Desert Lake Drive-In
Desert Lake Frontage Road N,
Boron,
CA
93516
Desert Lake Frontage Road N,
Boron,
CA
93516
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BoxOffice magazine reported that the Desert Lake Drive-In opened in Boron in 1960. The note said it had a capacity of 400 cars and was owned by Neil Holloway and Keith McDowell.
A welcome packet for the nearby Boron Air Force Station noted “Boron also has a drive-in movie”. The packet was undated but included the station’s Zip Code, suggesting 1963 or later.
Contributed by
Michael Kilgore
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From the June 20, 1960 issue of Boxoffice:
BORON, CALIF. – The new 400-car Desert Lake Drive-In has been opened here by Neil Holloway, manager, and his partner, Keith McDowell. The new drive-in features a 34x80-foot screen, the largest outdoor screen in the desert area outside of Lancaster, and is held in place by 50-foot poles. William Deck of Mojave is the projectionist.
The snack bar features chicken and shrimp dinners, pizzas, hot dogs and a full menu of supporting concessions items. Mrs. Saylor is in charge of the kitchen.
Admission is 90 cents for adults and 75 cents for children 12 years old and up. Children under 12 are admitted free when accompanied by their parents. Mrs. Wilma Cummins is in charge of the boxoffice.
Bakersfield Californian, Sept. 22, 1967: “Two ice cream bars and an unknown amount of soft drinks were taken from the snack bar of the Desert Lake Drive-In in Boron, manager Gaylen Horswill reported to sheriff’s deputies. Entry was gained by breaking some windows.”
Probably located just off Desert Lake Frontage Road North, Boron. A 1972 aerial photo shows what look like remains of ramps, screen and concession building, now bare desert, some of the ramp formations can still be made out in the sand.
The FrameFinder site has a number of 1960s aerial photos available around Boron, but I haven’t found a nearby drive-in yet.
Two scraps that indicate the McDowell stayed in the picture.
Boxoffice, May 31, 1965: “Keith McDowell of the Desert Lake Drive-In, Boron, Calif., has opened the theatre for the season”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1966: “Boron, Calif., out on the desert, sent Keith McDowell of the Desert Lake Drive-In to (Los Angeles) Filmrow on business.”
Was there briefly a second drive-in in Boron? Since I can’t find even one on aerial photos, it seems unlikely. However…
Boxoffice, Sept. 30, 1963: (in Los Angeles notes) “Gilbert Evans, formerly with Vincent Miranda at the Lyric Theatre in Huntington Park, is opening the Sky Line Drive-In at Boron City.”
LA Times, Oct. 3, 1963: (movie listings) “BORON, Starline Drive-In, Hwy. 466 The Road to Hong Kong”
Similar listings appeared through at least the rest of October. Boron’s Starline had disappeared from the LA Times listings in 1964.
It’s safe to say that the Desert Lake Drive In has been located. Although it didn’t appear to last long. By 1972, the projection booth/concession stand looks demolished.
In terms of whether the Sky-Line Drive-In existed, HWY 466 is now known as Twenty Mule Team Road. With the railroad tracks running parallel to HWY 466 on the south side, the drive-in would probably be on the north side of the highway right around Boron.
However, a 1972 aerial reveals nothing that I can see which would be anything close to a drive-in. And it does not appear the town has grown much when comparing it to a 1952 aerial. So given that, this may have been a temporary drive-in.
Thanks for your patience, Kenmore. I finally found the drive-in in one of those 1962 aerials. If only they’d had a 1963 photo of the Starline. ;)
Speaking of Starline, I wonder how many drive-ins in the United States have that name. I know that there’s not a lot, just like Starnite and Starway.
That is an excellent point, 50sSnipes! “Starline” was used in several company names, plus an apparently legendary South Australia drive-in, but I could find only one (other?) Starline Drive-In in the US. It was in Hines WV, and I just submitted the info to CT.