Monday September. 9, 1935 marked the beginning of a new era in movie-going in Los Angeles with the opening of the first drive-in theater creatively named The Drive-In Theatre. It was on Pico Blvd just west of Westwood Blvd (where the Westside Pavilion mall now stands.) Admission was 35 cents and the movie that night was Fox’s “Handy Andy” starring Will Rogers. Later renamed Pico Drive-In Theatre, it stayed open until October 1, 1944 when its final showing was Fred MacMurray in “Double Indemnity” with James Mason in “Candlelight in Algeria.” However, it wasn’t demolished until 1947, when it was moved to Olympic and Bundy and reopened as the Olympic Drive-In.
You continue to amaze with unknown facts! Used to live just down the street and shopped at the pre Westside Pavillion mall which was then completely single story. It was anchored by an Alpha Beta grocery store and, for me, the original location of Hennessey + Ingalls architectural bookstore.
Asked a neighbour, who grew up there in the ’40s, what she missed most and she relayed Barnum & Bailey’s circus was at that location annually. Once their big top canvas tent was set up they used to walk their elephants down Westwood Boulevard to the tent! Can you imagine? Who would need advertising with that kind of plublicity!
Matt – talk about coming up with unknown facts! Barnum & Bailey elephants down Westwood Boulevard??? Who knew? (Apart from your neighbor.) Thanks for sharing that!
In those days there were different circus companies (Beatty, etc.) that had the own preferable places to park train cars. One old-timer related to me that Culver City area trackage was used. Maybe that was how B&B brought the animals and equipment up to Westwood?
Monday September. 9, 1935 marked the beginning of a new era in movie-going in Los Angeles with the opening of the first drive-in theater creatively named The Drive-In Theatre. It was on Pico Blvd just west of Westwood Blvd (where the Westside Pavilion mall now stands.) Admission was 35 cents and the movie that night was Fox’s “Handy Andy” starring Will Rogers. Later renamed Pico Drive-In Theatre, it stayed open until October 1, 1944 when its final showing was Fred MacMurray in “Double Indemnity” with James Mason in “Candlelight in Algeria.” However, it wasn’t demolished until 1947, when it was moved to Olympic and Bundy and reopened as the Olympic Drive-In.
You continue to amaze with unknown facts! Used to live just down the street and shopped at the pre Westside Pavillion mall which was then completely single story. It was anchored by an Alpha Beta grocery store and, for me, the original location of Hennessey + Ingalls architectural bookstore.
Asked a neighbour, who grew up there in the ’40s, what she missed most and she relayed Barnum & Bailey’s circus was at that location annually. Once their big top canvas tent was set up they used to walk their elephants down Westwood Boulevard to the tent! Can you imagine? Who would need advertising with that kind of plublicity!
Matt – talk about coming up with unknown facts! Barnum & Bailey elephants down Westwood Boulevard??? Who knew? (Apart from your neighbor.) Thanks for sharing that!
In those days there were different circus companies (Beatty, etc.) that had the own preferable places to park train cars. One old-timer related to me that Culver City area trackage was used. Maybe that was how B&B brought the animals and equipment up to Westwood?
I’ve never thought about that but it does make sense.