The Crescent and Airline were popular for drive-in summertime.
Drive-in Summertime for the movies
Two views of the Crescent Drive-in, in the 1601 block of Airline Highway, and one of the Airline Drive-in, down the street at 4000 Airline. While there was a drive-in theater in Lakeview during World War II, these theaters peaked in low-value locations in Jefferson and St. Bernard Parishes.
Before Maison Blanche
McKenzie’s, 1759 Air-Line Highway
The Crescent appealed to folks in Mid-City New Orleans. While it was two miles or so to the west of S. Carrollton and Tulane Avenues, developers built the drive-in on (at the time) low-value property. Additionally, a small strip center popped up next to the drive-in. McKenzie’s opened there first, in 1951. It was the first McKenzie’s in Jefferson Parish.
The vibe of drive-in summertime at the Crescent lasted into the fifties. Property values skyrocketed after WWII. It made more sense to develop the drive-in for other purposes. So, the owners of the Crescent moved further out of town. They opened the Airline in 1950. That drive-in lasted until 1980. A Sam’s Club store now stands on the site.
This photo of the Airline’s marquee displays the Gene Kelly-Frank Sinatra movie “On The Town.” While the movie opened in theaters in 1949, it migrated to the drive-in a few months later, in 1950.
Theater to Department Store
Crescent’s marquee in 1956, after it was re-developed.
So, the Crescent shut down. Developers constructed the Airline Village Shopping Center. Maison Blanche leased space there. They moved the Carrollton to Airline Village. MB converted Carrollton into a “Budget Store.” Airline became the chain’s first store outside of the city. MB promoted the new store on the Crescent’s marquee until a proper sign for the shopping center could be constructed.
When MB opened the store in Clearview Shopping Center, Airline remained for several years. The short distance between Old Metairie to Airline Village enabled the chain to keep the store alive. This was in marked contrast to Gentilly, where Gentilly Woods immediately closed upon the opening of The Plaza at Lake Forest.
All three photos here are from Franck Studios, courtesy THNOC.
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