Charles’ 
Slide of the Week: June 16th, 2006
Valley Drive-In Theatre, Montclair, California, 1954
The world’s largest neon mural made this the most spectacular drive in ever built in Southern California and the centerpiece of the valley it was named for.
With a beautiful blue sky, majestic mountain range and Santa Barbara Mission as a dramatic backdrop, a Native American, on the right, and a priest, on the left, witness an oxcart, with a driver and two passengers, cross a stream. The Native American has a jug at his side. The priest carries a bible in his hand. At night the early California scene was completely outlined with more than 2500 ft. of glowing neon.
The giant work of art wasn’t the monumental drive-in’s only unusual feature. A year after the grand opening in 1948, the owners who “collected” monkeys, put their primates on display in cages alongside the children’s playground. This was a novel attempt to entertain people before the movie started. They called it Monkeyland.
By the time THE END came in 1980 and the monumental screen tower was demolished to make room for an ill-fated Dodge dealer, the monkeys were long gone, the neon had all but burned out and the hot sun had faded giant painting.
This is the drive-in theater that I grew up going to. I remember the monkeys and being told not to stick my fingers in their cages. But, yes, it was the neon mural that really stands out in my memory. The priest’s bible, the only part of the scene rendered in royal blue neon, always caught my eye. I haven’t seen a blue neon bible since.
Here’s to the Valley Drive-in Theater and you!
Charles Phoenix
Los Angeles
June 2006
P.S. NEXT SUNDAY AFTERNOON JUNE 25th - 3pm to 5pm ICE CREAM SOCIAL & BOOK RELEASE PARTY Celebrating my new book - AMERICANA THE BEAUTIFUL: MID CENTURY CULTURE IN KODACHROME At Zanzabelle - 2912 Rowena Ave, LA, 90039323 663-9900 (½ blk east of Hyperion, near the Coffee Table in Silver Lake)
Sets this Slide belongs to:
Roadslide & Transportation
35 Comments on “Valley Drive-In Theatre, Montclair, California, 1954”
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June 16th, 2006 at 8:58 am
I am just old enough to remember not the heyday of drive-in movies, but rather their slow decline into oblivion. When I was a kid, there were still quite a few of these left in the San Fernando Valley. I don’t remember ever going to one, although we always talked about it: “Hey, let’s go to a drive in! Wouldn’t that be great?” I tihnk my sister did go from time to time. I also remember the rise of the multiplex, when the first multi-theater theaters started showing up; no doubt these lead tothe downvall of the drive-in. What I really miss is the old one-off neighborhood theater…there are still a few of those left, and most of them have been (happily) converted into art houses.
June 16th, 2006 at 9:06 am
Reminds me of the El Monte Drive in close by where I grew up in Temple City. Demolished 4 years ago to put up a beautifully designed warehouse affectionately known as “Home Depot” The El Monte Drive which looked exactly like this one probably was the same architect. Can we please have one back! !
June 16th, 2006 at 9:57 am
Very interesting!
June 16th, 2006 at 10:31 am
Wow! Thank you, Charles, for making this photo available online. I grew up going to this theater and always wished that I was a photographer when I was ten years old so that I could have made a photo of it. This is where I saw Roger Corman’s “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Bucket of Blood” on a double bill, all of the “Pink Panther” comedies and Tony Curtis and Kirk Douglas in “The Vikings.” I remember the neon wheels on the cart would rotate sequentially and the monkey cage was great.
June 16th, 2006 at 10:51 am
Oh yea… I remember going to the Sepulveda drive-in, and the one on Roscoe in Van Nuys, and one in Northridge too. My favorite part was getting to play on the swing-set before the movie… And of course as soon as my stupid brother fell asleep, I got to crawl up to the front seat to sit with Mom & Dad!
I remember when I was 12 going to see The Exorcist at the drive-in with Mom & Dad. Mom didn’t like it. I giggled. Maybe I am evil, hmmm…
June 16th, 2006 at 11:37 am
Movie Star Charles!
It’s lovely to see a slide from my neck of the woods — the eternally lovable Inland Empire! Although this drive-in has gone to the great drive-in graveyard in the sky, that doesn’t mean that we can’t all think about elevating movie-going to an art! I tend to shun new movies and big theaters BUT there is nothing wrong with firing up the old “in-home movie theater” and enjoying a “Buffet Before A Show” — even if the editors of _The Seventeen Cookbook: With A Complete Guide To Teen Party-Giving _(1964) intended the following menu to be eaten before leaving for a movie. I won’t tell if you won’t!
