Stadium 8 Drive-In
1501 W. Katella Avenue,
Orange,
CA
92867
1501 W. Katella Avenue,
Orange,
CA
92867
1 person
favorited this theater
When the Stadium Drive-In 1-2-3-4, Orange County’s last-built drive-in, opened on May 27, 1970 it was billed as “The only four-screen drive-in in the entire West”. The circular snack bar, with a centralized projection booth on top, projected to all four screens.
During the 1980’s Syufy (now Century) Theatres would add four more screens to the venue changing its already 2,600-car capacity to an indeterminate number.
For its last night of operation on September 12, 1996 admission was reduced to 1970 prices of $2.25 per person for a feast of 1970’s films such as “The Exorcist” and “Saturday Night Fever”, along with two from its opening night, “MASH” and “Easy Rider”.
Its closing left Orange County which once had drive-ins at 11 locations with only one ozoner, the Highway 39 Drive-In, which would later close in March of 1997.
Century was quick to rebuild, because in November of 1997 they opened a 25-screen indoor stadium on the site.
Contributed by
Ron Pierce
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
Car capacity in 1975 was 2,600.
Here is a 1980 aerial photo:
http://tinyurl.com/yf65xv8
I started working at the Stadium drive-in 4 in 1975 picking trash from the lots. In 1980 I was running the projection booth after they got rid of the projectionist’s union. It was a glorious time for an 18 year old. Best memories of my life. It went from a 4 screen to a 5 screen to a 6 screen during my tenure. Met my wife of 30 years there. Thanks for the link!