Edwards Drive-In

Google Maps says that the Edwards site is adjacent to Irwindale but technically in a census-designated place called Mayflower Village, which is east of Arcadia. No, I take that back - the Edwards would have been adjacent to Irwindale except for a 100-foot-wide thread (along the old alignment of Peck Road) of Monrovia to a chunk of land south of Live Oak Ave.

The Theatre Catalog listed the Edwards under Arcadia. (The Motion Picture Almanac put it under Los Angeles, which might have been its shorthand for LA County.) Although the site is closer to Irwindale, I’d say that Arcadia is probably the best place to list it.

Was it near Edwards Air Force Base?

The July 9, 1949 issue of BoxOffice places the opening date that year.

MONROVIA, CALIF. – The $350,000 Edwards Drive-In has opened on a 16-acre plot at Live Oak and Peck road. The drive-in, which has accommodations for over 400 cars, is managed by G. G. Henderson, former manager of the Temple in Temple City. Architect for the new Edwards circuit theatre was Charles Lee. Simplex sound and projection equipment is in use.

The Edwards Drive-In was listed in advertisements in the Los Angeles Times as late as September 1992.

LOTS OF MEMORIES OF THE EDWARDS DRIVE IN. LIVING ONLY A FEW BLOCKS AWAY WE COULD SEE THE SCREEN FROM OUR GARAGE ROOF TOP. GOT IN BIG TROUBLE WHEN DAD FOUND ME THERE WITH MY BROTHER DOUG WATCHING “GOLD FINGER”

Here is a 1980 aerial photo:
http://tinyurl.com/yatpv95

Here are excerpts from an LA Times article dated 6/23/52:

Crime careers of two Arizona men came to a quick end early yesterday when the pair ran a boulevard stop at a dizzy speed. Shortly after they had been halted by deputy sheriffs at Temple City for the traffic violation, one of the pair admitted that he had robbed an Arcadia drive-in theater shortly before and had been involved in a highway accident and chase in which a shot was fired at a man and woman.

The man confessed to the theater robbery and chase, but told investigators that he had been drunk and was asleep in the car when the robbery and chase took place. The theater held up was the Edwards Drive-in, Peck Road and Live Oak Avenue, Arcadia. Miss Wananda M. Smith, cashier, reported that she was entering the receipts into a record book when a bandit entered her enclosure armed with a pistol. He took the currency worth about $135, and hit her on the back before leaving. He also pulled out the telephones.

Some scenes in the movie “There Goes My Baby” (set in 1965) were filmed in front of the Edwards; they built a mock-up of a restaurant in the front parking lot and lit the marquee but changed its name to “Paradise”, and listed “Cat Ballou” on the signboard.

Bet you were there too! 50’s and 60’s? :)
Haven’t been to a Theater or Drive-In for so many Years, Too
Scarry Now. The closet Drive-In to Us is in Barstow,CA.
My Dad and Uncle,his Twin ushered at the Tumbleweed Theater in El Monte. Lots of fun storys.
I was from the El Monte area! You?

Ken, Smile when I think of ALL the Friday and Sat.Night on Dates spent at this Drive-In. Thanks for the Great Pics.
Great Memories! wink!!!!!

From the UCLA collection:

http://sclee.library.ucla.edu/002/08/i0020804.jpg

http://sclee.library.ucla.edu/002/08/i0020807.jpg

http://sclee.library.ucla.edu/002/08/i0020805.jpg

http://sclee.library.ucla.edu/002/08/i0020803.jpg