Los Altos Drive-In
2800 N. Bellflower Boulevard,
Long Beach,
CA
90815
2800 N. Bellflower Boulevard,
Long Beach,
CA
90815
1 person
favorited this theater
Showing all 19 comments
June 3rd, 1955 grand opening ad uploaded here
Went here once to see “Sleepless in Seattle” and “Jurassic Park” in the summer of 1993…and didn’t make it through the double feature due to a brisk and passionate makeout session. Aaaah…
:o)
Was mentioned in the documentary “Drive-In Movie Memories” in 2001.
Here is a 1959 ad from the Press-Telegram:
http://tinyurl.com/2hhzgg
I used to frequent the Drive-in (almost everynight, we used to sneak in the exit, covering the spikes using phone books or carpet from Carpeteria across the street. Now I work for Cal Worthington Ford
(when the drive-in was demolished in 1998 they built us a brand-new dealership, opened in 1999) right now on the property is; CAL WORTHINGTON FORD, CHAMPION CHEVROLET (formerly Beach City Chevrolet), LOWES, K-MART, KFC & DENNYS
among others
I went to this drive-in frequently during the sixties, but only once after it was tri-plexed in the 70’s, where a friend and I took a Japanese visitor who wished to see an American drive-in to see “That’s Entertainment.”
Big problems started for the Los Altos when Cal Worthington Ford had bright lights to show off their cars, and it dimmed the picture quality.
Scroll down for before and after photos:
http://www.cajaeir.com/portfolio/photos.html
I was going by the opening date listed above when I said it tri-plexed soon after opening. After posting I remembered seeing “Godzilla’s Revenge” (1969) in pouring rain and “Twins of Evil” (1971) here so it was obviously open before 1972.
Listed as a Pacific Drive-In triplex in the L.A. Times Calendar section, Sunday August 24, 1986.
If your wondering what is located on the site (or part of the site) of this former drive-in, here is the answer:
“Lowe’s Opens in Long Beach, Calif.
COPYRIGHT 2000 Press-Telegram
Oct. 17—LONG BEACH, Calif.—A Lowe’s Home Improvement warehouse has opened at the site of the former Los Altos Drive-In, joining several big-name retailers at the new Los Altos Gateway".
This drive-in was near the 405 freeway. Back in the 60’s we used to get off the Bellflower exit to get to the drive-in to see those beach party films. The last time I went there was to see a double bill, Bronco Billy and Under the Rainbow back in 1981.
Excellent point Ken. This church claims that it held services at the Los Altos Drive-In in March 1957. So this drive-in was open in the 1950’s.
So it wouldn’t have opened in 1972, but probably sometime in the 50s.
This website has some information and photos for the Los Altos Drive-In.
Well that ad was right, the drive-in was at Bellflower @ Spring. Bellflower & Spring are the cross streets at the north west corner of the property.
There is an ad for the Los Altos Drive-In in the Long Beach Independent dated 9/17/58. Address is given as Bellflower at Spring.
The Los Altos Drive-In began life as a single screen and was tri-plexed not long after. The theater was very large as noted by the car capacity. The theater was also notorious for presenting a dim image on the screens. It was one of the last drive-ins to bite the dust in So California. The designation above that it was a 4 plex is incorrect.
The car capacity breakdown was (1074),(798) & (938) from Pacific Thetare’s company roster.
The BigScreen Cinema Guide gives this address:
Los Altos Drive-In
2800 N Bellflower Blvd
Long Beach, CA 90815
Message: 562-421-8831
Drive-Ins.Com gives the same address with the following timeline and info:
Los Altos Drive-In Time Line
1972 – opened
1996 – closed
1998 – torn down
Owner: Pacific Theatres
Screens: 3 Season: unknown
Cars: 2150 Sound: unknown