Edwards Drive-In

4445 Live Oak Avenue,
Arcadia, CA 91006

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Edwards Cinemas, Pacific Theatres

Architects: Simeon Charles Lee

Nearby Theaters

Edwards Drive-In exterior

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

Recent comments (view all 23 comments)

SMURPHY
SMURPHY on June 6, 2012 at 1:13 pm

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”

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on October 18, 2018 at 2:01 am

Demolished(date unknown?). Site is now a housing devolpment.

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on February 12, 2019 at 12:01 pm

The Edwards Drive-In was listed in advertisements in the Los Angeles Times as late as September 1992.

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on May 18, 2019 at 7:16 pm

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:

  • 1950-59: capacity 750, owner Edwards Theatres, by Myrl Kavanaugh
  • 1960-66: 750, owner Pacific Drive-In Theas. Corp.
  • 1967-76: 750 (no owner info)
  • 1977-82: 700, owner Edwards
  • 1983-88: 1 screen, owner Edwards
MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on June 11, 2019 at 7:52 pm

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.

rivest266
rivest266 on October 8, 2019 at 2:23 pm

This opened on May 6th, 1949. Small grand opening ad posted.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on October 9, 2019 at 1:08 am

Was it near Edwards Air Force Base?

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on January 5, 2020 at 7:18 pm

Boxoffice, Feb. 6, 1954: “Another ownership change found the Pacific Drive-In circuit acquiring the Edwards Drive-In in San Gabriel from Jimmy Edwards.”

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on June 11, 2021 at 1:54 pm

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.

Jamey_monroe45
Jamey_monroe45 on July 30, 2023 at 10:08 am

Now Mayflower Village @ Arcadia.

4445 Live Oak Ave, Arcadia, CA 91006.

This points directly to the former entrance road.

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