Sorry, robertgippy, but this Westgate is not the same as the “West Gate” in distant Stockton, a town that also had the Hammer Drive-In.
As rivest266’s Grand Opening clipping in the photo section shows, the Westgate was a new drive-in when it opened in September 1966. The grand opening’s month argues strongly against it being merely a season opener.
Also, Google Maps likes 26375 County RD 105D, Davis, CA 95618 as the address for the old Westgate site.
The site was sufficiently intact (or the map folks were sufficiently slow to notice) that the drive-in was still included in a 1968 topo map. Its screen was just south of Oak Valley Creek. Its long driveway, projection building and traces of the ramps (but not the screen) were still visible in a 1983 aerial photo.
To better reflect that the Parkwood was at the northwest corner of Oat Valley Road and Cooley Lane, a better address for its entrance is 31260 Oat Valley Road.
HistoricAerials shows the drive-in adjacent to Atlantic Avenue north of the wash. The closest address to the Island’s entrance would be 2001 Bartlett Drive.
The drive-in still looked good in this aerial photo from 1985. But by this 1990 photo, two-foot weeds are visible in the ramps although the screen is intact.
Although the drive-in’s grand opening ad listed its address as 1520 N. Lemon Street (just off Orangethorpe), the 1960 photo and 1996 LA Times account verify davidcoppock’s note that it was where the Lowe’s is now, so a better address would be 1500 Lemon St.
To elaborate on my comment a couple of years ago, the El Rio was in the very first Motion Picture Almanac drive-in list (the 1950-51 edition), and the Park Vu was in the very last (1988). Considering how slow the MPA reacted to changed in the 1960s and 70s, the name change probably occurred within a few years of 1970.
The full MPA record, which was actually quite stable:
I thought you were right, dansdriveintheater, based on Google Earth images, so I drove all the way out to take a picture of what was left. When I arrived on a late Sunday morning, men were in the process of building something new where the concession stand had been. I missed it by weeks. :(
On the other hand, the sign still looked nice a few blocks away on the main road through town. I uploaded a picture for you.
The Valley News ran another story this week about a windstorm on May 24, 1962 that yanked the screen off its frame. The story includes a photo of the marquee that day, advertising the movie “All Fall Down”.
The article also said that the White River closed in spring 1987, citing VCRs as the final blow, and that the Midway Drive-In in Ascutney closed about the same time. Here’s a link to the Internet Archive version, which doesn’t include that nice marquee photo.
Here’s the Internet Archive’s version of Trolleyguy’s link, since the Archive’s version is more likely to be available 10 years from now.
I think this is the most significant quote from the article: “The land for the Starlite is owned by a local farmer and the Muths pay the property taxes on 20 acres of land as rent. If the Starlite closes for a year, the contract states that the deal, which has been in effect since 1953, would be void and the land used for other purposes.” First, the Starlite’s history page (quoted in a comment above) says the lease began in 1951. Second, this gives the drive-in a deadline. If only I had a spare $200k or so. :)
This is a 1984 photo from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive of the Library of Congress, effectively in the public domain. Higher-res versions are also available.
This photo is from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive of the Library of Congress, effectively in the public domain. It was taken in 1984. Higher-res versions are also available.
This photo is from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive of the Library of Congress, effectively in the public domain. It was taken in 1981. Higher-res versions are also available.
This photo, taken in 1982, is from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive of the Library of Congress, effectively in the public domain. Higher-res versions are also available.
This photo, taken in 1981, is from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive of the Library of Congress, effectively in the public domain. Higher-res versions are also available.
This 1981 photo is from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive of the Library of Congress, effectively in the public domain. Higher-res versions are also available.
This 1987 photo is from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive of the Library of Congress, effectively in the public domain. Higher-res versions are also available.
This 1983 photo is from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive of the Library of Congress, effectively in the public domain. Higher-res versions are also available.
This 1979 photo is from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive of the Library of Congress, effectively in the public domain. Higher-res versions are also available.
This 1977 photo is from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive of the Library of Congress, effectively in the public domain. Higher-res versions are also available.
This photo is from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive of the Library of Congress, effectively in the public domain. Higher-res versions are also available.
Motion Picture Exhibitor, April 27, 1966: “Formerly known as the Rustic, the renamed Village hardtop in the resort center of Estes Park, Colo., is being rebuilt by Stanley Pratt, present owner.”
A Theatres For Lease classified ad in the April 1, 1959 issue of Motion Picture Exhibitor read: “1959 SEASON. 300 car Drive-In and Snak Bar to responsible Theatre Man. $3,600 in advance. Excellent Grosser. D. D. SHANKS, Ph 300, Estes Park, Colo.”
“MANITOU, COLO. – The Vita Theatre here, which has been closed since last December, has opened its doors again under the management of L. M. Kennedy and E. T. Paschall. Kennedy and Paschall have been operating theatres for C. G. Diller, owner of the Manitou Springs show house.”
Also, here’s a note I found in the April 5, 1952 edition: “Ralph Nichols, collector of internal revenue, said the Vida in Manitou Springs, owned by C. G. Diller, has been seized and is scheduled to be sold for nonpayment of amusement taxes. Nichols said the theatre was delinquent more than $34,000 for back taxes, penalties and interest.”
The Fremont’s last appearance in the Motion Picture Almanac was its 1982 edition.
