De Anza Drive-In
1401 S. Alvernon Way,
Tucson,
AZ
85711
1401 S. Alvernon Way,
Tucson,
AZ
85711
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Boxoffice, April 21, 1951: TUCSON - New drive-in here, the city’s fourth, is the Cactus, recently opened by Wes Becker and Hugh Downs. The open-airer has accommodations for 600 cars and features a “snackateria.”
Opened as Cactus Drive-in on 24/3/1951 with “Gal who took the west” and “ Feudin', Fussin', and a fightin'”.
Stayed a few days in Tucson whilst traveling through the United States back in 1982. The “De Anza” was my first “Drive In”– Movie-Experience: absolutely fantastic – see a movie, watch the stars above. Brings back happy memories. Sorry to hear about the “De Anza’s” demolition. I am also sorry to read about the “Drive In’s” vanishing from the US landscapes. Keep my finger crossed for the remaining DI’s and the ones to be open in the future (hopefully). Love from Germany
I remember when I went here to see Charlie & The Chocolate Factory with my family in 2004. My dad, & I had already seen it at the Century El Con 20 Theatres, but the rest of us hadn’t seen it at all. My younger brother was creeped out by the squirrels.
I’ve got the original grand opening ad here:http://cactusdriveintheater.org/cacopen.jpg
Old Drive in customer found, couldn’t find the exit:
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/crime/remains-found-at-old-tucson-drive-in-were-homicide-victim/article_3506dfb8-c574-11e1-a93a-0019bb2963f4.html
Grand opening ad from February 1st, 1977 ad De Anza is at
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Two individuals in Tucson are attempting to build a sort of recreation of this theater, using screen parts salvaged from the site. The plan to give the new theater the De Anza’s original name, the Cactus. The project has a website and it has this page on it which relates some history of the Cactus/De Anza: http://www.cactusdriveintheater.com/history.html
Status should be Closed/Demolished: http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=12675433
The three-screen De Anza Drive-In was designed by Charles Cox & Associates, according to an article in the February 14, 1977, issue of Boxoffice.
Here is a photo of Ewart Edwards, who managed the De Anza and several other theaters in the Tucson area. The photo was in a retrospective in the AZ Daily Star in October 2006, shortly after Mr. Edwards passed away.
http://tinyurl.com/9kakkh
I posted the story, but then it changed screens to say I had to log in to return. Does it show the story when you click on the link?
That’s cute. Anyway, the story says a real estate developer wants to turn the property into a retail center.
The De Anza may be doomed, according to this May 2008 article from the Arizona Daily Star:
http://www.azstarnet.com/business/239096
Weird thing I noticed looking through Tucson Weekly archives: when they played the second show of Casino at around midnight, only the first half was shown. I bet this caused lots of complaints from night owls.
recent photo:
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