Foothill Drive-In

571 E. Foothill Boulevard,
Rialto, CA 92376

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Pacific Theatres

Architects: Howard E. Jones

Nearby Theaters

Foothill Drive-In

The Foothill Drive-In opened March 6, 1948 with Robert Montgomery in “Ride the Pink Horse” and Tom Neal in “My Dog Shep”. Capacity was 675 cars. The Foothill Drive-In was closed on September 5, 1988 with Eddie Murphey in “Coming to America” & Bobcat Goldthwaite in “Hot to Trot”. It has been torn down and replaced by a shopping center.

Contributed by Ken McIntyre

Recent comments (view all 11 comments)

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on November 14, 2009 at 3:04 pm

Here is an update on the FOOTHILL DRIVE IN. It parked in 1956 700 cars, so it must have lost some spots. It was owned by Lesile C. Tharp. by Co-op Theatres Inc.

Johnpollard
Johnpollard on October 29, 2010 at 7:53 pm

When I used to go to the Foothill Drive In I was waited on by Twyla Tharp. Twyla was the daughter of the owner. She became quite a famous choreographer.

rivest266
rivest266 on May 27, 2015 at 3:52 am

March 6th, 1948 first ad in photo section

Sillyoldfrog
Sillyoldfrog on January 13, 2016 at 4:45 pm

My mother worked here in 1965 thru 1968. I remember the lobby was filled with the animals MR. Tharp shot with his bow. My mother loved working with the Mrs. Tharp. The Tharp’s daughter, Twyla became famous but I don’t know what happened to her twin brothers.

Denny Pine
Denny Pine on September 14, 2018 at 9:09 am

Final night of operation was September 5, 1988 with “Coming To America” and “Hot To Trot”.

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on February 25, 2020 at 9:25 pm

Boxoffice, Jan. 3, 1948: “A drive-in theatre will be built on Foothill boulevard, between San Bernardino and Rialto, for William and Lecile Tharp of Dunkirk, Ind., with space for 684 cars. The plans, prepared by architect H. E. Jones of San Bernardino, provide for a machine room and a snack bar and rest rooms behind the screen.”

Boxoffice, March 13, 1948: “RIALTO, CALIF. – A new motif in drive-in theatre design was made public when W. A. Tharp, former Indiana exhibitor, opened his Foothill Drive-In here March 6. The theatre has a 670-car capacity and is the first installation to feature the Moonlight Movies system for the parking of cars. Tharp, who conceived the new system, has applied for a patent and established headquarters in San Bernardino to lease the device to interested showmen.”

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on December 15, 2021 at 4:11 pm

The July 30, 1989 San Bernardino County Sun gave a reason for the shutdown. “Rialto’s Foothill Drive-In also closed down last year when its owner failed to renew the lease.”

Jamey_monroe45
Jamey_monroe45 on August 2, 2023 at 7:38 pm

Now Statler Brothers Marķet @ 571 E Foothill Blvd, Rialto, CA 92376.

Please update.

Fanofcomedy
Fanofcomedy on November 25, 2023 at 2:18 am

My dad took me & my brother to see “Batteries Not Included” at this drive in first weekend of Jan ‘88 (I Think). Fun Times.

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