Mt. Baldy Drive-In
3515 N. White Avenue,
La Verne,
CA
91750
3515 N. White Avenue,
La Verne,
CA
91750
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The address above is incorrect. This theatre was further south.
The La Verne post office is at 3355 N White Ave, La Verne, CA 91750.
Please update.
Nice!
I was the very last projectionist at that theatre. That job helped pay for expenses while attending college. My name is Adam B. I hope anyone who used to work with me might send me a note. I would love to hear from you. It was a fun place.
Closed on January 3, 1984 with “Uncommon Valor” and “Some Kind Of Hero”.
Boxoffice, July 1990: “Larry Jacobs, former owner of the Eagle Rock Theatre in Eagle Rock, Calif., died at the age of 43. He was the former owner of a theatre in Bell, Calif., as well as drive-ins in Ventura and Mount Baldy. He came to the Los Angeles area from New York while working for Pacific Concessions.”
For some reason, the Mt. Baldy’s ad continued to call its opening weekend a “Grand Opening,” but opening night was June 8, 1960.
Grand opening ad posted.
Here’s one more spelled-out mention, from the Aug. 14, 1961 issue of Boxoffice: “Cecil Carlton will continue to manage the Mount Baldy Drive-In in La Verne, which has been acquired by Fox West Coast Theatres. … FWC leased the drive-in from the Mount Baldy Drive-In Theatre Corp. in accordance with recent federal court aprpoval for the acquisition.”
So far, the only place I’ve seen the Mt. spelled out is this note in the March 28, 1960 issue of Boxoffice: “The Mount Baldy Drive-In, to be located at 3515 North Lincoln Ave., will be built this spring by Walter G. Long & Associates. The drive-in will be designed for 1,200 cars and will require an investment of around $200,000.”
My source was Dirk Dabel via Facebook. But I just did another TinEye reverse image search, and it appears it was used on a 1994 CD release by a band called The Undertoad. They were represented by Extablishment which still exists. Below is a link to their website’s licensing page. Most likely for music licensing requests, but you could ask them about the photo.
https://www.extablisment.com/creative-commons-licensing
DavidZornig, what was the source of your 1973 Mt. Baldy photo? I’m working on a project and could use clearance on some of the pictures you’ve uploaded.
Appears to be an unincorporated community with a ski resort 16.5 miles away, so likely within view of the drive-in. Per Wiki: “The community was established as Camp Baynham in 1906; it changed its name to Camp Baldy in 1910 and became Mt Baldy in 1951.” The ski lifts were installed in 1952.
Is Mt Baldy a nearby mountain?
Motion Picture Almanac drive-in list mentions:
I don’t know what NT&T was supposed to stand for; in the MPA’s circuit lists, Fox West Coast Theatres Corp, a subsidiary of National General, owned the Mt. Baldy in 1963-69. NGC Theatre Corporation (National General) owned the Mt. Baldy in 1970-72. Mann Theatres bought National General in 1973.
I lived near the Drive in for many years. I saw Pink Floyd the Wall, The Warriors, Boys in Company C… R Lee Ermy later to be GREAT in Full Metal Jacket……… My friends and I would open the corrugated roofing type barriers under the Screen in the middle of the day when no one was around turn up all the speakers that were close so we could hear the dialoge while sitting in the park that was located directly 60 feet just under the GIGANTIC SCREEN! I loved Mnt Baldy Drive in . I would love to see the sign in living color. Wow it was cool with the skier and the neon skis moving under him.
I used the be the projectionist at the drive-in until it was closed. Larry Jacobs was the owner and gave me my first chance at a job there. Back then it was managed by Jim Vanderhoff and I had the privilege of seeing many, of what would become, classic movies. I also had a chance at manning the snack bar for the swap meets on the weekends. Does anyone remember Lisa B., Jeff A., Paul S., Mr. Poulos or Rick B.? (Rick B.’s father owned a textile mill and was pretty well off.)
Saw many movies there from childhood into adulthood. My brother had to go get our parents at 2:00 AM because they fell asleep with a light on in the camper and drained the battery. When they woke up the place was empty. Great swap meets with wonderful stuff from peoples garages. Bought my first skateboard (used with clay wheels) and some records that I still have. Does anyone who went there remember Ed the welder?