Fiesta Four Drive-In
5125 Paramount Boulevard,
Pico Rivera,
CA
90660
5125 Paramount Boulevard,
Pico Rivera,
CA
90660
6 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Pacific Theatres
Architects: J. Arthur Drielsma
Previous Names: Whittier Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
Located on Fishman Road, off Paramount Boulevard. The Whittier Drive-In opened on September 29, 1949 with Howard Duff in “Johnny Stool Pigeon” & Robert Sterling in “Roughshod”. It was one of many Pacific Theatres drive-in’s that had murals on its screen towers, here a Mexican scene. The Whittier Drive-In had a capacity for 1,225 cars.
During the conversion in the early-1980’s, it became the Fiesta Four Drive-In. As the Fiesta Four Drive-In it’s capacity was 609, 465, 447, and 790 cars.
Contributed by
William Gabel
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 15 comments)
The October 1, 1949 issue of Boxoffice Magazine announced the impending opening of the Whittier Drive-In in Pico, California. It was the 14th drive-in for the Pacific chain. The cost of construction was given as $350,000.
The January 7, 1950, issue of the same magazine gives more information. It names the architect as J. Arthur Drielsma, and gives the capacity as 1,225 cars, making it the second-largest outdoor theater in the world. The Whittier was equipped with Motiograph projection equipment and in-car speakers, the screen was 51'x68', and the marquee was produced by the Wagner Sign Company.
Believe it or not the Fiesta once used an automated changeover system on it’s eight projectors that used six thousand foot reels. One night vacation relief projectionist Jerry Cheney had this happen to him: Within a few seconds time all four theatres had a changeover at almost the same time. Needless to say this really freaked Jerry out and he was never the same after that. Honest!
Yet another industrial complex now.
I came to the Fiesta Four regularly during the last couple of years of its life with my girlfriend (who eventually became my wife). I brought her here to see “Bowfinger” & “Runaway Bride” back in Summer 1999. That experience single-handedly made her a drive-in fan. We were shocked to see that it closed…and were very thankful we found our way to the Vineland and Mission D/I’s after it closed.
The land that this drive-in sat on was eventually developed into a commercial and industrial business park. Included among these businesses is a CVS, a Harbor Freight Tools, and, coincidentally, a CINÉPOLIS movie theater (the non-luxury variety).
Now, a true story. Just released this last weekend was “Star Wars – The Force Awakens”, which is episode 7 in the greater Star Wars series of movies.
My first movie-going experience at this drive-in, as a little boy, was the original “Star Wars”, aka “Star Wars – Episode 4, A New Hope” – the very first movie that started them all.
That was way back in the late 70’s. Time and age have left me feeling as though my original Star Wars movie-going experience was truly “long ago, in a galaxy far, far away” (lol). Please excuse the pun.
I will get around to seeing this newest Star Wars movie, and I will make an effort to see it at this location. A sort of “closing the circle”.
It will make me happy, in a wistful sort of way.
I worked at the Whittier Drive in from 1969 to 1971. I have great memories there. That is where I met my husband. We have been married 46 years. Also that is where my dad proposed to my mother. So we have a lot of family ties. My bosses name was Mr. Ward. Our projectionist was Mr.Shaley. If anyone reads this that worked there at that time, I would love to hear from you. My real name is Kathy. My nick name at that time was Leggs.I was very sad when they made it the Fiesta Four. But I was really sad when it was torn down.
Boxoffice, March 12, 1949: “Construction of a 1,150-car drive-in theater has been started as a site on West Whittier boulevard in Pico by Ernest M. Pellkofer, local businessman. In-car speakers and individual heaters are to be installed in the new open air theatre, which is expected to cost approximately $400,000.”
Actually opened on September 29th, 1949 with “Johnny Stool Pigeon” and “Roughshod”.
The above address is incorrect. That address is for Cinépolis Pico Rivera which is next to the drive in entrance. There was no way to enter from Whittier Blvd.
The adress was 5125 Paramount Blvd, Pico Rivera, CA 90660 now Fishman Rd. WHhittier was where screens 3 and 4 with their respective marquees were located. Please update.
There 4 movies i saw at this drive in with my dad. La Bamba & Last Man Standing in which my brother was with us. Liar Liar where on my friend’s was with instead of my brother. And the last was True Crime just me and my dad. Great Memories! By 1999 those wires you connect to car attena were dying out in sound quality. No wonder the drive ins upgraded to turning to the radio station they programed for to listen to the movie