When this drive-in was built in the 1950s, it stood alone in a totally undeveloped area more than a mile from US Hwy 50, the local artery. A long, unpaved road with frequent signage directed you to the theatre “way out in nowhere.” That long dirt road eventually was paved and named Glenwood Way, now serving the large residential area which ultimately contributed to the drive-in’s end.
The theatre had a 2-story yellow-and-white frame building at the rear of the lot which housed the snack bar and rest rooms downstairs plus the projection booth upstairs.
Arson vandals destroyed the closed theatre’s building.
A new huge “McMansion” has been built privately on the drive-in site and is rented-out to large groups.
Until 1955, the aging State Theatre with an old box-like rectangular marquee and fading facade was a 2nd-run house. Departing once from usual fare, perchance it booked a double-bill of two 1953 foreign films: “Mr. Hulot’s Holiday” (French) and “The Little Kidnappers” (British). Full-house audiences retained that pairing for more than 40 weeks, and, according to the State’s tuxedo-wearing manager Mr. Szabo, that afforded a complete re-model and new marquee, the remains of which seen at the top of this page.
When this drive-in was built in the 1950s, it stood alone in a totally undeveloped area more than a mile from US Hwy 50, the local artery. A long, unpaved road with frequent signage directed you to the theatre “way out in nowhere.” That long dirt road eventually was paved and named Glenwood Way, now serving the large residential area which ultimately contributed to the drive-in’s end.
The theatre had a 2-story yellow-and-white frame building at the rear of the lot which housed the snack bar and rest rooms downstairs plus the projection booth upstairs. Arson vandals destroyed the closed theatre’s building.
A new huge “McMansion” has been built privately on the drive-in site and is rented-out to large groups.
Here’s more:
https://www.laketahoenews.net/2013/03/then-and-now-movies-at-the-old-drive-in/
Here’s a 2001 photo of where the Ritz was: View link
P.S. — interesting that your posting of Apr 5 is 87 years to the date since it opened!
Thank you, “ken mc”, for the incredible photos, especially the interior. My second “date” was there (“Crown Theatre” in 1956).
The Raymond in mid-1980’s and in March 2007:
View link
Here is the United Artists Pasadena in 1996: View link
Here’s the State Theatre in early 1996: View link
Until 1955, the aging State Theatre with an old box-like rectangular marquee and fading facade was a 2nd-run house. Departing once from usual fare, perchance it booked a double-bill of two 1953 foreign films: “Mr. Hulot’s Holiday” (French) and “The Little Kidnappers” (British). Full-house audiences retained that pairing for more than 40 weeks, and, according to the State’s tuxedo-wearing manager Mr. Szabo, that afforded a complete re-model and new marquee, the remains of which seen at the top of this page.
A few more pix, inside and outside:
http://flickr.com/photos/33142718@N00/