El Rancho 4 Drive-In
555 El Rancho Drive,
Sparks,
NV
89431
555 El Rancho Drive,
Sparks,
NV
89431
2 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
West Wind Drive-Ins (Official)
Additional Info
Operated by: West Wind Drive-Ins
Previously operated by: Century Theatres, Syufy Enterprises
Functions: Movies (First Run)
Previous Names: El Rancho Drive-In
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
775.358.6920
Manager:
775.358.6920
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Sep 20, 2007 — Free Classic Movies at West Wind Drive-Ins
The El Rancho Drive-In opened August 19, 1950 with Dana Andrews in “My Foolish Heart” & Armand Denis in “Savage Splendour”. Opened as a single-screen drive-in, over the years, it has grown to four screens. There is parking for over 560 cars and FM sound. In 1973 the drive-in was taken overy by Syufy Enterprises, later operated by the Century Theatres chain. The El Rancho also hosts a swap meet.
It is now operated by the West Winds Drive-Ins chain.
Contributed by
Bryan
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
After all these years, this is still a fun place to visit! I worried during the mid 80’s the place would close. Still a fun destination on hot summer nights.
The best “Drive-In fare” would play here in the ‘60’s and '70’s. Everything from the “Planet of the Apes” films, horror films, “Swinging Cheerleaders”-type T&A films to the latest blockbusters would play here side by side.
The first film I ever saw, “Jaws”, I saw here in 1975. I visit every summer when I’m in town.
Great place and the projection is good. Nothing but great memories of the El Rancho!
According to their website this drive-in is all digital projection.
August 19th, 1950 grand opening ad in photo section.
August 15th, 1973 grand opening ad as a 3-screen drive-in in photo section
July 3rd, 1974 grand opening ad as a 4-plex cinema
There was a long retrospective article in the Reno Gazette Journal this month. Some highlights:
“Tony Pecetti, a bigger-than-life accordionist and entertainment entrepreneur in town, opened the El Rancho Drive-In on Aug. 19, 1950.” He died in 1969. “In 1973, the Syufy Enterprises, now run by brothers Ray and Joe Syufy of San Rafael, Calif., purchased the drive-in.”
In 1993, it was “scheduled to be torn down and turned into a flea market and indoor theater complex.” No mention of how the El Rancho dodged that one.
“The screens, varying in size, are steel and wood, never replaced since first installment, though three were add-ons through the years.”
It’s currently run by General Manager Diego Maldonado, who lives on-site with his family.
Sparks wouldn’t approve the walk-in theatre on the property, so they worked hard to bring the Century 14 to Victorian Square. Were it not for that, I’m sure the El Rancho property would have been divided similarly to the Capitol Drive-In/16 had been in San Jose, CA
Also opened with two colour cartoons(not named).
Opened as a 3 screen drive-in on screen 1 with “The legend of hellhouse” and “Boston strangler” and screen 2 with “The student teachers” and “Class of 44” and on screen 3 with “The last American hero” and “Rio Lono”.
Opened as a 4 drive-in with on screen 1 with “Last summer” and “American graffiti”, screen 2 with “The thief who came to dinner” and “Jeremiah Johnson” and screen 3 with “The day of the Jackal” and “The Sugarland express” and screen 4 with “Rio Lobo” and “The golden voyage of Sinbad”.