Fiesta Drive-In
13800 Montana Avenue,
El Paso,
TX
79938
13800 Montana Avenue,
El Paso,
TX
79938
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This became the last adult drive-in in America since the Apache Drive-In at Tyler closed on March 9, 2023.
Opened on 9th October 1981 with ‘Little girls blue" and “Intimate illusions”.
Originally opened on 7th February 1950 with 2 color cartoons(not named?) and “Paleface”.
This opened on October 9th, 1981. Grand opening ad in the photo section.
Whats the Grandfather Law?
In a 2015 article in the UTEP student newspaper, The Prospector, the Fiesta manager says it “has two motion picture screens with a maximum capacity for 500 cars.” Looking at Google Earth images, I can’t find a second screen.
http://www.theprospectordaily.com/2015/02/10/hot-and-heavy-at-the-drive-in/ https://goo.gl/maps/iDfkXUvide72
(Sorry that I first entered this as a comment on a particular photo. I’ll learn.)
Did this theater do enough business to warrant the conversion to video projectors?
Wow. Digital Projection, huh? Man, they are moving up in the world. Nice!
I am pleased to report that the Fiesta Theater, currently an outdoor movie theater showing porn, has converted to digital projection.
Just to Note — Back in 1999 I talked to the owner(s). I was told ‘this’ Drive In opened as a Rated “X” Drive In. There’s a Mobile Home park next door to the Drive In. I ask if there were any complaints & I was told the Drive In is protected by the “Grandfather” Law as it was there before the M.H.Park & the M.H.Park & its' occupants could not do a thing about the Drive In..
I really don’t know Mike.I am researching out of a 1956 Motion Picture Almanac. I try and add whatever I can out of the book,And Boy does Texas have a lot of Drive-ins.
Thanks Mike and Mike.
MikeRogers, you must be talking about the Fiesta Drive-In on N. Mesa Road, which was opened 1950-1981.
in 1956 it parked 400 cars and was owned by J.B.Beeson.
Chuck 1231, You may want to read my document at View link the State is on page 2
I lived there during that time, and the Fiesta on Mesa closed around the time the Fiesta opened on Montana. If memory serves me correctly, it was a move from Mesa Dr. to Montana. Just a simple marquee, and cheap screen.
BBE View
Cool flyers, Mike. You have one of The State. I used to go there too! It was literally across the street from The Capri. However, let it be known that The Capri was my favorite.
Thanks for this, man.
Grand opening ad for the first Fiesta DI on February 7th, 1950 at View link
The Fiesta was (and is, presumably) quite unique. Growing up in El Paso, we kind of took it for granted, esp. ‘cos it’s way out of town. Almost outside the city. I went there once in high school with a bunch of people. We were just trying to explore the place. It turns out it’s not only a drive-in, but a porn shop as well! Bizarre. As for how and what kind of projection they run there, I’m sure it’s not digital I can tell you that much. That said, it’s one of the few (if not the only) drive-ins left in El Paso. If you’re ever there, check it out – just for historical purposes, of course.
There used to be so many drive-ins in El Paso when I grew up there in the 60’s. The Fiesta used to be located on Mesa Drive back then, and it eventually moved to it’s current location out on Montana St. And yes, I have been there once…
Why would anyone want to watch porno movies at a drive in when you can rent them and at watch at home.
How do they run movies on the screen? Is it video projection which I doubt would be bright enough? XXX films have not been produced for many years in 35mm. There was a porno drive-in theatre in Scranton PA till the late 90’s.