Alamo Drive-In
1428 Austin Highway,
San Antonio,
TX
78209
1428 Austin Highway,
San Antonio,
TX
78209
4 people
favorited this theater
The Alamo Drive-In was opened in April 1946, operated by Statewide Drive-In Theatres. It had a capacity for 650 cars and 120 seats for walk-in patrons. A Wal-Mart has been built on its site.
Contributed by
Chuck Van Bibber
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 10 comments)
This was the second drive-in to be built in San Antonio, around the very early 1940’s. After the Drive-In closed, it was vacant for a few years, then became a flea market that I attended a few time in the late 80’s and early 90’s. The screen and all was already gone. It didn’t last too long and it again closed down for a few more years. Its then when the grocery giant Wal-Mart just recently built a Supercenter on the area that it once stood.
On an unrelated note: The old Seven Oaks Resort that was just next door to the theater was recently burned down by areson. Many movie stars and political people stayed at this once luxury hotel during the 1950’s. It was scheduled to be saved and restored to its once glory before the fire, but unfortunately the structure was considered a total loss.
The Alamo was opened before the advent of in car speakers, and had a large horn type speaker below the screen. This set up made problems with neighbors, and also the people in the back ramps had a sound delay. A cowboy shot on the screen would fall dead off his horse before the people in back heard the shot! The screen was similar ro many Texas drive ins built by Landsman Theatres in the 40s, including the Mission Drive In in San Antonio. There was mural with a neon palm tree on the back of the screen tower building. The Alamo fell into disrepair in it’s later years. I worked there it’s last summer in 1972. It was demolished in the Fall of 1972. The news filmed the tearing down of the screen. The anchors were cut, and cables were attached to the corners of the screen inside the theatre, and it was just pulled over! It came down in a huge cloud of dust!
Here is a 1948 ad from the San Antonio Light:
http://tinyurl.com/39z47l
Here is an April 3, 1946 item from the San Antonio Express:
The Alamo Drive-In Theater, built at a cost of $100,000 one mile north on Austin Hwy., will be formally opened Thursday at 7 p.m. Arthur Landsman, manager and co-owner, along with C.A. Richter and E.L. Pack, said the screen, employing a new plaster, provides more clearly defined pictures with realistic depth. Five hundred can be accommodated at the theater, he said.
I grew up in the neighborhood behind this theater. I remember going out in our back yard and watching the movies until my Mom called me in! It was abandoned for the longest time. My friends and I would ride our bicycles in its empty parking lot for years. Then a flea market suddenly appeared! Good memories! Thanks for taking me back!
Aerial of the Alamo Drive-In Theater, 1428 Austin Highway, next to Modern Trailer Court near intersection of Harry Wurzbach Highway. Sevenoaks Country Club at top of photo.
View Photo
To my knowledge, the neighboring Seven Oaks Resort was never scheduled to be “restored.” It was in quite horrible condition, and would have been beyond saving. I loved the commercial Mid-Century architecture, though. Apartments now reside on the spot. Austin Highway is seeing a resurgence, with apartments and box stores popping up. A Target took over the old Terrell Plaza, which had been severely altered since its days as a Sears. When they tore down the old Plaza, they briefly exposed an old, early 60s HEB Grocery facade (hidden behind an early 80s make-over)– wonderful, with tiles. Of course, they then hacked it away, for a Ross’s…
Was it near the famous Alamo(hence the name)?
The Alamo Drive In was on Austin Highway. It was quite a distance from The Alamo.
Boxoffice, June 4, 1955: “The new snack bar at the Alamo Drive-In had a gala opening. There were free drinks and souvenirs for the children, courtesy of the management.”