Cinema Park Drive-In

10676 Montana Avenue,
El Paso, TX 79935

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leneagleburger
leneagleburger on March 7, 2021 at 10:33 am

Worked at this Drive In Theater part time when I was stationed at Biggs Army Airfield, Ft. Bliss, Texas in 1970-72.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on July 2, 2018 at 6:54 am

Is it known how either of the two fires started?

rivest266
rivest266 on July 1, 2018 at 3:28 pm

This opened on May 7th, 1969. Grand opening ad in the photo section.

Alphawoolf
Alphawoolf on January 22, 2016 at 7:20 am

I have a few (very few sadly) pictures of the Cinema Park marquee and ticket booth (with the burnt up concession stand in the distance) from just before the place was bulldozed. If you’re interested please contact me. I also used to work at the Cinema Park for McLendon, FLW, and the “legendary” Bob Hartgrove (ooh boy!)

peacheyeball
peacheyeball on August 19, 2015 at 10:19 pm

This address will track right to the drive-in on Google Earth: 11029 Splendor Court, El Paso, TX 79936

jwmovies
jwmovies on September 19, 2012 at 8:25 pm

Approx. address now is 10950 Montana Ave. The housing complex south of this address was where the theatres stood.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on February 26, 2009 at 5:41 pm

Here is part of an article in the El Paso Herald dated 1/3/72:

One of El Paso’s largest drive-in theater complexes, the Cinema Park, 10676 Montana Avenue, today was a rubble of blackened ruins after a fire destroyed it late Saturday doing an estimated $210,000 damage. Firemen were investigating the cause of the blaze.

Theater manager James Harris, said the theater would be reconstructed, but gave no dates as to when building would begin. A fireman, Lt. D.R. Guillen, was trapped inside the blazing structure a short while after he led firemen to fight the flames, then was caught inside by a falling, burning beam. Firefighters chopped an escape passage for him and he got out with burns that did not prevent his remaining to help knock out the blaze.

A janitor said he had left the building to empty some trash and when he returned found the fire already making good progress. It had engulfed most of the structure by the time firemen arrived.