Foothill Drive-In
571 E. Foothill Boulevard,
Rialto,
CA
92376
571 E. Foothill Boulevard,
Rialto,
CA
92376
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Pacific Theatres
Architects: Howard E. Jones
Nearby Theaters
The Foothill Drive-In opened March 6, 1948 with Robert Montgomery in “Ride the Pink Horse” and Tom Neal in “My Dog Shep”. Capacity was 675 cars. The Foothill Drive-In was closed on September 5, 1988 with Eddie Murphey in “Coming to America” & Bobcat Goldthwaite in “Hot to Trot”. It has been torn down and replaced by a shopping center.
Contributed by
Ken McIntyre
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
Here is a 1983 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/y9n7pjx
Here is an update on the FOOTHILL DRIVE IN. It parked in 1956 700 cars, so it must have lost some spots. It was owned by Lesile C. Tharp. by Co-op Theatres Inc.
When I used to go to the Foothill Drive In I was waited on by Twyla Tharp. Twyla was the daughter of the owner. She became quite a famous choreographer.
March 6th, 1948 first ad in photo section
My mother worked here in 1965 thru 1968. I remember the lobby was filled with the animals MR. Tharp shot with his bow. My mother loved working with the Mrs. Tharp. The Tharp’s daughter, Twyla became famous but I don’t know what happened to her twin brothers.
Final night of operation was September 5, 1988 with “Coming To America” and “Hot To Trot”.
Boxoffice, Jan. 3, 1948: “A drive-in theatre will be built on Foothill boulevard, between San Bernardino and Rialto, for William and Lecile Tharp of Dunkirk, Ind., with space for 684 cars. The plans, prepared by architect H. E. Jones of San Bernardino, provide for a machine room and a snack bar and rest rooms behind the screen.”
Boxoffice, March 13, 1948: “RIALTO, CALIF. – A new motif in drive-in theatre design was made public when W. A. Tharp, former Indiana exhibitor, opened his Foothill Drive-In here March 6. The theatre has a 670-car capacity and is the first installation to feature the Moonlight Movies system for the parking of cars. Tharp, who conceived the new system, has applied for a patent and established headquarters in San Bernardino to lease the device to interested showmen.”
The July 30, 1989 San Bernardino County Sun gave a reason for the shutdown. “Rialto’s Foothill Drive-In also closed down last year when its owner failed to renew the lease.”
Now Statler Brothers Marķet @ 571 E Foothill Blvd, Rialto, CA 92376.
Please update.
My dad took me & my brother to see “Batteries Not Included” at this drive in first weekend of Jan ‘88 (I Think). Fun Times.