Comments on: Compton Drive-in Theater, Compton 1979

By: Red H.

Red H. — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 02:28:34 +0000

I used to work at the Compton Drive-In (1958-1963) If Mike Swaim comes back to read this, I worked with his mother (Betty). Others were Art Clausen (Mgr), Mae Critchfield (Cashier), Ushers, Me, Lyle, Rod and a multitude of others. Ahh, those were the days.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 21:03:27 +0000

WE SOOOO MISS DRIVE IN THEATERS ! I RECALL THE ONE IN COMPTON -A WORK OF ART IN IT’S OWN RIGHT- WITH FOND MEMORIES, HAVING BEEN THERE ON A FEW DATES AND WITH GROUPS OF FRIENDS. THERE WAS A SHOOTING INCIDENT THERE IN THE 80′S… WE NEVER RETURNED AFTER THAT.
SAD AS IT IS TO SEE IT NOW GONE FOREVER, THE AREA HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.
WE’VE BEEN TOLD THIS STORY:
AFTER A BRIEF CLOSING ( LATE 80′S ) THE DRIVE IN RE-OPENED ON WEEKENDS ONLY, BEING ONE OF THE FIRST TO ALTERNATELY FEATURE FILMS IN SPANISH. A SWAP MEET WAS HELD SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS UNTIL 3:00 PM.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS BELOVED THEATER EVENTUALLY BECAME A LIABILITY – AND CLOSED IT’S GATES PERMANENTLY. THERE ARE NOW 65 HOMES WHICH HAVE BEEN BUILT ON THE SITE.

By: Chuck G

Chuck G — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:53:08 +0000

In the 50s we had drive ins in most towns. I went to Compton college and this was a cheap place to go on a date.
The South Gate drive in was a hang out for lots of the boys at Tweedy school. We would walk in at the exit, head to the back row and set out our sleeping bags. Great fun.

By: Irene

Irene — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 03:46:24 +0000

I lived down the street from this Drive-in on Ezmirlian St. Sometime times my brother and I would climb the tree in our back yard and watch the movies playing. When ever I try to tell someone were I use to live I would tell them “Right behind the Compton Drive-in and around the corner from Stephen Foster School”

By: Nancy G

Nancy G — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:41:32 +0000

I lived in Compton between the years 1991-2008 and unfortunately, I never got a chance to see a movie at this drive-in. I wish I could go back in time so that I could give myself the opportunity to watch as many films as possible at C Drive-in and be able to say today: “I remember going to to Compton Drive-In with family and friends and …” I do, however, recall passing by the drive-in numerous times and staring at the humongous mural with viking ships -it always caught my eye! I was bummed to see the drive-in demolished and nothing being built on the empty property. The last time I passed by the empty lot where the drive-in once stood, I saw nothing constructed. This drive-in was demolished for what? So that drivers passing by could enjoy looking at an empty lot? We lost this drive-in for nothing! Today, I currently visit the Vineland Drive-In over in City of Industry. Having recently arrived from Brazil, I decided to take my husband there for his first “American Drive-In experience” and he absolutely loved it. We are going back again this weekend. If any of you live in So Cal, I would advise you to visit this drive in as it is till functioning perfectly!
Let’s keep the drive-in movie theater ALIVE & KICKING!

Nancy (Long Beach, CA)

By: April

April — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 01:49:24 +0000

We lived just behind the Compton Theater when we were kids, across the schoolyard. We’d sit on the back steps and watch “silent” movies.

By: Jose F

Jose F — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:30:13 +0000

I remember as little kid my mom taking me and my sister to this one and the one in south gate. It was the first drive in i went to, and threw the years i saw it close down and finally be demolish. Now i have to go to South El Monte or Covina

By: Linda

Linda — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:25:58 +0000

never mind that!!! where in the heck are the drive in theaters NOW?? I wanna go and thats the only reason I turned my computer on again lol!!
DONT TELL ME there are none to be had at all now that I got this really cool car. Er, I thikn its a Nova.. ugh.

By: Kirk Reynlods

Kirk Reynlods — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 07:40:06 +0000

Before we could afford TV in the mid 50′s we went from north Bellflower across Rosecrans to the Conpton drive in every Saturday night in our pajamas. How things have changed.

By: Mike Swaim

Mike Swaim — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 17:42:45 +0000

I grew up at the drive in. My mother was the asst. snack bar manager in the late 50′s. A friend of mine Ronnie (Bounce as we called him) his mother Mae worked there also,We were just a couple of Movie kids. My Dad was worked taking care of the lawn….what memories…