Peso Drive-In
3720 W. Van Buren Street,
Phoenix,
AZ
85009
3720 W. Van Buren Street,
Phoenix,
AZ
85009
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So, putting the information in all these comments together, the operation was opened by McCormick-Nace Enterprises sometime in 1951, probably late in the year, as either the Twin Drive-In, the Twin Open Air Drive-In, or the Twin Screen Drive-In, which was closed in early January, 1952. Then one screen was reopened April 11, 1952 by Crockett and Nace as either the Acres Drive-In or the Acres of Fun Drive-In, and then the second screen was reopened as the Peso Drive-In (or perhaps El Peso Drive-In) on July 18, 1952.
It sounds like the Peso (or El Peso) Drive-In might have shown Spanish language movies. That would have been a good move at that time. Phoenix probably already had two or three Anglophonic television stations by 1952, but probably didn’t get a Spanish language station until the 1960s at the earliest. Spanish language movies kept a lot of southwestern theaters open long after many theaters in other parts of the country lost their audience to television.
Motion Picture Herald, Aug. 2, 1952: “The Peso drive-in is the new name of the re-opened North screen of the former Twin Open Air drive-in, operated by the Harry L. Nace Theatres. South screen has been operating for some time under the name of Acres-Of-Fun.”
Opened with 2 colour cartoons(not named). “Red skies of Montana” and “Cave of outlaws”.
UPDATE: After The Screen Was Blown Down In September 1st, 1960; The Screen Was Rebuilt And Opened It A Couple Of Years Later. The Acres Drive-In Was Still In Operation Since 1975 As Southwest’s Acres Drive-In.
April 26, 1952 Boxoffice: “PHOENIX – The Twin Screen Drive-In, which closed early last January, has been reopened by Fred Crockett and Harry L. Nace as the Acres of Fun. Only one screen is being utilized, reducing the capacity of the airer, formerly a McCormack-Nace enterprise, to around 625 cars. The duel screen outdoorer was the largest drive-in in the state under its original operation. The current manager is Otto Silvester.”
The Acres/Peso Drive-ins were on that industrial park. I believe the screens for both were in the middle, back to back. The Reynolds Aluminum plant was across the street.
I too watched movies from the roof of the home I grew up in. Phoenix was a great place to live in the 70’s. My friends and I also would sneak into Acres Drive-in through a opening we made in the fence. We would sit next to cars parked for the movie and enjoyed the show.I remember watching The Posieden Adventure Whiteline Fever just to name a few. During the summer break we would actually climb up into the movie screen to the top and catch pigeons. Very dangerous it had to be over 100 feet high. But when your a kid it was an adventure. I also remembering eating popcorn the snack bar would put out after the shows. We had a blast.. Good Times….Larry AKA Bighead in 1974
18 de julio 1952 gran anuncio de apertura como Peso Drive-In
April 11th, 1952 grand opening ad as Acres Drive-In
Joe,
Open air theatres are generally walk-ins. They probably were accommodating walk-in patronage as well as people inside vehicles.
This derive-in was set to open shortly, according to Boxoffice of January 6, 1951. However, records of a court case involving Michael A. Parker, developer of the project, and one of the contractors, suggest that there might have been a delay, but I’ve been unable to discover how long it might have been. The drive-in appears to have been opened before the end of 1951, in any case.
Boxoffice said that the new theater would be Arizona’s largest drive-in, and the first in the state with two screens. It was to be called the Twin Drive-In. CinemaTour gives the Acres Drive-In the aka’s Acres of Fun Drive-In, Peso Drive-In, El Peso Drive-In, and Twin Open Air Drive-In… though why a drive-in’s operator would specify in its name that it was both a drive-in and “open air” I can’t say.
Actually, the drive in is now an industrial park. I grew up right down the street and can remember watching movies on the roof of our house as a kid.
Aerial photos starting in 1958 at
View link
You can see two screens in it. the one in the back is the Peso Drive-In, which shown Spanish movies.
Any photos?
Wow. This place was actually pointed out to me when I was in Phoenix a few years back. The car rental place was 4 blocks from here on Van Buren. I got the mini-tour by the courtesy driver who picked me up at the airport.
Phoenix had an insane 28 percent tax on all cars rented “AT” the airport. So we always rented from a outfit several miles outside the airport property. Literally saving hundreds.
The driver drove us past the trailer park and indicated it was previously a drive-in. As well as the apparent colorful past of the rest of Van Buren Street. Once ripe with run down motels, and apparently no shortage of working girls to fill them.
I can only assume this illicit activity helped hasten the end of the Acres Drive-In as well.
There were also many `50’s looking roadside buildings along Van Buren as well. Steak & Egger restaurant, public pools, etc.
It was attempting a resurgence of sorts with newer motels and the like last I was there. Trying to erase the once seedy image of the area.
One of the major concert venues of today is not far from the former Acres site. Might be the Dodge, but if not, it’s the other one.