Gardena, CA - Welcome to the Vermont Drive-in Theater, home to one of the four remaining open drive-ins in the Los Angeles County area. Yes, every time you pass by Artesia and Crenshaw Boulevards, you are welcomed by the immense screen tower and marquee. Don't forget to stop back again at twilight!

Vermont Drive-in Theatre
Pacific Theaters
1940's - 1999
Gardena, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Along Vermont Avenue in Gardena, a big screen and a roadside marquee once promised an evening away from the usual indoor movie house. The Vermont Drive-In Theatre gave South Bay motorists a place to pull in, settle down, and watch a double feature without getting much farther than the family car.

And then there were three... three remaining L.A. County drive-ins that is. (At least at this time) When the Vermont was plowed over in the Summer of 1999, the South Bay saw the last hint of open air entertainment go down over the horizon. At least there are memories...

The Vermont Drive-in marquee
Gardena, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Opened by Pacific Theatres on October 23, 1947, the Vermont was among the circuit’s first five Los Angeles-area drive-ins. Its opening program paired Dear Ruth with Fear in the Night, welcoming customers to an outdoor theatre built for roughly 800 cars. Individual speakers brought the soundtrack right to the window, a handy arrangement as long as everyone remembered to leave the equipment behind before driving home.

Night shot of the Vermont Drive-in Theater sign
Gardena, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The original screen measured 45 by 60 feet, giving the grounds a substantial focal point. But the tower also offered an attraction to motorists outside the gates. A whimsical mural depicted Snow White dancing with the seven dwarfs beside an oversized mushroom. Apparently a giant movie screen wasn’t quite enough scenery for this corner.

A children’s playground added in 1949 gave younger visitors something to do before the pictures started. Families could arrive early, let the kids enjoy the playground, and make a concession-stand visit while waiting for darkness. The evening began well before the opening credits.

Vermont Drive-in Theatre
sGardena, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The property gained another gathering place when a weekend swap meet started in 1967. During the day, shoppers browsed merchandise where moviegoers parked at night. The grounds could offer a bargain in the morning and a double feature that evening, keeping the old theatre busy beyond its regular screening hours.

In the 1970s, the Vermont expanded to three screens. More programs gave customers additional choices as indoor multiplexes changed the moviegoing landscape. The familiar outdoor setting remained, though agreeing on which entrance to follow probably required a little discussion beforehand.

Vermont Drive-in Theatre marquee
Gardena, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The swap meet ended in 1994 following neighborhood complaints about noise and parking. Movies continued for another five years, with the Vermont lasting until May 25, 1999. Its final lineup included The Matrix, The Mummy, and Bride of Chucky. Quite a departure from the pictures that had welcomed the first customers more than fifty years earlier.

By its closing, the Vermont was the South Bay’s last operating drive-in. The property had been sold for housing, and demolition followed during the summer of 1999. The screens, ticket facilities, and neon marquee disappeared, leaving a cleared lot where generations had spent evenings beneath the stars. Many thanks to Warren Meyers for tip regarding demolition of the Vermont Drive-in.

Projection booth
Gardena, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Emerald Square homes replaced the theatre grounds. The photograph recalls the earlier roadside view, when the marquee advertised coming attractions and a turn off Vermont Avenue led to an evening at the movies.

UPDATE: The Vermont Drive-in Theater located at 17737 S. Vermont Avenue in Gardena opened its doors, or actually its lot, in 1947 showing first run moving pictures on its single screen. This theater was one of the first five opened up by Pacific Theaters.

Cine-fi Sound
Gardena, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Eventually to keep up with competition and business, the Vermont opened two additional screens in the 1970s, however the threat of watching movies from home due to cable TV and VCRs was soon to come. The swap meet on site was also beginning to get complaints from residents as the areas began to get built up with homes.The drive-in met its match in 1999 and turned into a dirt lot. Today a residential community sits in its place. 11-20

UPDATE: The Vermont Drive-In Theatre closed on May 25, 1999, and was demolished that summer. Its screens and marquee are gone, and the former property was redeveloped as the Emerald Square residential community. 10-26

More photos

Ticket booth Gardena, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com	The empty lot Gardena, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

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