Varsity Drive-In

2202 Culebra Road,
San Antonio, TX 78228

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Gulf States Theatres, Lone Star Theatres, Inc, Santikos Theatres

Firms: Henrrick & Adams

Nearby Theaters

Varsity Drive-In exterior

Located at Culebra Road and Bandera Road, the Varsity Drive-In opened on July 14, 1949. It had a capacity for 638 cars. It was closed by Santikos Theatres on January 29, 1980 with Brad Davis in “Midnight Express” & Carol Kane in “When a Stranger Calls”

The Varsity Drive-In was demolished later in 1980. A popular supermarket chain now has a store where the drive in was once located.

Contributed by Chuck Van Bibber

Recent comments (view all 12 comments)

maxusxII40
maxusxII40 on September 26, 2006 at 7:36 pm

outafocus,

How can I get photos of this drive in- (Varsity, San Antonio)?

Also I’m looking for a link to a website that described san antonio movie theaters both old and new. Can you help?

Marcus

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on February 9, 2008 at 2:41 pm

The Varsity was torn down in 1980. Here is a photo. The poor quality is due to the original photo, not to me:
http://tinyurl.com/ysdhmq

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on June 16, 2009 at 10:42 pm

Here is a December 1972 ad from the San Antonio Express:
http://tinyurl.com/lubfwt

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on November 27, 2009 at 6:53 pm

In 1956 it was owned by Lone Star Theatres.

trongod05
trongod05 on January 8, 2011 at 2:30 pm

I saw my first movie at the Varsity Drive-In when I was a few years old between 1977 and 1980 before they tore it down. That movie was Star Wars. Star Wars at the Drive-In is amazing.

When they erected the first HEB in its place, the screen was still there for a number of years. I think the posts are still back there somewhere.

mikefernandez
mikefernandez on June 19, 2011 at 3:23 pm

Trongo, the screen tower was demolished months before HEB started construction of the store and there are no speaker posts at all in the rear of the property. The old fence that separated the last row of speakers and the old baseball field behind the drive-in, that is still there.

Ripshin
Ripshin on September 11, 2024 at 4:38 pm

I wish whoever is posting the historical aerials, would put a photo date and/or description.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on June 14, 2026 at 5:01 am

Last operated by Santikos, closed on January 29, 1980 with “Midnight Express” and “When A Stranger Calls”.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on June 14, 2026 at 5:09 am

Once operated by Gulf States Theatres.

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