De Anza Drive-in Theatre (Demolished)
Tucson, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Tucson, AZ - The De Anza Drive-in Theatre at 1401 S. Alvernon Way is the last remaining open drive-in in
Tucson, Arizona. Sporting four screens, this ozoner, once called the Cactus,
still delights fans with multiple choices for entertainment. Unfortunately,
the pace of change is quickening, and the could be next to fall
by the wayside. Former name "Cactus" info courtesy Andy Callahan
De Anza Screen
Tucson, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The De Anza Drive-in Theatre at 1401 S. Alvernon Way was once celebrated as the last remaining open drive-in movie theater in Tucson, Arizona. Originally opening to the public in 1951 under the name Cactus Drive-In, this legendary desert "ozoner" held the proud distinction of being the oldest continuously operating drive-in theater in the entire state of Arizona.
Over the decades, the theater evolved with the times under Sero Enterprises, expanding from its classic single-screen post-war roots into a sprawling four-screen complex capable of packing in up to 600 cars a night. Positioned near the corner of Alvernon Way and 22nd Street, the De Anza delighted multiple generations of moviegoers with double features, loaded snack bar runs, and a classic open-air viewing experience under the vast Sonoran desert sky.
De Anza Marquee
Tucson, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
As real estate values climbed and the pace of commercial development accelerated through the 2000s, the writing was on the wall for the beloved venue. On the night of October 3, 2009, the De Anza permanently turned off its projectors, with the animated hit Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs lighting up the giant main screen for its very last audience. Following the closure, the entire property was cleared, with the projection booths, concession stands, speaker poles, and towering screens completely torn down. However, the venue's spirit inspired local preservationists with the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation to step in and salvage key structural steel components from the screen frames, keeping parts of the theater's physical legacy safe in storage.
De Anza Driveway
Tucson, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
UPDATE: The De Anza is alive and well
and sports a new roof and new FM transmitters. The last few weekends have
been close to sold out for all four screens. The drive-in was originally
known as the Cactus and opened March 24 1951. It was owned by the same
folks who ended up owning all but the Syufy\Century Tucson 5 which opened
in January 1974 and closed around 1984 when it became a multiplex. The
name changed to the De Anza in 1977 when they made it a triple. A year
later, they added a fourth screen to compete with the Tucson 5. Many thanks to George Cohn for update. 05-04
UPDATE: After being threatened to be sold, demolished, and made into a retail complex, the proposed deal with Evergreen Development fell through earlier this summer. The De Anza has extended itself for hopefully many more months. There is capacity for 600 cars. 10-08
De Anza Entrance
Tucson, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
UPDATE: The De Anza Drive-in Theatre held its last open-air picture show on Saturday October 3, 2009 after being purchased by a land developer. The former Cactus Drive-in first showed movies in 1951 and was Tucson's last open drive-in theatre. According to the Arizona Daily Star, the Evergreen Development Co. has no immediate plans to develop the property. 10-08
UPDATE : A fundraising event was made in June 2011 towards finding a permanent location for a replacement drive-in theater. The Cactus Drive-in Theater Foundation anticipated around $750,000 to build a new drive-in theater. Quick Trip convenience store is located where the De Anza marquee once stood. 06-23
UPDATE: Today, the original four-screen drive-in complex and its roadside marquees are entirely gone, with the cleared Alvernon Way lot redeveloped into modern commercial self-storage facilities. While Tucson lost its final permanent drive-in theater, the memory of the De Anza lives on through community pop-up cinema groups and the decades of starlit memories shared by local film fans. 08-26
De Anza Drive-in Theatre (Demolished)
De Anza Screen
De Anza Driveway
