Los Altos Drive-in Theatre (Demolished)
Long Beach, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Along Bellflower Boulevard in Long Beach, the Los Altos Drive-In Theatre once offered enough room for a small traffic jam, with considerably better entertainment at the end of it. The huge outdoor venue welcomed motorists for double features beneath the stars, while its marquee announced what was playing beyond the gates.

Opened by Pacific Theatres on June 3, 1955, Los Altos debuted with Son of Sinbad and Rage at Dawn. Its original capacity of roughly 2,100 cars made it an enormous gathering place. Finding the family automobile after a concession-stand visit probably required more attention than finding the entrance.

During better days (Demolished)
Long Beach, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The theatre expanded to three screens in 1972, adding more choices to the evening lineup. For decades, it served the surrounding neighborhoods with an outing that combined movies, snacks, and the comforts of the front seat.

The towering screens gave the property a presence well beyond its entrance. Passing motorists could catch a glimpse of the evening’s activity, while customers inside settled in for a show beneath the open sky. A blanket and something from the snack bar could make the family car feel reasonably comfortable for a second feature.

The Los Altos Drive-in met the fate of the bulldozer during Pacific Theatre's blitz at the end of 1998. According to the "sign-man" Mr. Albert G., the old marquee will be preserved by the city. Meanwhile, all that's left here are the memories...

The screen tower down
Long Beach, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Los Altos also found a place in television history as a backdrop for Bruce Dern’s Lost Drive-In program on Speedvision. The setting suited a show celebrating older movies, giving the familiar outdoor theatre another audience beyond the rows of parked cars.

The gates closed on September 9, 1996, and demolition followed in late 1998. Early reports suggested the marquee would be preserved, offering a little hope as the rest of the theatre disappeared. The photograph recalls the days when this stretch of Bellflower led to a picture show rather than another shopping trip.

UPDATE: Los Altos Drive-In was demolished in 1998, and its former grounds were redeveloped for commercial uses. The theatre no longer stands. 10-26