened in the immediate post-war period, it lasted until some time in the early '80s. 

Judging by the movie showing, this would be from 1966.

The Thunderbird Drive-In opened October 4, 1968 on US-31 between Hoover and Vestavia.  This is looking northward on 31.  For being the main drag (the picture is dated July 1969) and I-65 not even a twinkle in a bulldozer's eye, there wasn't a lot of commerce along this stretch yet. 

It closed along about 1974-75.  Today, there are motels, strip centers and gawd knows what else where this drive-in used to sit.

Good gravy, it's a wonder folks my parents' age survived to have kids like me.

In all seriousness, this is probably from the '40s, and from a day when liability insurance agents were lonelier than the Maytag repairman.
(Dixie Neon company)

Fultondale and Gardendale area residents flocked to the Pine Bowl for fun, frolic and 7-10 splits. 

I have fond memories of seeing this sign lit up at night on trips into Birmingham from Madison during my early childhood. 

Years ago it was an AMF alley, but not by the time this picture was taken ... probably the early '80s, since there's also a sign announcing its new game room with "Donkey Kong" and "Pac-Man." 

Well, gag me with a Rubik's Cube.................
 

(Tim Hollis collection)

Yet another Dixie Neon masterpiece, the dancing couple on the sign were animated at night.

Feature: Kiddieland's 60th anniversary

(Tim Hollis)

This was the Russell Stover outlet in Roebuck as it looked in the early '60s.

(courtesy of Dixie Neon Company archive)

This page last updated 01/31/2015 -- 1206 AM EST

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