Moonlite Drive-In
2726 El Camino Real,
Santa Clara,
CA
95050
2726 El Camino Real,
Santa Clara,
CA
95050
1 person
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Opened on October 28th, 1949, as the world’s finest drive-in. Grand opening ad posted.
From the Oct. 8, 1949 issue of Showmen’s Trade Review: “Moonlite Movies, a new drive-in located near Santa Clara, Calif., owned by Golden State Theatres, is slated to open Oct. 21. The open-airer will be equipped with individual car-heaters for winter operation. Ben Stevenson has been named manager. He was formerly at the Parkside Theatre where Bud Sears is now in charge. Roy Young, assistant manager of the Noe Theatre, was made manager when Sears left for the Parkside.”
The Moonlite Drive-In, built in the 1940s was part of the United Artists Theater Circuit. It was on a large piece of land owned by UATC at El Camino Real and Kiely Blvd. in Santa Clara. Also on the site was Moonlite Shopping center, a strip mall which still remains, and two indoor theaters, the UA Regency and the UA Cinema 150, both built in the 1960s. The Regency was built partially on land that had previously been part of the Moonlite Drive-in. The drive-in closed around 1980 and condos were built on the site.
there was also Moon Light bowling lanes
I remember this. The entrance was actually on Kiely. I still remember going to the Cinema 150 and seeing the giant screen behind the shopping center.
In looking at the 1980 aerial view it appears you may be correct. Have never seen ads for it in any old newspapers though. Quite curious.
I may be remembering things badly, but wasnt there a walk-in theater nestled up against the Drive in screen here?
Aerial at View link
in other years, you can also see the UA 150 in front of the shopping centre.
From the late 1940s, a newsprint photo of the Moonlite Movies Drive In marquee.