Fiesta Drive-In

MichaelKilgore on April 23, 2020 at 3:03 pm

Boxoffice, Jan. 10, 1948: “CARLSBAD, N. M. – Construction of a 570-car drive-in theatre here by Carl Burton, Oklahoma City theatre owner, is expected to start this month. Burton has acquired 18 acres of land for the project. This will allow for future expansion to 1,000-car capacity, he said. The theatre will have RCA equipment and will operate ten months of the year, closing only in January and February, according to Burton.”

Boxoffice, Aug. 21, 1948: “CARLSBAD, N. M. – Victor Farrar, formerly of Chickasha, Okla., has been named house manager of the newly opened Fiesta Drive-In, built here by Carl Burton at a cost exceeding $150,000. The 625-car ozoner was sold to Ray Bartlett of Artesia shortly before the formal opening."

Boxoffice, Aug. 28, 1948: “CARLSBAD – An editorial in the Carlsbad Current Argus took Theatre Enterprises, Inc., to task recently on the occasion of the opening of the Fiesta Drive-In, swank $150,000 ozoner built here by the circuit. The editorial said that the people of Carlsbad were disappointed with the opening attraction at the drive-in, and described the picture as a “10-year-old” film – “so old, in fact, that the actors' and actresses' clothes were out of style.” "

Boxoffice, Oct. 2, 1948: “CARLSBAD, N. M. – Bill Bartlett, city manager for Theatre Enterprises, Inc., owners of the swank new $50,000 Fiesta Drive-In opened here recently, replied to criticism of the opening film with a lengthy open letter to the Carlsbad Current Argus. Bartlett explained that the three first run houses here played current released long before they would be available to the ozoners. He also explained the the policy of the Fiesta was to play the best reissues."

The movie that caused such a fuss was “God’s Country and the Woman,” Warner Brothers' first feature-length film in full 3-strip Technicolor, released in January 1937.

KenLayton on December 4, 2018 at 12:00 pm

Closing? Oh no!

Chris1982 on September 29, 2014 at 12:50 am

From their Facebook page: Family owned and operated for over twenty years. Digital projection on all three screens. Full concession menu such as burgers, nachos, hot dogs, fries, pizza and much more.

Drive-In 54 on June 12, 2014 at 6:01 pm

Here is there Facebook page…https://www.facebook.com/fiestadrivein

I could not find a regular website.

KenLayton on April 11, 2012 at 5:06 pm

This is good news! Glad to hear they will be open again. :)

Driveintheatre2001 on January 19, 2012 at 3:16 am

Sad! Didn’t know this one had closed! Wow.. Anyone know the reason of it closing? Here’s a photo I took of the Fiesta Drive In back in 2008… Enjoy..

Randy A Carlisle – Historical Photographer