Sorry, robertgippy, but this Westgate is not the same as the “West Gate” in distant Stockton, a town that also had the Hammer Drive-In.
As rivest266’s Grand Opening clipping in the photo section shows, the Westgate was a new drive-in when it opened in September 1966. The grand opening’s month argues strongly against it being merely a season opener.
Also, Google Maps likes 26375 County RD 105D, Davis, CA 95618 as the address for the old Westgate site.
The site was sufficiently intact (or the map folks were sufficiently slow to notice) that the drive-in was still included in a 1968 topo map. Its screen was just south of Oak Valley Creek. Its long driveway, projection building and traces of the ramps (but not the screen) were still visible in a 1983 aerial photo.
To better reflect that the Parkwood was at the northwest corner of Oat Valley Road and Cooley Lane, a better address for its entrance is 31260 Oat Valley Road.
HistoricAerials shows the drive-in adjacent to Atlantic Avenue north of the wash. The closest address to the Island’s entrance would be 2001 Bartlett Drive.
The drive-in still looked good in this aerial photo from 1985. But by this 1990 photo, two-foot weeds are visible in the ramps although the screen is intact.
Although the drive-in’s grand opening ad listed its address as 1520 N. Lemon Street (just off Orangethorpe), the 1960 photo and 1996 LA Times account verify davidcoppock’s note that it was where the Lowe’s is now, so a better address would be 1500 Lemon St.
To elaborate on my comment a couple of years ago, the El Rio was in the very first Motion Picture Almanac drive-in list (the 1950-51 edition), and the Park Vu was in the very last (1988). Considering how slow the MPA reacted to changed in the 1960s and 70s, the name change probably occurred within a few years of 1970.
The full MPA record, which was actually quite stable:
I thought you were right, dansdriveintheater, based on Google Earth images, so I drove all the way out to take a picture of what was left. When I arrived on a late Sunday morning, men were in the process of building something new where the concession stand had been. I missed it by weeks. :(
On the other hand, the sign still looked nice a few blocks away on the main road through town. I uploaded a picture for you.
The Valley News ran another story this week about a windstorm on May 24, 1962 that yanked the screen off its frame. The story includes a photo of the marquee that day, advertising the movie “All Fall Down”.
The article also said that the White River closed in spring 1987, citing VCRs as the final blow, and that the Midway Drive-In in Ascutney closed about the same time. Here’s a link to the Internet Archive version, which doesn’t include that nice marquee photo.
Here’s the Internet Archive’s version of Trolleyguy’s link, since the Archive’s version is more likely to be available 10 years from now.
I think this is the most significant quote from the article: “The land for the Starlite is owned by a local farmer and the Muths pay the property taxes on 20 acres of land as rent. If the Starlite closes for a year, the contract states that the deal, which has been in effect since 1953, would be void and the land used for other purposes.” First, the Starlite’s history page (quoted in a comment above) says the lease began in 1951. Second, this gives the drive-in a deadline. If only I had a spare $200k or so. :)
This is a 1984 photo from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive of the Library of Congress, effectively in the public domain. Higher-res versions are also available.
This photo is from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive of the Library of Congress, effectively in the public domain. It was taken in 1984. Higher-res versions are also available.
This photo is from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive of the Library of Congress, effectively in the public domain. It was taken in 1981. Higher-res versions are also available.
This photo, taken in 1982, is from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive of the Library of Congress, effectively in the public domain. Higher-res versions are also available.
This photo, taken in 1981, is from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive of the Library of Congress, effectively in the public domain. Higher-res versions are also available.
This 1981 photo is from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive of the Library of Congress, effectively in the public domain. Higher-res versions are also available.
This 1987 photo is from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive of the Library of Congress, effectively in the public domain. Higher-res versions are also available.
This 1983 photo is from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive of the Library of Congress, effectively in the public domain. Higher-res versions are also available.
This 1979 photo is from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive of the Library of Congress, effectively in the public domain. Higher-res versions are also available.
This 1977 photo is from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive of the Library of Congress, effectively in the public domain. Higher-res versions are also available.
This photo is from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive of the Library of Congress, effectively in the public domain. Higher-res versions are also available.
Motion Picture Exhibitor, April 27, 1966: “Formerly known as the Rustic, the renamed Village hardtop in the resort center of Estes Park, Colo., is being rebuilt by Stanley Pratt, present owner.”
A Theatres For Lease classified ad in the April 1, 1959 issue of Motion Picture Exhibitor read: “1959 SEASON. 300 car Drive-In and Snak Bar to responsible Theatre Man. $3,600 in advance. Excellent Grosser. D. D. SHANKS, Ph 300, Estes Park, Colo.”
The late Georgia Engel (a fine comic actress) was eight years old when this photo was printed, so that’s not her.
Anthony, if you’re still around, here’s your June 26, 1948 issue of Boxoffice. I presume you were talking about this story:
“MANITOU, COLO. – The Vita Theatre here, which has been closed since last December, has opened its doors again under the management of L. M. Kennedy and E. T. Paschall. Kennedy and Paschall have been operating theatres for C. G. Diller, owner of the Manitou Springs show house.”
Also, here’s a note I found in the April 5, 1952 edition: “Ralph Nichols, collector of internal revenue, said the Vida in Manitou Springs, owned by C. G. Diller, has been seized and is scheduled to be sold for nonpayment of amusement taxes. Nichols said the theatre was delinquent more than $34,000 for back taxes, penalties and interest.”