Edwards Drive-In
4445 Live Oak Avenue,
Arcadia,
CA
91006
4445 Live Oak Avenue,
Arcadia,
CA
91006
4 people
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Edwards Cinemas, Pacific Theatres
Architects: Simeon Charles Lee
Nearby Theaters
Architect S. Charles Lee designed a number of drive-ins during his career and some theatres for James Edwards II. Edwards Theatres opened this drive-in, designed by Lee, on May 6, 1949. Other Lee-designed theatres for Edwards were the Tumbleweed Theatre in El Monte, the original Temple Theatre in Temple City, and the Tujunga Theatre in Tujunga.
This 750-car site was taken over by Pacific Theatres in 1954 and was still open in September 1992. Later demolished, it was always called Edwards Drive-In.
Contributed by
Ron Pierce
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Recent comments (view all 23 comments)
LOTS OF MEMORIES OF THE EDWARDS DRIVE IN. LIVING ONLY A FEW BLOCKS AWAY WE COULD SEE THE SCREEN FROM OUR GARAGE ROOF TOP. GOT IN BIG TROUBLE WHEN DAD FOUND ME THERE WITH MY BROTHER DOUG WATCHING “GOLD FINGER”
Demolished(date unknown?). Site is now a housing devolpment.
The Edwards Drive-In was listed in advertisements in the Los Angeles Times as late as September 1992.
Ownership note from the Feb. 13, 1954 Motion Picture Herald:
“The Edwards drive-in theatre, formerly operated by the Edwards Theatres, has been acquired by the Cal Pac Corp.”
Too bad the Motion Picture Almanac’s drive-in lists didn’t notice the ownership change until 1960. Which reminds me that I could list all of the Edwards' mentions in the MPA, which had it under Los Angeles until 1977:
The July 9, 1949 issue of BoxOffice places the opening date that year.
MONROVIA, CALIF. – The $350,000 Edwards Drive-In has opened on a 16-acre plot at Live Oak and Peck road. The drive-in, which has accommodations for over 400 cars, is managed by G. G. Henderson, former manager of the Temple in Temple City. Architect for the new Edwards circuit theatre was Charles Lee. Simplex sound and projection equipment is in use.
This opened on May 6th, 1949. Small grand opening ad posted.
Was it near Edwards Air Force Base?
Boxoffice, Feb. 6, 1954: “Another ownership change found the Pacific Drive-In circuit acquiring the Edwards Drive-In in San Gabriel from Jimmy Edwards.”
Google Maps says that the Edwards site is adjacent to Irwindale but technically in a census-designated place called Mayflower Village, which is east of Arcadia. No, I take that back - the Edwards would have been adjacent to Irwindale except for a 100-foot-wide thread (along the old alignment of Peck Road) of Monrovia to a chunk of land south of Live Oak Ave.
The Theatre Catalog listed the Edwards under Arcadia. (The Motion Picture Almanac put it under Los Angeles, which might have been its shorthand for LA County.) Although the site is closer to Irwindale, I’d say that Arcadia is probably the best place to list it.
Now Mayflower Village @ Arcadia.
4445 Live Oak Ave, Arcadia, CA 91006.
This points directly to the former entrance road.
Please update.