The following comes from the section titled, “The Party Notebook” which gives not only 54 excuses for a party, but also 22 “capsule parties” which are “a series of bright party ideas, offering just enough information to get you started thinking.” But, I still wonder, what ever do teens eat before they leave for that double-bill?:
“For a well-timed dinner before a theater or a movie date, follow this plan: Serve an appetizer in the living room to greet arriving guests and help them get acquainted if necessary. Choose main-course foods which can be kept deliciously hot or deliciously cold with ease. Have a dessert of the ‘it’s all ready’ variety, so when the time comes, you’ve nothing to do but pass it, eat and leave! One menu suggestion:
Although I question the wisdom of BAKING A HAM before a movie date, I can’t quibble with chips and dips and layer cake! Now that’s a start and an end to a perfect meal. Might I suggest a delish alternative to ham? How about a Checkboard Sandwich Loaf?
See it here: Sandwich Loaf on photobucket.com
Ummmm!
Ah, you’ve got a good eye! That stacking sandwich is indeed packed to the rafters with Cheese, Shrimp, and Chive filling! I’m sure feeling like watching a movie now … Sandra Dee and Sandwich Loaf, anyone?
xoxo!
Miss Sharon
June 16th, 2006 at 11:51 am
Our neighborhood drive-in movie was The Olympic at the northwest corner of Olympic and Sepulveda. It is now a Cadillac dealership. The painting on the screen, which faced the intersection at an angle depicted a surfing couple. The couple were standing straight up on their surfboards, looking very non-athletic, but nevertheless, glamorous in a westside, beachy sort of way!
Here’s to you, Mr. Phoenix and Best of Luck with AMERICANA THE BEAUTIFUL: MID CENTURY CULTURE IN KODACHROME!!
June 16th, 2006 at 12:07 pm
My last thrilling chilling screams were watching the Exorcist in Pico Rivera “The Fiesta 4″, paralyzed by the turning of her head and sores on her face yikes it’s still scary, remembering the horns of cars filling the sky with the sound of excitement and thrill. I enjoyed watching lots of movies in the open air watching bats fly across the screens and watching the kids make their way to the swings. Just last year I called trying to find one that might still be operating but like someone mentioned already they are non exsisting . It is sad to have lost them but when I think of being a teen and rushing to get in the trunk right outside the drive-in so that we have popcorn money I think how lucky I was to have had the experience, when life was simplier..
June 16th, 2006 at 1:53 pm
The Exorcist @ Fiesta 4 in Pico Rivera, The South Gate Drive-in down the street from Johnnie’s Broiler, The Orange off the N/B 5 fwy, The San Fernando which was playing To Sir with Love, I had to stay I was too young for my cousins to take. I miss them all, I misdd the breeze thru my hair on a summer nite the music at intermission, running down to the swings, popcorn lines and stubbing a toe as I ran upwards toward the last rows where the old Chevy truck was parked with our Zarapes and pillows, those were the best times for me. I ‘m glad that I had them, and so glad to relive them if only in memory…Thanks Rosalia
June 16th, 2006 at 3:04 pm
Dear Charles,
Love
You
Madly!!!!!
June 16th, 2006 at 5:27 pm
I sure remember going in my pajamas and playing on the swing before the movie. My mom always made hotdogs to take along. They were the BEST hotdogs I ever had! Fond memories, indeed. Then when I got older the boys would like to take you to the drive-in and try to cop a “feel”. Those were the good ol’ days.
June 16th, 2006 at 6:13 pm
What a moving topic…history twice removed. Here is your slide of the week recounting this wonderful mural that once recounted the history of the Valley. Makes me sad to think how many artifacts of California History, along with their storytellers, we have been losing over the years. Thanks for helping us remember.
June 16th, 2006 at 11:23 pm
I grew up in the area and, when driving by the Valley Drive In in my parents car, I used to think there was always a western playing there because the big neon sign never changed.
June 17th, 2006 at 3:37 pm
You can still visit a drive-in in L.A. The Vineland Drive-In is at Vineland and Valley in the San Gabriel Valley. Take the kids and give them a taste of the past!
June 18th, 2006 at 2:23 am
I too grew up going to The Olympic Theater. The guy and girl on the surfboard mural, I still have the Santa Monica Evening Outlook newspaper clipping photo anouncing it’s official closing.
I have a friend who later worked at the Cadillac dealer and who snagged me the neon clock from their showroom when he left. I would have rather had the neon Pacific Theater exit sign that I saw so many times as I woke up to my dad driving us out of the theater towards home.
I saw everything from Beach Blanket Bingo to Dear Bridgette to Midnight Cowboy to Planet of the Apes to Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex to Westworld there.
