La Grande Drive-In
404 20th Street,
La Grande,
OR
97850
404 20th Street,
La Grande,
OR
97850
1 person
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Granada Theatre, La Grande (Official)
Additional Info
Operated by: La Grande Theaters
Previously operated by: Western Amusement Company Inc.
Functions: Movies (First Run)
Nearby Theaters
One of four drive-in theaters in Oregon that are active, the La Grande Drive-In was opened May 10, 1951 with Lex Barker in “Tarzan’s Challenge”. It was operated by Jones Entertainment and Western Amusements.
All the currently operating drive-ins are operated by those who run the Granada 3 Theater, and are open during the summer (or sometimes late-spring).
Contributed by
John Book
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
The La Grande Drive-In has mad the conversion to digital projection. Their website has the drive-in at the bottom of the webpage. It is closed for the season.
The 1952 Theatre Catalog already listed the LaGrande, capacity 350, exec: W.J. Shell. (The 1949-50 edition doesn’t list it.)
The drive-in’s web site said it was purchased by its current owners in 1953, suggesting it was built earlier.
The Grand Opening was May 10,1951
Boxoffice, March 31, 1951: “The Western Amusement Co., Los Angeles, plans to open a new 320-car drive-in in La Grande, Ore., early in May. … The company operates theatres in Coos Bay, La Grande, Baker, Hood River and some time ago bought out the Gamble interests here. A local contest will be conducted to name the new auto theatre.”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1951: “LA GRANDE, ORE. - The community’s first airer, the La Grande Drive-In, opened May 1 under the partnership of W. J. Shell and A. V. Parker. The 400-car outdoorer cost an estimated $50,000.”
Boxoffice, April 26, 1952: “Car service will be a new feature at the La Grande Drive-In this season. Carhops will take orders for refreshments from the theatre audience, saving them them trips to the snack bar during intermission and performances.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 9, 1954: “LA GRANDE, ORE. – Parker and W. J. Shell, owners of the drive-in theatre, have sold it to Francis Greulich of La Grande and Ted Jones of Santa Monica, Calif. Greulich and Jones own the two La Grande theatres, the Liberty and the Granada.”