Rancho Drive-In

1140 E. Santa Gertrudis Street,
Kingsville, TX 78363

Unfavorite No one has favorited this theater yet

Additional Info

Nearby Theaters

Rancho Drive-In

The Rancho Drive-In was owned by Joseph & Kyle, and parked 300 cars. It was opened on June 24, 1954.

It ran Spanish language movies during most of it’s run. It was still open in 1970.

Contributed by Silicon Sam

Recent comments (view all 11 comments)

matt54
matt54 on October 11, 2010 at 10:03 pm

“El Rancho was on E Santa Gertrudis, just about a block east of 14th Street on the south side of the street…

…El Rancho was just Spanish language until the last few years before it closed – they began showing some 2nd run and ‘alternative’ English movies (recall seeing “Wattstax” and Hendrix’s “Rainbow Bridge” there)."

  • posted by RWolfe Oct 5 & 7, 2010 on the Carpo Teatro (Kingsville) page
Yakima1
Yakima1 on October 12, 2010 at 9:16 am

The Rancho celebrated it’s grand opening Thursday June 24, 1954. Opened by Joseph and Kyle, it was the last of four drive-ins to open in Kingsville. Well known for showing Spanish language movies, it started out with “Double Features Nightly – Spanish and English Film”….. “English pictures start at 9:30PM”. The first features were “Por Ellas Aunque Mal Pagen” and “Al Jennings of Oklahoma”.

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois on October 23, 2010 at 10:52 am

Is this the same as the Rancho Drive-In (NOTE NO EL) that was open from about 1955-1975 (I know it was open for sure in 1967) and was run by Texas Cinema Corporation at least in 1975?

Yakima1
Yakima1 on October 31, 2010 at 5:53 pm

Pictures and newspaper ads seen here….
View link

matt54
matt54 on October 31, 2010 at 6:19 pm

So it WAS just the “Rancho”, not “El Rancho.” My mistake of a faulty memory, since I was the one who started asking about these drive-ins.

My memory was also faulty about the name of the King’s Drive-In; I remembered it as “King.”

Excellent work, Yakima. Thanks so much.

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois on October 31, 2010 at 9:00 pm

PLEASE CHANGE NAME TO:

RANCHO DRIVE-IN

Need more info and more photos.

smm18255
smm18255 on August 4, 2011 at 3:04 pm

I live in kingsville and i am writing a paper for my college english class and am looking for more information on the Rancho, if anyone has any pictures or more information please let me know. thank you

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on November 10, 2019 at 12:07 am

From the May 8, 1954 Billboard: “Construction has been started on a third drive-in at Kingsville, Tex., on a 10-acre tract of land. It will be operated by Koseph & Kyle, operator of the King’s and Brahama drive-ins. According to Chester Kyle the new drive-in will have a 350-car capacity and will feature Spanish language films.”

LuckyEagle
LuckyEagle on February 1, 2020 at 9:51 pm

I added a cropped 1955 Kingsville, Texas phonebook yellow page of Rancho Drive In listing.

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on June 8, 2024 at 5:59 pm

Boxoffice, May 25, 1970: “Texas Cinema Corp. of Ennis has purchased a half-interest in the local King’s Theatre and Rancho Drive-In from L. D. Sipes of Kingsville and has assumed operation of both situations. Sipes will concentrate on management of his Parkway Foods Store, 1906 East Kennedy.”

You must login before making a comment.

New Comment

Subscribe Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.