Phoenix Drive-In
3600 E. Van Buren Avenue,
Phoenix,
AZ
85008
3600 E. Van Buren Avenue,
Phoenix,
AZ
85008
1 person
favorited this theater
The Phoenix Drive-In opened in 1940. The car capacity was 500 cars. It is said that this was the first drive-in built in Phoenix. The drive-in was owned by Harry L. Nace Theatres. It was later expanded to hold around 800 cars.
The Phoenix Drive-In closed in 1983 and has since been leveled.
Contributed by
Chuck
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
February 28th, 1940 grand opening ad is at View link
Thanks guys.
From the June 12, 2015 Arizona Republic:
The Phoenix Drive-In Theatre is an example of how drive-in theaters evolved. Speakers were first located in the ground and later migrated onto poles. A concession stand was added. The size of the screen grew and the number of parking slots doubled over time to about 800.
Boxoffice, Dec. 9, 1950: “PHOENIX – The Phoenix Drive-In Theatre on Van Buren street reopened recently with new car speakers, redecorated marquee, and added landscaping. The new speakers replaced the earlier horn system that was installed when the Phoenix was the first outdoorer in the valley.”
Soft opening(preview) on 28/2/1940 with selected short subjects(not named) and “The Women”. Same programme for the offical opening on 29/2/1940.