San Pedro Outdoor Theatre

13707 Embassy Road,
San Antonio, TX 78216

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Additional Info

Previous Names: San Pedro Outdoor Twin Theatre

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San Pedro Boxoffices

The second San Pedro Outdoor Twin Theatre was the finest drive-in theatre ever in San Antonio. The original San Pedro Outdoor Theatre had opened in 1948 as a single screen at San Pedro Avenue and W. Rampart Drive, now the site of the San Pedro Towne Shopping Center. It was closed and razed in 1965 (It has its own page on Cinema Treasures).

The second San Pedro Twin Outdoor Twin Theatre was built at San Pedro Avenue and E. Bitters Road at what is now 19707 Embassy Road, opening on September 1, 1966. Screen 1 had a 725-car capacity and Screen 2 had a 525-car capacity. A third screen was added in 1970. The east screen measured 60x120 and the west and south were 55x110. In 1980 the east screen and the south screen were split and two new screens added to make it a five screen complex.

I worked at the San Pedro Outdoor Theatre for the last four years of it’s existence and closed it on August 15, 1984. A large retail center was built on the 48 acre site, as well as a 14 screen indoor theatre (the Embassy).

Contributed by outafocus

Recent comments (view all 4 comments)

rockarollaman
rockarollaman on October 11, 2006 at 7:35 am

This was a pleasant drive-in to go to. No rowdy people just a good time. I remember walking to the concession stand and my feet would sink into the little stones and rocks they had all over the lot. The last movie I saw there was Friday the 13th IV in 1984. Towards the end of it’s existence they would show porno which I didn’t know @ the time was a sign of struggling times.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on June 17, 2009 at 12:38 am

Here is a December 1972 ad from the San Antonio Express:
http://tinyurl.com/mdd899

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on September 23, 2021 at 4:34 am

A couple of the comments above are about the first San Pedro Outdoor Theatre, opened at another location in 1948. The tentative opening date for this second location was September 1, 1966, according to The August 31 issue of Motion Picture Exhibitor. Here is the article about it:

“The Moon Also Rises At Texas Drive-In

“SAN ANTONIO, TEX.—John Santikos, owner-operator of the new San Pedro Twin D-I now under construction, said that there will be ‘year round moonlight.’

“The artificial moonlight, an added attraction at the theatre complex, will be a revolutionary lighting process to give the effect of moonlight over the entire 20 acres.

“Under completion, the new $500,000 D-I will be one of the city’s largest, boasting two screens with a 725 car capacity on one side and 525 on the other side.

“For those who desire a snack while watching the movies, architectural plans have included a cafeteria-style snack bar located between the two screens. Additionally, a 50 by 100 feet children’s playground in the same area will have a landscaped patio area with seating for those not wishing to remain in their cars.

“Tentative opening date is scheduled for Sept. 1 with live entertainment, attendance prizes and gala opening ceremonies.”

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on October 22, 2023 at 9:58 pm

Boxoffice, April 13, 1970: “Opening of the San Pedro Outdoor Theatre’s third screen was to be held Friday (10). Completion of the third screen, which has a 800-car capacity brings the San Pedro’s three-screen capacity to 2,100 cars, making the theatre the largest outdoor facility in South Texas, according to John L. Santikos, president of Santikos Theatres. Santikos said the movie complex’s name, now known as the San Pedro Twin, will be changed to the San Pedro Outdoor Complex”

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