Category Archives: California

Pop-Up Drive-In In Los Angeles Underway

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A small line of cars watching a movie on a screen against a wall

How the drive-in looked earlier this season. Photo courtesy of FLAX.

There have been other examples of drive-in theaters run by a non-profit group, but the latest out of California is different. The charity in this case is the France Los Angeles Exchange (FLAX), which promotes mutual understanding between Southern California and France through the arts. On Monday and Tuesday nights for three months, September through November, FLAX is showing double features in a parking lot with a pop-up screen erected against a wall.

The Tin Flats Drive-In, as it were, is quite small, with room for just 10 cars plus 30 seats. Its scheduled movies, such as The Tuba Thieves, appear to be light on drive-in friendly explosions and space battles. On the other hand, not only is this drive-in free, it also includes free iced tea, popcorn, and candy.

If this FLAX Drive-In series returns next year, and I hope it does, it would become a serious contender for inclusion on the drive-in theater list. It’s a permanent setting, viewers can drive their own cars in to watch, and it has a regular schedule, so it ticks off all the boxes. Meanwhile, if you’re in the neighborhood, you really ought to sign up to reserve a space and check out an unusual, artistic drive-in experience.

Flea Market Company Buys The Rubidoux

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United Flea Markets, whose flagship location is a literal stone’s throw from the 88 Drive-In Theater in Commerce City CO, bought its first drive-in theater this week. According to a story in FleaMarketZone, the new acquisition is the Rubidoux Drive-In Theatre of Riverside CA.

According to that story, which reads a lot like a press release, “With its original 1948 screen tower still standing tall, The Rubidoux is the last of the classic drive-in theaters remaining in Southern California.” That might be a surprise to the Van Buren Drive-In Theatre, also in Riverside, which might think that opening in 1964 makes it old enough to be classic. Not to mention the Mission Tiki (1956) or the Vineland (1955), also in the Los Angeles area, or the Santee (1956) or the South Bay (1958) further south. But I digress.

The fun part about this story is the element of man bites dog. Historically, drive-ins added flea markets to add daytime revenue. Although there’s at least one former drive-in site that’s now only a flea market, this is the first I’ve heard of a flea market company diversifying into drive-in movies.

“Flea markets and swap meets serve as community gathering spaces where people come together and have a good time,” said Rob Sieban, head of United Flea Markets. “What better way to encapsulate that vision than through movie night?” Sounds like fun to me.

Video: Uncanny Tribute To Mountain View’s Monte Vista

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Still no news, so here’s another retro video to share. Made way back in 2009, this was some seriously strong computer-based 3D modeling, made as a tribute to a long-gone Mountain View CA landmark, the Monte Vista Drive-In, which was open from 1950 through 1978. (Not to be confused with the still-active Star Drive-In in Monte Vista CO.) Parts of the video feel like they’re in the uncanny valley, where people and objects look almost perfect but are off just enough to make it feel weird, but that’s 2009 for you! Enjoy!