Sacramento, CA - Home to the 49'er Drive-in Theater. This open air theater was originally called the Bell Drive-in when it opened in 1950 as a single-screener. Eleven years later the drive-in took on the name 49'er Drive-in and added more screens in the late 60's and 70's. The Drive-in was located on 4450 Marysville Boulevard in Sacramento.

49'er Drive-in Theater marquee
Sacramento, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Standing along Marysville Boulevard, the marquee for the 49’er Drive-in Theater brought a little Gold Rush flavor to movie night. A prospector appeared above the sign, ready to point another carload toward the ticket booths. Nothing like a neon miner to help dig up the evening’s entertainment.

Graffiti marquee prior to demolition
Sacramento, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The drive-in opened in 1950 as the Bell Drive-In, named for nearby Bell Avenue. Its original single-screen layout was designed by theater architect Vincent G. Raney, who created several California theaters during the great postwar drive-in boom. Back then, one giant screen, a central snack bar, and a wide field filled with speaker posts were enough to keep the crowds coming.

In 1961, the theater became the 49’er Drive-In and received the California miner identity remembered by generations of Sacramento moviegoers. The new name fit the region nicely, and the prospector marquee gave the entrance something far more memorable than a plain list of movies and showtimes.

49'er Drive-in Screen Marquee
Sacramento, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The 49’er did not remain a little single-screen operation for long. Syufy Enterprises expanded the property into four fields during the 1970s, then added two more as the outdoor multiplex idea caught on. By the 1980s, six enormous screens surrounded the lot. Arrive without checking where the movie was playing and the evening could turn into a slow tour of the entire complex.

The original 1950 viewing area survived all that expansion as Field 3. It remained the largest field on the property, keeping the oldest part of the Bell Drive-In alive inside the much bigger 49’er. While newer screens rose around it, the original field continued showing movies just as it had when the whole place began.

49'er Drive-in Screen Tower
Sacramento, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Growing from one screen to six also meant rearranging the center of the lot. The original snack bar was demolished and replaced with a newer concession and projection building positioned closer to the entrance. That helped move cars and customers around the property, although six screens probably still made the popcorn run feel like a small expedition. Better remember where the car was parked.

During the day, the great paved lot took on another life as a busy swap meet. Vendors and shoppers filled the spaces beneath the silent screens, then cleared out before the evening movie crowds arrived. Bargain hunting by daylight, double features after dark. That was a pretty good use for all that asphalt.

After closing in 2000, the lot existed as a flea market. Eventually the 49'er drive-in lot was razed over with the exception of the marquee earlier this decade. The 49er marquee was removed possibly some time in 2007. The lot remains empty as of 2019.

49'er Drive-in Ticket Booth
Sacramento, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Once the sun went down, the screens lit up around the lot and the 49’er became a small outdoor movie city. Families settled into station wagons, couples found a spot away from the concession stand traffic, and kids waited for darkness while trying to stay out of the snack supply. Meanwhile, the prospector stood watch out by Marysville Boulevard.

By the end of the 1990s, however, the land beneath the drive-in had become more valuable for retail development. The screens went dark around 2000, although the swap meet briefly continued after the movies stopped. Soon the huge lot, six screens, and familiar miner sign were all cleared away.

Unfortunately, the 49'er Drive-in met the demise around the same time as many other drive-in theaters across the county. Met with increasing land values making the huge drive-in footprint extremely valuable, companies like Walmart began purchasing and shutting down old drive-in theaters to build new superstores.

49'er Drive-in Ticket Booth
Sacramento, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

UPDATE: The 49'er drive-in lot was virtually razed over with the exception of the marquee earlier this decade. The 49er marquee was removed possibly some time in 2007. 01-09

UPDATE: The 49’er Drive-In was completely demolished around 2000. Its screen towers, concession building, ticket booths, and gold-miner marquee were removed, and a Walmart Supercenter now covers the former drive-in property. 09-26

The fact that folks could watch movies from the comfort of their homes with big screen TVs didn't help the longevity of these drive-in theaters either.

More Photos of the 49'er Drive-in Theatre

49'er Drive-in Theatre (Demolished) Sacramento, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com	49'er Drive-in Theatre (Demolished) Sacramento, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The road into the drive-in Sacramento, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com	49'er Sign and entrance Sacramento, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Concession stand and tower Sacramento, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com	49'er Drive-in Truck and marquee Sacramento, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
49'er Drive-in Theatre Entrance Sacramento, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com	49'er Drive-in Theatre Marquee from the road Sacramento, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

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