Sacramento 6 Drive-In

The snack bar was damaged by fire 11 months ago however they were able to repair and are thankfully still open!

This opened on June 28th, 1973 as the world’s first 5-screen drive-in. the 6th screen was installed in 1976. Grand opening ad posted. For the record, the Thunderbird Drive-In in Fort Lauderdale, FL expanded to 6 screens on September 21st, 1973. Grand opening ad posted.

Did you smell the fires?

I have a lot of good memories of the Sacramento 6 drive in. I have been going there since I was a kid and still go with my girlfriend now. To me its better than a regular theater because if the movie sucks you still get to enjoy a beautiful summer night outside and the drive-in makes bad movies more bearable. I’ve seen some classics here (Jurassic Park, Waynes World, Back to the Future II & III) and some not-so-classics (Super Mario Bros. The Movie, Richie Rich, The Flintstones Movie).

I was lucky to get a behind the scenes look at the drive in in 2004 when I was working for a local radio station, KWOD 106.5, and we did a couple classic movie nights at the Sacramento 6. Back then it was thought that the Sacramento 6 was closing for good and we we’re throwing it a going away party. We had local rock bands playing there, free double features, people showed up by the truck loads! Little did we know our going away party wouldn’t really be that because almost 10 years later its still going strong even in the winter months. But in the summer the lines have been known to be backed up to the busy street and over the Highway 50 overpass. I know one day it will be gone but from the looks of it that might not be any time soon.

I was a projectionist at the Sacramento 6 from the ‘80s until the mid '90s (and worked for Century Theaters for a few years after that). We opened “Three Men and a Baby” in November 1987 as a main feature, and as is often the case, it moved to become a co-feature (second feature) after a few weeks. However, it was very popular and stayed as a co-feature for one movie or another, continuously, for nearly a year. I remember my friend (and fellow projectionist) and I were, by summer of '88, amazed every week when we got the bookings that “Three Men and a Baby” was still going to play. I remember it going into late summer/early fall of '88. I don’t think it made it a full year, but it came really close, more than 34 weeks. That was very unusual, but I think there were a few films that rivaled 30-something weeks of play back then.

Nice slideshow.

Still open! Speak with your $$$ and they will keep it open! I’m planning to go this weekend if the rain clears up!

West Wind is a front company for Syufy Enterprises. Apparently when Syufy sold Century Theaters to Cinemark, they kept Century 21, 22, & 23 in San Jose. They also kept all the drive-ins under the West Wind name. Check it out at: http://www.westwinddriveins.com/

As of October 28, Fandango is still showing listings for the Sac 6 drive-in.

I found a site that gives the movie times including the double feature showings.

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Just when you thought this drive in was safe for a few more years this information comes out:

http://www.sacbee.com/orangevale/story/198334.html

Yep that’s right Sacramento county Planners have actually approved the project to tear it down. after it’s gone the only nearest Drive in will be three hours away in San Jose. I’m sad to see it go but I guess that’s just the greet of our society. who cares to save something that’s the last of it’s kind when you can make more money building another strip mall.

The theatre has changed ownership, as Century Theatres has ceased operations and have sold off most of their screens to Cinemark. The Drive-ins that Century operated have been aquired by the Westwind Drive-Ins Company.

As of today, the Sacramento 6 has turned off their telephone recorded announcement, and dropped all listings in Yahoo! movies and the local paper. Hopefully this is a temporary issue…

I found this recently on the planning proposal for development of this theater. I am going to write a letter saying that should allow some building but still have the drive-in’s. This would be similar to what was done at the Capitol Drive-In in San Jose,Ca. This works very well in San Jose,Ca. I have been there many times. I don’t want to have to drive to Marysville to go to the drive-in. The City ordiances for Sac county say that there can be no flea markets at the drive-in theaters. I feel this should be change as well to allow for more use in hope of keeping the theaters a viable option.

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