Compton Drive-In
2001 Rosecrans Avenue,
Compton,
CA
90221
2001 Rosecrans Avenue,
Compton,
CA
90221
8 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Mann Theatres, Pacific Theatres
Architects: William Glenn Balch, Louis L. Bryan
Firms: Balch & Bryan
Nearby Theaters
Opened by Ted Mann in 1949, on January 6, 1950 it was reopened by Pacific Theatres. The Compton Drive-In was one of the few lucky Pacific drive-ins that had a mural on its screen tower. The Compton Drive-In had a mural of Viking Ships and a car capacity of 1,196. The Compton Drive-In was closed on January 7, 1995 with Jean-Claude Van Damm “Streetfighter” & Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Junior”. It was then used as a church, but has since been razed.
Contributed by
William Gabel
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 34 comments)
Circa 1951 photo added featuring Sam Barris' `49 Mercury custom next to the Compton sign.
Such a beautiful drive in…I was shocked when they razed the El Monte Fiesta Drive-in back in the late 90s.
The Fiesta Four Drive-In, opened in 1949 as the Whittier Drive-In, was actually in Pico Rivera, a few miles south of El Monte.
Ted Mann built this drive-in with a partner according to this Minneapolis newspaper article from 1952.
Found on Newspapers.com
“A temporary injunction against a used car lot and restaurant adjacent to the Compton Drive-In, a Pacific Drive-In operation, for using brilliant lights to the detriment of the ozoner customers was secured in Superior Court. The action state that the defendants installed the lights after the start of the drive-in to distract patrons of the latter.” — Boxoffice, July 4, 1960
The Compton Drive-In opened on January 6th, 1950 by Pacific Theatres. Grand opening ad posted.
This closed on January 7th, 1995, and reopened as a church called “The Vision” on January 15th, 1995.
Compton Drive-In found God. Sat, Jan 7, 1995 – Page 177 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
Appears that it was a double bill of “Street Fighter” and “Junior”, what a way to go out…
The stars were out in Compton including Hoot Gibson, Andy Clyde, Tim McCoy, Andy Devine, Rex Allen, the Sons of the Pioneers and Frankenstein. On the big screen was a double feature of “Everybody Does It” and “Blue Lagoon” supported by a newsreel and two cartoons all on January 6, 1950. It closed at the end of a 25-year lease one day after its 25th Anniversary.
Now a residential neighborhood.
Way off!
The actual address is 2001 Rosecrans Ave, Compton, CA 90221.
Please update.