Winnetka Drive-In
20210 Prairie Avenue,
Chatsworth,
CA
91311
20210 Prairie Avenue,
Chatsworth,
CA
91311
6 people
favorited this theater
The Winnetka Drive-in was the last drive-in to be built (1976) and the last to close (1996) in the San Fernando Valley.
The Pacific Winnetka 21 multiplex has occupied the site of the former drive-in since 1998.
Contributed by
David Knatcal
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
Pacific actually wanted to keep 3 screens (Hence the open area up front of the walk in till the 2005-2006 time frame). However the local city coucil member didn’t want the drive in so he stopped the plan. What an Ahole. The Simi also closed the same year and the Van Nuys was the last one standing.
That was councilman Wilkinson – the town drunk …. he was also responsible for holding up the refurbishing of the RESEDA walk-in … a real loser!
He did get a local park & rec center named after himself.
Was the LA Times wrong about the Van Nuys Drive-In still being open in May 1996?
** According to SEVERAL websites here’s the stats for
VAN NUYS DI =
Built (in) 1948 -
Vehicle Capacity 890, Eventually 1400.
Closed August 1996
Demolished in August, 1998.
… a grade school now sits in it’s former location.
Went to the drive-in once and went to the walk-in once. You can still feel the spirit of the drive-in when you’re standing in the parking lot.
Here is a 1980 aerial photo:
http://tinyurl.com/ygl8jp8
Website about the old Winnetka Drive-in:
[url]http://www.drive-insdownunder.com.au/worldwide/ca_winnetka6.htm[/url]
I have alot of memories going there when I was a teenager,We used to load up our cars n trucks and party at the movies,I remember buying cigarettes for dana plato,rest her soul, But we spent alot of times there,My best friend loved the giant spider invasion movie,and it seems we saw it evey week it played.
One memory I have: being 6 years old, sitting in the backseat of my friend’s Camaro, waiting for the movie to start, and listening to Van Halen’s first record. I think I also saw the flick “Grizzly” at this drive-in.
Goggle Earth from 1989