Rancho Drive-In
1140 E. Santa Gertrudis Street,
Kingsville,
TX
78363
1140 E. Santa Gertrudis Street,
Kingsville,
TX
78363
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The Rancho Drive-In was owned by Joseph & Kyle, and parked 300 cars. It was opened on June 24, 1954.
It ran Spanish language movies during most of it’s run. It was still open in 1970.
Contributed by
Silicon Sam
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
“El Rancho was on E Santa Gertrudis, just about a block east of 14th Street on the south side of the street…
…El Rancho was just Spanish language until the last few years before it closed – they began showing some 2nd run and ‘alternative’ English movies (recall seeing “Wattstax” and Hendrix’s “Rainbow Bridge” there)."
The Rancho celebrated it’s grand opening Thursday June 24, 1954. Opened by Joseph and Kyle, it was the last of four drive-ins to open in Kingsville. Well known for showing Spanish language movies, it started out with “Double Features Nightly – Spanish and English Film”….. “English pictures start at 9:30PM”. The first features were “Por Ellas Aunque Mal Pagen” and “Al Jennings of Oklahoma”.
Is this the same as the Rancho Drive-In (NOTE NO EL) that was open from about 1955-1975 (I know it was open for sure in 1967) and was run by Texas Cinema Corporation at least in 1975?
Pictures and newspaper ads seen here….
View link
So it WAS just the “Rancho”, not “El Rancho.” My mistake of a faulty memory, since I was the one who started asking about these drive-ins.
My memory was also faulty about the name of the King’s Drive-In; I remembered it as “King.”
Excellent work, Yakima. Thanks so much.
PLEASE CHANGE NAME TO:
RANCHO DRIVE-IN
Need more info and more photos.
I live in kingsville and i am writing a paper for my college english class and am looking for more information on the Rancho, if anyone has any pictures or more information please let me know. thank you
From the May 8, 1954 Billboard: “Construction has been started on a third drive-in at Kingsville, Tex., on a 10-acre tract of land. It will be operated by Koseph & Kyle, operator of the King’s and Brahama drive-ins. According to Chester Kyle the new drive-in will have a 350-car capacity and will feature Spanish language films.”
I added a cropped 1955 Kingsville, Texas phonebook yellow page of Rancho Drive In listing.
Boxoffice, May 25, 1970: “Texas Cinema Corp. of Ennis has purchased a half-interest in the local King’s Theatre and Rancho Drive-In from L. D. Sipes of Kingsville and has assumed operation of both situations. Sipes will concentrate on management of his Parkway Foods Store, 1906 East Kennedy.”