Buena Park Drive-In
6612 Lincoln Avenue,
Buena Park,
CA
90620
6612 Lincoln Avenue,
Buena Park,
CA
90620
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Pacific Theatres
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Cina-Car Drive-In, Lincoln Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
This is a story of two separate drive-in theatres which were combined into one.
Located in the Cypress/Buena Park district on what was originally Lincoln Boulevard. The first drive-in at this location, Orange County’s second drive-in after the Orange Drive-In, was opened as the Cina-Car Drive-In (aka Cine-Car Drive-In) which opened May 5, 1949. The Long Beach Press-Telegram noted that it had a capacity for 600 cars. The owners were two ‘Texas’ boys, J.W. & W.W. Montgomery of Long Beach. One of its opening attractions was “Two Guys From Texas”. In 1953 it was renamed Lincoln Drive-In and was listed as a ‘Family Drive-In Theatre’ charging $1.50 a car-load for a second-run double bill program. In February 1962 the Lincoln Drive-In became listed under the Pacific Theatres banner, showing first-run features at an increased admission price. My family often went to this theater in the 1960’s. By 1964 it had stopped charging per person and adopted a "$1.50 per carload" policy which meant that everything you heard in The Beach Boys song "Drive-In" happened there - sneaking a case of beer in the theatre in the trunk, partying in the lot while the movie was playing just like in "Grease", and seeing a lot of classic movies there cheaply.
The Buena Park Drive-In was opened adjacent to the Lincoln Drive-In at 6540 Lincoln Avenue on April 22, 1970 with “2001:A Space Odyssey” and “Ride the High Wind”. It too was operated by Pacific Theatres and had its own entrance, pay box and facilities and was advertised as a twin to the Lincoln Drive-In. Both theatres eventually were known as the Buena Park Drive-In. On June 22, 1984 a third screen was added to the complex. When it closed on July 5, 1993 there had been a drive-in theatre at this located for over 44 years. It was demolished in 1996. A huge housing development was built on the site, with streets named after university’s.
Contributed by
Donald John Long, Randy Studer, OCRon
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Recent comments (view all 15 comments)
The map location is wrong. It’s houses there since 1955. The drive ins were on Lincoln & Holder.
800 cars when first opened. 1200 cars when merged together.
That first renaming may not have occurred until 1954. From the Sept. 4, 1954 Motion Picture Herald: “Renamed the Lincoln and completely remodelled, the former Cine-Car drive-in in Anaheim was re-opened by John C. Feys.”
Looks like the original name was not so much “cine” as in “cinematic” but more like “see in a”. Or maybe the pun was really that clever.
From the Cypress (CA) Enterprise, April 21, 1950: “Tuesday night will be Benefit night at the C-Ina-Car drive-in theatre one mile east of Cypress. The proceeds will go to the Cypress and Artesia posts to be used as they please. … In announcing the VFW night at the C-Ina-Car theatre, co-owner William Montgomery said that the regular prices would prevail, fifty cents for adults including tax, and all children under 12 are admitted free. The public is invited to attend."
Buena Park Drive-In opening from April 22nd, 1970
Buena Park Drive-In opening Wed, Apr 22, 1970 – Page 29 · Independent (Long Beach, California) · Newspapers.com
The Buena Park Drive-In opened on April 22nd, 1970. Grand opening ad posted.
Boxoffice, April 3, 1954: “John Feys & Associates have purchased the Cine-Car Drive-In, a 700-seat (sic) operation, from Bill Montgomery.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 19, 1962: “Pacific Drive-In Theatres took over operation of the Warner Drive-In in Huntington Beach and the Lincoln Drive-In at Cypress, effective the 14th”
The last movies might’ve been Cliffhanger and Guilty as Sin.
i saw 2 awesome movies at this drive in: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982 Release) & Honey I Shrunk The Kids