Architect George Flickinger's sketch of the new "Melvin's", located along the west side of the first block of Haines Road, Springettsbury Township, York Co., PA (The York Dispatch, October 24, 1959, Page 12; Color added by S.H. Smith, 2021)
Remember the Record Hops at Melvin’s Drive-In on Haines Road
Jean Kohler wrote of Record Hop memories at the second location of Melvin’s Drive-In during the early 1960s. Those record hops were held nightly, all summer long, at Melvin’s along Haines Road; after the original Melvin’s Drive-In was demolished in the 1950s during I-83 construction east of York, PA.
Jean opened her e-mail with: “I liked your article about Melvin’s in Ocean City. I never went to that beach town, but wonder if that is why the new Melvin’s on Haines Road closed so quickly? Home from college in 1962, I got a job that summer at the Weis, and across the road, Melvin’s was our hang out. Have you ever spotted any photos of those record hops? It certainly was a happening place that summer.”
If any readers have photos of those Record Hops, send them my way; I’ll share in a follow-up post. I did discover Architect George Flickinger’s sketch of the new “Melvin’s,” within the October 24, 1959 issue of The York Dispatch. Part of that sketch is shown in the introductory illustration, with a little color added.
The following Melvin’s ad, announcing a Gala Summer Salute during 1962, notes radio personality Steve Bentivegna would be playing records Friday night. Saturday night, Tim O’Neill had those duties, with an assist from Kathy Emig; Miss Greater York County.
The following is the Ice Cream Room end of the new “Melvin’s”, located along the west side of the first block of Haines Road, Springettsbury Township. The far right, Ice Cream Room part, faces the Lincoln Highway.
The plan was to open the new Melvin’s in May of 1961, however various set-backs pushed the opening back to September of 1961. Per the following ad, the Ice Cream Room opened first, and the Food Service section, at the south end of the drive-in, opened about a week later.
Jean Kohler was overjoyed when I shared a 1960 Bird-Eye Aerial photo; showing both the Haines Road Weis Markets and the new “Melvin’s” under construction. After the York Lincoln-Mercury dealership moved, Weis built a bigger store at that site and the smaller Haines Road Weis Markets was demolished to expand the parking lot for the bigger store.
When I-83 was constructed at East Market Street, a Weis Markets was on the north side of the street; across from the original Melvin’s Drive-In. The interstate construction forced both businesses to move; interestingly both selected the first block of Haines Road; and, like before, on opposite sides of the road.
Jean Kohler commented: “Gino’s was located almost outside the back door of Weis. It was our favorite for lunch breaks. Gino’s had much faster service and was less expensive compared to Melvin’s.” I decided to compare prices. Gino’s opened in April of 1961, with 15-cent hamburgers and 20-cent thick milk shakes. Melvin’s opened in September of 1961, with 25-cent hamburgers and 20 or 35-cent frosted malts. Melvin’s Famous Bar-B-Q’s were 35-cents.
The Haines Road Melvin’s ads note: “Locally Owned and Operated.” However, from the start at that location, the owner was not Melvin L. Kauffman, who had owned and operated the original Melvin’s Drive-In. York businessman, Harry A. Brown, owned the lot where the Haines Road Melvin’s was built. Harry A. Brown purchased the Melvin’s name, as applied to a York area Ice Cream Bar and Drive-In, from Melvin L. Kauffman. Harry Brown’s three sons: Robert Brown, H. Peter Brown and Harry A. Brown, Jr., operated Melvin’s on Haines Road.
Jean thought 1962 was the only full year the Haines Road Melvin’s was open. A Public Sale of Melvin’s Restaurant Equipment and Goods took place June 11, 1964. General Tire Company moved into the former drive-in building after constructing several attached garage bays. The back end of Walgreen Drug Store now sits on the site of the Haines Road Melvin’s.
Click on this LINK for a yorkblog.com Full View of the photos and illustrations in this post.
Links to related posts include:
Identify these five cyclists at Melvin’s drive-in
Melvin’s Drive-In, Lincoln Highway Ice Cream Bar; I-83 Opens
Melvin’s Rides and Amusements in Ocean City
Proposed Extension of Elmwood Boulevard
Mystery Ice Cream Bar along the Lincoln Highway
Reading the Headlines: A Quick Index to All YorksPast Posts