We used to go to the Studio Drive-In in Culver City a lot also.
Trish
June 18th, 2006 at 9:54 am
What was so great about going to a drive-in in the GOOD OLD DAYS was that when you parked in a spot and looked around, most of your childhood friends and their parents were also parked near you.
We used to go to the Vineland Drive-in in La Puente.
All the neighborhood kids would place blankets and pillows in front of one of the parents cars and we would have a ball eating goodies and watching the movie all together. It was so much fun!
June 19th, 2006 at 12:06 pm
I think the best part of this great American entertainment venue was the intermission–that which we no longer have in our hectic, modern world. I fondly remember, “Let’s all go to the lobby, let’s all go to the lobby, let’s all go to the lobby and grab a bite to eat”!!! That great tune and the marching hot dogs, ice cream bars, soda, and pop corn on the screen give me a chill of nostalgia. ( as seen in the drive-in movie scene in the movie “Grease”–behind John Travolta while he sung about Sandy ) Makes me hungry just to think about it!
June 19th, 2006 at 2:37 pm
Thanks for sharing that one Charles! When I was a kid my parents took us to the drive-in every Friday night in our 1960 Ford Falcon station wagon (later it was a 1966 Ford Falcon wagon). Me and my sister often laid down in the back cargo area. My parents told us to duck our heads during the “adult” scenes - but we always looked!
I remember going to the Alvarado Drive-In in La Mesa most of the time (a spanish-themed drive-in which is now gone), but I was most impressed by the Campus Drive-In near San Diego State University. To approach it at night on the old highway 80 (El Cajon Blvd) was very exciting, as the back of the screen had a huge neon sign with an animated majorette twirling a baton!
It was built in 1947, and here is how it looked before it was demolished in 1983 for a mini-mall type shopping center:
The majorette portion of the sign was restored and placed at College Grove Shopping Center in 1998, as seen here:
June 19th, 2006 at 2:39 pm
Thanks for sharing that one Charles! When I was a kid my parents took us to the drive-in every Friday night in our 1960 Ford Falcon station wagon (later it was a 1966 Ford Falcon wagon). Me and my sister often laid down in the back cargo area. My parents told us to duck our heads during the “adult” scenes - but we always looked!
I remember going to the Alvarado Drive-In in La Mesa most of the time (a spanish-themed drive-in which is now gone), but I was most impressed by the Campus Drive-In near San Diego State University. To approach it at night on the old highway 80 (El Cajon Blvd) was very exciting, as the back of the screen had a huge neon sign with an animated majorette twirling a baton! Here’s a color photo of the sign:
majorcampus.jpg
It was built in 1947, and here is how it looked before it was demolished in 1983 for a mini-mall type shopping center:
campus.jpg
The majorette portion of the sign was restored and placed at College Grove Shopping Center in 1998, as seen here:
majoranim.gif
June 19th, 2006 at 10:56 pm
My dad bought a goat at the Montclair Drive-In swap meet. He never missed a Sunday.
June 20th, 2006 at 7:51 am
I grew up going to the Valley Drive-In (also the Mission and the Mt. Baldy), and I dearly loved the neon mural as well. I remember seeing The Magic Sword and The Vikings (maybe the same night as Ray, above!) there as a kid. Also lots of James Bond movies, and Easy Rider much later.
When my parents were young and went to see Psycho there for the first time (1962?), they were so scared after the movie was over that they didn’t know what to do. They didn’t want to stay there, but they didn’t want to drive home, either. They sat in the car as the fog grew thicker and got kind of panicky before finally deciding to brave the ride home and the dark house.
I still miss the mural.
June 21st, 2006 at 2:03 pm
I was raised right up the street from the Valley Drive In. How I loved that sign too. The swings and the monkeys were fun too.
But I just think about all the movies and fun times we had there
and the Mission Drive In not too far from the Valley. I was
heart broken when they took down the big beautiful neon sign and
the drive in for a car dealship. How sad. The Pomona valley was
and still is a beautiful place. We’ve long since moved away but my memories will forever be close to my heart.
Thanks for the memories,
~~Cindi~~
June 22nd, 2006 at 7:44 pm
I see people making comments about the El Monte Drive In that used to be on Lower Azusa Blvd in Temple City, CA. It had a beautiful painting of a spanish Senorita standing or dancing in the desert. This was torn down to build a “Home Despot”. A lil trivia for all of you… The Temple City Drive In was used in the filming of one of the “I Love Lucy” episodes.
