Surf Drive-In
4609 Ayers Street,
Corpus Christi,
TX
78415
4609 Ayers Street,
Corpus Christi,
TX
78415
2 people
favorited this theater
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Closed in 1981.
Opened on February 11th, 1953. grand opening ad posted.
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Jan. 9, 1963: “Sam Kellog has taken over operation of the Surf Drive-In and the Palm Drive-In, Corpus Christi, Tex.”
Billboard, March 14, 1953: “The Surf Drive-In Theater has been opened at Corpus Christi, Tex.”
Hi there! My grandfather Jose “Joe” Ojeda used to manage The Twin Palms Food/kitchen then transferred to the Surf drive around 65' or 66'. My mom and her siblings would help in the kitchen. My mom moved up to the cashier position when she was in her late teens. She remembers the manager only by his last name with a daughter named Sherry. My grandfather managed the food/kitchen until the Surf closed. Made my mom very happy to hear that people still remember the theatres.
Yakima, I’m not related. If you’ll read my post on The Viking Twin, also in Corpus, you’ll note that my late father was later hired to run the Viking for Johnny, as soon as it opened. In fact, my granddad was part of the construction crew.
I did have a crush on Mr. Blocker’s daughter. But we were only eight years old.
Qbrik…. would you be related to Johnny Blocker?
That’s pretty awesome. I’m udating a link to several Surf related articles and pictures.
https://picasaweb.google.com/114660070182931171464/CorpusChristiSurfDriveIn?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIXCo6-SiPXQYw&feat=directlink
So glad I found this site. The Surf was our temporary home back in 1955 when my dad took over management of this theater and the Twin Palms (on Hwy 9, I think). I couldn’t remember the exact address. Our living quarters were in the huge base of the screen, with rooms constructed end to end. As I recall, it was quite spacious. I have fond memories of that place. The projectionist was a wonderful old gentleman who’d let me help him change reels. I’d watch for the “cigarette burn” in the upper right-hand corner, then throw the switch on the rear of the projector which ignited the carbon rods used for light.
Years ago, during a visit to Corpus, I drove along Ayers and could only get a general idea of the exact location. All I could remember was a huge water tower nearby. Thanks to Cinema Treasures, I got address, went to Google maps and selected street view. The 8mm footage that my dad shot reveals a water tower in the background and that landmark is still there.
I posted a frame grab from that footage in the photo tabbed section.
‘Scuse me while a huge wave of nostalgia washes over me.
A very good shot of the Surf Drive-in marquee can be seen in this video of Hurricane Celia from 1970. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D45-MPJKNU&feature=related It’s at the 19:56 point of the movie. The Surf’s screen was completely destroyed by the hurricane, and someone with a sense of humor put on the marquee “GONE WITH THE WIND”. It took quite a while for the Surf to make a comeback. Destroyed Aug 3, 1970; re-opended Nov 24, 1971. A link to some aerials and newspaper ads https://picasaweb.google.com/114660070182931171464/CorpusChristiSurfDriveIn?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIXCo6-SiPXQYw&feat=directlink
Here are some aerial images, newspaper ads and a bit of history for the Surf.
View link
Walmart. i was close.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCZUCJMiZvA
Same video at 4:23 one can briefly see the remnants of the marquee for The Lexington Drive-in.
One of our city’s first Walmarts was built next to the drive-in site in 1982, perhaps encroaching a little on the widest part of the drive-in parking. The projection booth site is still visible in an undeveloped field next to the old Walmart building. The Walmart became a large Telemarketer building for a while and is now headquarters for the Stripes convenience store chain (owned by Susser). An office/retail/warehouse plaza was built on the screen end of the drive-in in 1979. If memory serves me correct, they tore down the screen and marquee at that time.
One can briefly see the marquee in our home movies of Hurricane Celia here…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCZUCJMiZvA at 1:45 into the video.
Wasn’t one of the office buildings on the site a Sam’s Club for a while?
The Surf was heavily damaged by Hurricane Celia in August of 1970. Someone quickly added ‘Gone With The WInd’ to the marquee.
A link to more info with photos and articles to come……….