Homewood Nation

I remember watching moves at the drive-in for free.  Back in the day, the kids from the surruonding neighborhood used to sit in the very 1st row and watch the movies for free.  This would occur during the summer weekdays.  We would turn the speakers up to listen.  I remember doing this for several years, until some rowdies started bullying the paying customers on their way to the concession stand.  Then the cops started chasing us away.

Thanks for posting, Albert - Where was the drive-in located? When was this?

On Washington Blvd.   Actually, it was right behind Westinghouse High's football field.  We had a path that took us through a hole in the fence and led straight down to the front row.  I think this happened from 1956 to1959.  I lived on Gerritt St (7 houses from 'the House') until 1961.  According to the local lore, there actually was a lake at that spot.  I think there was an 'Eat & Park' on Washington Blvd near the drive-in.  They acually had young ladies take the order and deliver it on a tray that they attached to your car window.  They were called 'car hops.'

The Eat 'n' Park was still there when I moved to Homewood in 1984 - or at least I assume that it was the same one, on Washington Blvd. But the drive-in was long gone. It would great if we could have someone dig up a picture of it...

Here are a couple of burbs about Silver Lake Drive-in and Eat & Park.

http://cinematreasures.org/theater/19878/

http://blog.eatnpark.com/2009/04/car-hop-incident-leads-to-love.html

Thanks for those, Albert. Now, is there ANYBODY who has a photo of the Silver Lake Drive-In? Ask your family and friends!

Silver Lake was actually a lake during the late 40's and early 50's. My
Dad took me fishing there for the first time. Later I would play hockey with the guy's if we couldn't get on the pond at Pgh. Hospital. In the 50's it became a drive in where we used to sneak couples in the trunk as we didnt' have enough money to pay for everyone. The Eat and Park I believe was the first in Pgh.

This is wonderful history -- thanks to all of you for sharing these memories!

Across from Silver Lake Drive in was a swimming pool for black folk  because we were not allowed to swim in the Highland Park Pool until the early 50's  and was located where the fire dept's training house is now on Washington Blvd