By the time this aerial photograph of Studio Drive-in Theater (open from 1948 to 1993) at 5250 Sepulveda Blvd in Culver City was taken in 1961, a lot of the land had been developed so the triangular site carved out by the drive-in really stands out. I’m also mystified/intrigued by that other block of land to the left, with the two fan-shaped areas. Are they baseball diamonds? Does anybody have an idea?
The triangle formed by Sepulveda, Jefferson, and Machado is where the drive-in used to be. This satellite image is from May 2022.
In the original photo, Ballona Creek is at the extreme lower right; the photo is better oriented when rotated 180 degrees. The triangle formed by Sepulveda, Jefferson, and Machado is where the drive-in used to be.
Keith is correct. In the satellite photo of today, the drive in is in the lower right side of the frame. Flip the satellite photo 180 and everything lines up properly. the Drive In photo was take looking south towards Jefferson Blvd with the Creek at the bottom of the photo
Spot on Keith. The picture is looking towards the southeast.
Exactly what I was going to say. You beat me to it.
Must have driven past this place thousands of time in my life, but I only actually saw a movie here once.
The Machado Street name triggered memories. The Machados were the old Spanish land grant family in Culver City. I went to elementary school with Machados.
When the paving for the drive-in was being torn up after it closed, some of the debris got down into the sewer line. The line was clogged and, as a result, there was severe flooding over the area formerly occupied by the parking lot. I know this because the City crew assigned to unclog the sewer line and suction up the overflow instead blew off the assignment, leaving the water standing for a prolonged time. I handled the discipline cases that arose from this in my job in the personnel office of the Department of Public Works with the City of Los Angeles.
Wow, Bill, that sounds like a fiasco! Thanks for adding your comment.