Reseda Drive-In
Reseda Boulevard and Vanowen Street,
Reseda,
CA
91335
Reseda Boulevard and Vanowen Street,
Reseda,
CA
91335
6 people
favorited this theater
In 1968, the Reseda Drive-In played host for the location of Peter Bogdanovich’s “Target”, starring Boris Karloff.
This drive-in lasted till the mid 70’s when it was torn down.
Contributed by
William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
About a year ago I moved to the Tarzana area here in the San Fernando Valley and happily discovered that I was residing just a few blocks from where the original Reseda Drive-In once stood. Peter Bogdanovich’s film “Targets” has always been one of my favorite movies so I was quick to investigate the area to see if I could find any traces at all of where a drive-in could have possibly even been, but typically I found zilch.
Also, the map link above takes you to an incorrect location, the drive-in was supposedly off Etiwanda, north of Van Owen near Reseda Boulevard (not off Sherman Way as shown on the map.) I believe this map is where the Reseda Country Club used to be.
theater was definitely just north of Vanowen, just west of Reseda Bl., where Mid-Valley athletic Club and the industrial park are now. Used to go there growing up.
View link
This is a better link for more photos:
http://www.garbell.com/drive-ins/drive-in.htm
Here is an article from the Van Nuys News dated 4/7/49:
Reseda Drive-In Theatre To Stage Grand Opening Tonight
One of the largest silver screens in the world will light up for the first time tonight when the Reseda Drive-In Theatre stages its gala grand opening. Costing over $250,000 to build, the elaborate
10-acre showplace incorporates modern technical advances and latest refinement in show-going comfort. Located in the heart of Reseda at the intersection of Reseda Blvd. and Vanowen Street, the deluxe “theater on wheels†is designed to serve the recreational needs of the entire West Valley area, parking 500 cars on new style ramps.
Individual sound speakers with adjustable volume control are provided for every ear. The entire ten acre theater plant is completely paved. A central building houses sanitary lounges, and an ultramodern snack bar which will serve a variety of hot and cold refreshments during each show. The new “automobile movie palace” has been built by Pacific Drive-In Theatres, owner-operator concern, and which has several such theaters in the Southland.
Reseda Drive-in had entrances off Reseda Blvd as well as Vanowen via Darby Ave and was located on the North-East corner across from A&W on the South-East corner…
if you were smart, you snuck out the Darby exit and got right over to the A&W .. the losers went out and got caught in traffic on Reseda BL …. HA HA!
I recently purchased a DVD of old “Boston Blackie” episodes from 1951-1952. There’s an episode titled “High Voltage Murder” that features a terrific gun battle and car chase through the old Reseda Drive-In.
I’ll try to post this to YouTube and report back here when it’s up and available to view
Here is part of an LA Times article dated 3/25/79:
The site formerly occupied by the Reseda Drive-In will open next Sunday as the Reseda Business Park and Mid-Valley Racque Ball and Athletic Club, according to the owners. The racquetball and athletic club will open in May.
Here is an August 1973 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/yajhnkr