Vineland Drive-In

I still come here every Summer on the regular. With 4 of us in our family, it’s the cheapest way to see 2 first run flicks for the price of a 1 MATINEE! Having said that, I’m sorry to report that the presentation of films is declining. Whatever maintenance that needs to happen regarding Technalight is not happening. Picture is darker and blurrier than it should be on most nights.

They did upgrade their FM transmitters so the sound isn’t as bad as it used to be. They upgraded the Men’s restroom too with the new waterless toilets (hopefully they maintain them properly…without regular maintenance, those things can get STINKY!). They still need to upgrade the lots and paint the screens. But it’s still the only (LEGIT) drive-in in LA County (no HD projectors showing old DVD’s on the sides of abandoned office buildings). For that reason alone, the place still gets my support.

This is a 2009 photo.

Here is a website for the Vineland Drive-In.

It is my understanding that the Vineland now has Technalight on all four screen now.

Gary

Ask and ye shall receive…

Technalight has recently been installed on Screen #2 (the biggest field) at the Vineland. I haven’t checked it out yet, but I’m sure the quality is superb!

The Vineland is still doing big business. There are consistently long lines throughout the night as the 4 screens run their double features. There’s always rumors of this place closing, but Pacific Theatres is holding on to the place.

They’ve recently replaced their marquee and original screen tower. Hopefully they’ll repave the lots, clean up the restrooms, redo the snack bar, and upgrade their projection system. One of the nearby drive-ins is using a new system called Technalight that projects what is possibly the most clear and bright picture ever seen at a drive-in. It’s so clear that even dark movies are nearly crystal clear with minimal loss of detail. If Pacific forks down the $$$ to get this new system, it will pay off in dividends in the years to come!

This is the last operating drive-in anywhere in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. One could do a complete study as to why, out of so many ozoners, this became the lone survivor. There’s a documentary here waiting to be made.

Thanks, Jeff! Is it still operating?

I’m surprised it took as long as it did to include the Pacific Vineland in the database. Slightly further north, the Hi-Way Drive-In (Santa Maria) and the Sunset Drive-In (San Luis Obispo) still operate and do rather decent business. I think there’s another drive-in in Montclair (nearer the Vineland), but I can’t immediately recall its name.