Whittier, CA - Yes, it's the Sundown Drive-in Theatre in Whittier, California. Come and see the latest movie flick in this single screen wonderland. Enjoy a glimpse of the googie screen tower, complete with the retro script lettering. And just take a moment to appreciate its grandeur.

Sundown Theatre, H.W. Bruen/ Pacific Theatres
1954 - 1999
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Check out the enormous screen tower at the Studio Drive-In Theater in Culver City. Facing Sepulveda Boulevard, its broad exterior and flowing neon lettering gave passing motorists something to admire before the evening’s movies began. There wasn’t much chance of overlooking a picture show with an introduction this size.

The theatre opened on August 26, 1948, with Romance on the High Seas and Up in Central Park. With room for roughly a thousand cars, the single-screen drive-in brought outdoor moviegoing to a neighborhood already closely connected to the movie business. MGM and Culver Studios were nearby, making the Studio name seem right at home.

The Sundown Drive-in opened in August 1954 as Hugh Bruen's Sundown Drive-in along Washington Blvd. The drive-in closed in September 1990 and was eventually torn down in 1999 after operating as a swap meet.

Sundown marquee
Whittier, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Pacific Theatres took over in 1952, and the drive-in became a familiar destination for generations of local moviegoers. Families could bring the kids, couples could settle into the front seat, and everyone could hope the car ahead wasn’t quite tall enough to interrupt the view.

Yes, the screen even has googie like holes in its support. Alas, the Sundown met its fate with a construction crew in February of 1999 and is now showing first-run movies at the "big drive-in in the sky."

The screen tower was the big roadside attraction. Its immense surface rose above the grounds, while the script “Studio Drive-In” lettering advertised the theatre to traffic outside. During the day, the structure marked the corner. After dark, the neon gave it another chance to show off.

Sundown marquee
Whittier, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Inside the gates, the evening followed a familiar routine. Find a parking spot, get comfortable, and make a concession-stand trip before the feature started. The surroundings were part of the experience, with the night sky above and a whole parking lot sharing the same entertainment.

The Studio also made appearances on the other side of the camera. It was used in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure and La Bamba, giving the local landmark an audience beyond the customers parked beneath its screen. A theatre this close to Hollywood apparently couldn’t avoid getting into the pictures itself.

Sundown marquee
Whittier, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Regular operations ended in September 1993. A later independent effort briefly brought classic films back to the grounds using traditional carbon-arc projection equipment, but the revival didn’t last. The property eventually fell silent, leaving the giant tower standing over a place that no longer had a nightly show.

Here's a close-up look at the former Sundown sign that used to grace Washington Boulevard. This marquee appeared to be a good home to pigeons during the latter days.

Demolition arrived in September 1998. On September 21, the screen tower came down, removing the most recognizable piece of the old theatre. For motorists accustomed to seeing it along Sepulveda, the empty skyline must have taken some getting used to.

Sundown Screen close-up
Whittier, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Homes and a neighborhood park replaced the drive-in grounds. The photograph preserves that earlier roadside view, when an enormous screen and a few glowing words could promise a whole evening’s entertainment.

Say goodbye to the Sundown as its laid down to rest for good. The Sundown is now home to a Home Depot, with other stores such as Carl's Jr., Verizon Wireless, Flame Broiler, and Togo's located along the perimeter.

UPDATE: The Studio Drive-In Theater was demolished in September 1998, including its landmark screen tower and neon lettering. The former property at 5250 Sepulveda Boulevard was redeveloped as the Studio Village residential neighborhood and park. 10-26

Screen tower down Whittier, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com	Another view Whittier, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

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