Mooney Twin Drive-In

26672 S. Mooney Boulevard,
Visalia, CA 93277

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MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on March 21, 2023 at 7:01 pm

This drive-in definitely opened as the Motor-In. The 1950 photo I just uploaded included an ad for it “next to Mooney Park,” which pretty much proves that we’re talking about the same place.

Oh, and the latest Google Maps address for the Tulare County Office of Education, current occupants of the former Motor-In site, is 6200 S Mooney Blvd, Visalia, CA 93277.

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on May 2, 2022 at 4:49 pm

In 1955, the Tulane Advance-Register was advertising the “Motor-In on Mooney Blvd. between Tulare and Visalia,” so I think this is the right drive-in for this note.

Boxoffice, Oct. 8, 1955: “The Harvey Amusement Co., San Francisco, has bought the 576-car Tulare Motor-In from the Robert L. Lippert theatre chain, also of San Francisco.”

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on May 16, 2020 at 5:57 am

Reopened as Mooney twin Drive-in,in 1984 with on screen 1 with “The final terror” and “Alphabet City” and on screen 2 with “Making the grade” and “Hot dog”.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on November 24, 2019 at 1:39 pm

The twin screens were named, George and Gracie. The East Screen was named for Gracie Burns and the West Screen was named for George Burns. Closed with a “Grand Closing” featuring “Grease” and “Viva Las Vegas” on September 9, 2006.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson on February 7, 2014 at 6:40 pm

The Mooney closed because the owner, Larry Rodkey, did not own the dirt. And the landlord was probably looking for a better deal with a new tenant. Larry also runs 2 other theaters further south in San Luis Obispo & Arroyo Grande. He had troubles finding the right staff to run the Mooney in his abcense.

I think I made about 3 or 4 stops here before it closed.

Drive-In 54
Drive-In 54 on January 4, 2013 at 7:49 am

It is to bad that it could not remain open and screening movies!!

Drive-In 54
Drive-In 54 on January 4, 2013 at 7:47 am

Thanks for all the great pictures!!

JasHarv
JasHarv on September 8, 2012 at 2:06 pm

The screens were facing each other. We constructed a new snack bar and projection booth when we added the east screen in 1972. Rotus Harvey (my father) was the construction super on the East addition. I worked on the project as my first full time summer job. The marquee design is the same as the Westlane and Hammer Drive In theaters in Stockton. The marquee center mast has a man tipping his top hat, this was the logo for Westland Theaters Company.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on July 7, 2010 at 4:53 pm

You could tell it was ready to close.marquee in bad shape.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on July 7, 2010 at 1:27 pm

Thanks for the marquee photos.

MagicLantern
MagicLantern on June 29, 2010 at 11:18 pm

Just an empty lot now – you can easily see where the twin screens would have gone, back-to-back. Should be listed as closed for sure.

gmendoza
gmendoza on December 26, 2006 at 5:40 pm

This place is now closed. Why?