Highway 39 Drive-In
7901 Trask Avenue,
Westminster,
CA
92683
7901 Trask Avenue,
Westminster,
CA
92683
4 people
favorited this theater
When it opened on June 29, 1955, the Santa Ana Register called this one of the largest drive-ins in the West because of its 1,600 car capacity and a screen almost ten stories high. As Orange County’s fourth drive-in, this Pacific Theatres' snack bar was six times larger than normal and had counter space almost a quarter block long. The opening attraction was James Stewart in “Strategic Air Command”.
When it closed on March 31, 1997, the 56-year history of Orange County drive-ins came to a close. Out of eleven drive-in locations in Orange County beginning with its first, the Orange in 1941 to the Stadium built in 1970, the Highway 39 was beaten only by the Orange Drive-In in its longevity but it has the distinction of being the last to go, outliving the seven ozoners that were built after it. Among the movies playing on its three screens on closing night were “Private Parts” and “Beavis and Butthead Do America”.
A Lowes and Wal-Mart store were later built on the site by the real estate division of Pacific Theatres.
Contributed by
Ron Pierce
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 27 comments)
I went to Santiago High School in Garden Grove and lived off Trask way before being a projectionist. How horribly sad this is.
If you enter the theater address on this site, you will see a 1972 aerial view. The 1953 view shows only farmland, while the more recent photos show the retail development.
View link
Here is a 1985 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cxscpm
Couple photos of the 39 Drive-In
View link
View link
For a current aerial, click the map in the header and then aerial. Nice view of the Westminster Shopping Center where the drive-in once stood.
THanks Ken Mc and Chuck 1231 for the pictures and the ad from 1955.
Lasted 56 years pretty good.
This theatre lasted 42 years, if you re-read the comments you will see that the 56 years was for the Drive-In History for Orange County.
Sorry for the mistake Chuck.And what has that got to do with the Highway 39 Drive-in.
Comeon Guys you all get along.
As part of the History of the 56 years of drive-ins in Orange County the Highway Drive-In lasted for 42 years, that is part of the history of the Highway Drive-In.