June 22nd, 2006 at 11:05 pm
At least Montclair still has the Mission Drive In — Now, the Mission TIKI Drive-In! Didn’t you just know that someone who appreciates Tikis would come up with the Tiki themed drive in? The Mission Theatre will be celebrating it’s 50th anniversary on Aug 5th with great monster movies at night and outstanding music (including 2 of my personal favorites, Slacktone, and the Ghastly Ones) and vendors in the afternoon. Their website has all the details, as well as details of the movies currently showing.
Thanks, Charles, for reminding us of the greatness of the mid 20th century! Hope you make it out to the Tiki Drive-In celebration!
xo
Miss Kay
December 18th, 2006 at 2:00 pm
Thank You for taking that picture,and sharing it with everyone.I remember the Valley Drive In.Didn’t remember the monkeys until I read it in your caption.I can remember the swings too. There where ten kids in our family,I don’t know how my Mom and Dad ever survived us.I was one of the “little Ones”. We always had to wear our pj’s,and sit way in back of the station wagon.Even with all ten kids in tow, Mom and Dad still managed to take us all for some entertainment once a week,and the drive-in was very popular with all!
December 22nd, 2006 at 7:42 pm
I loved the Drive-in, Covina, Edgewood, Azusa, others I can’t recall at the moment. Looking at these slides reminds me that SoCal was the center of the unisverse in the ’50s and ’60s.
March 8th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
I understand this drive-in mural was inspired by the Campus Drive-in Theatre Mural in San Diego, CA. Can you give me a photo and any information on the artist who did the Campus Drive in in San Diego, CA.
Sincerely,
Jerry Southward
March 30th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Thanks for the wonderful picture of the majestic Valley Drive-In.How many of you took your girl friend to see “I Drink Your Blood”? She’s gone but what memories we have.Thanks again.
June 7th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
I remember going to the Valley Drive Inn when I was 7yrs old, it was 1962…they had monkeys that you could feed, that was really fun! There was also a great menu with tamales and burritos that were really good! I also remember they showed a movie called “Blood Feast”, it was a “B” movie, but back then the Montclair Police Department closed down the theater due to the movie being too violent!, LOL, that is a good one! Compaired to Horror movies of today, it was CHEESE! Nevertheless, we had great times there!
August 17th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Spending our summers in Montclair with our grandparents in the late 60’s we had the opportunity to go to the Valley Drive in. I think we went with Joel Huggins too.
August 28th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Beautiful photograph! Support the drive-ins that are still around! The Mission Tiki (formerly Mission) Drive-In in Montclair is open and a great place to go!
Long live the Drive-In
December 23rd, 2007 at 6:09 pm
THE YEAR WAS 1963, I WAS 15-1/2 YEARS OLD, DOUBLEDATING WITH MY HI-SCHOOL SWEETHEART AT THE VALLEY DRIVE IN IN MONTCLAIR, WE WERE WAITING IN THE AUTO LINE TO LEAVE, THERE WERE SEVERAL SOUPED-UP TEEN CARS THERE AND ONE GUY REVED-UP HIS PIPES AND I SAID ‘’NICE PIPES MISTER, WHAT ELSE DID YOU GET FOR CHRISTMAS?'’ TO THIS DAY MY SWEETHEART NEVER FORGOT ME SAYING THAT, EVEN THOUGH I DID.
December 25th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Gosh, I miss the drive-in! In my pajamas, I went to the old Anaheim Drive-In with its cool old art deco pyramid graphics neon sign in the late 50’s and played on the swings until movie-time; when we moved to Palm Springs in 1963, we alternated going to the old Palm Springs Drive-In on Friday nights (my sister and I got in for free since we were under 12, my parents for 75 cents each, and if you had a horse you could ride in and watch from horseback), on Saturdays we went to the more popular Cathedral City Drive-In. I saw all the Beach Party movies, the Crawling Eye, Hard Day’s Night, Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte, even the risque Moon Is Blue by Otto Preminger (I read in Silver Screen how daring it was!). The last time I went was with an old boyfriend in 1988 and we saw The Accused at the old Cypress Drive-in. I went many times to Hiway 39 and get upset to this day when I drive by the Wal Mart now in its place. Bring back the drive-in!! Not just that one at the OC Fairgrounds with the blow up screen, but an outdoor neon palace with awesome graphics and ambiance like no other!!!
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:00 pm
This photo brings back great memories of my childhood. I remember the mural so well. Many times we got to the theater early and waited in line ( all six of us kids in the back seat of my Dad’s Imperial! )with a beautiful close-up view of that mural. Going to see the monkeys was almost as fun as playing on the playground. Thanks so much for sharing.
May 20th, 2008 at 5:38 am
does anyone remember the address of this drive-in? i think my parents took me there, but we moved away when i was 9.