Coliseum Drive-In
5401 Coliseum Way,
Oakland,
CA
94601
5401 Coliseum Way,
Oakland,
CA
94601
3 people
favorited this theater
Opened in December 1961, the Coliseum Drive-In is now used exclusively as a swap meet by Syufy/Century Theaters.
Contributed by
Richard Peterson
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
During operation, the Coliseum boasted 4 screens. Only 1 remains.
Thkis Drive-in was actually a 4-screen during operation. Since its reinvention as a full-time swap meet, the ramps were leveled, and 3 of the screens were demolished. The remaining screen is dark, and is likely to remain so.
The Coliseum opened in the mid-1960’s as a 2 screen operation, eventually expanding to 4 screens. Syufy was the only operator of this drive-in. The Oakland Coliseum is within a couple of blocks of this drive-in, now just a “swap meet”
The Coliseum was originally a single-screen (the screen with its back to the Nimitz), only later (beginning in the mid-‘70’s) did it become plexed to its eventual four-screen status.
The Coliseum’s address was 5401 Coliseum Way.
Vincent Raney was the architect of this Drive-In. The building is similar in design to the former Burlingame Drive-In and the Santa Barbara Twin Drive-In.
Opened 12/22/1961.
The chain is now “West Wind”.
i used to go to the drive inn here all the time with my perants back in the late 80s when i was a little kid this was a big hang out back then i really miss this drive inn i still go to the flea market they have here on the weekends theres only one screen left and the snackbar is still in use also the old kids play ground on the side of the snack bar is now a stage for live mexican music ..
Hm. I lived in Oakland in the mid 70s. All I remember was that you could see the movie screen from our front porch. It wasn’t super close and I know we lived on top of a hill… but I’m not sure how else to figure out where our house was in proximity to the drive in. I thought I could look it up on the internet and see which way the screen faced.. but if there were multiple screens, I’m not sure. Looking at the map, most houses seem to be east of the theater?
Here is a recent photo of the remaining screen.
Here is a 1980 aerial photo:
http://tinyurl.com/ydfak78