Making movies.  Enjoying movies.  Remembering movies.

 

HOME

 

THE STUDIO GATE

 

THE BACKLOT

 

THE SCREENING ROOM

 

Related Articles:

70mm In Los Angeles

70mm In New York

 

 

 

A year-by-year, film-by-film history of 70-millimeter wide gauge exhibition in Orange County, California

 

 Compiled by Michael Coate and William Kallay

 


 

70mm Equipped Theatre Pictures

Fountain Valley Drive-In

 

Theatre Specifications
Chain: Pacific
Opened: July 12, 1967
Closed: N/A — Demolished

 

One of the biggest surprises we found during our research on this project was finding a 70mm-equipped drive-in located in Fountain Valley on Brookhurst Avenue.  Pacific Theatres, a major Southern California chain, opened the Fountain Valley Drive-In during the late-1960s.  The chain apparently spared no expense on this location, as moviegoers drove past a water fountain feature while entering the theatre grounds, which covered 20-acres.  The screen was large and curved [90ft. x 140 ft.], and according to Independent Film Journal (3-30-68), the drive-in was “equipped to show all [film] sizes 35mm to Cinerama.”  [Source:  http://members.tripod.com/socaldriveins/fvalley.htm].  The snack bar covered 20,000 square-feet of space, while the projection booth had Simplex 35/70mm projectors.

 

However, there is no record, thus far in our research, of any 70mm engagements at this theatre.  The drive-in has been demolished.

 

 

[1]

Fountain Valley Drive-In opened on July 12, 1967 [Enlarge]

[2]

Your eyes aren't deceiving you...this is an actual copy of a photo of the drive-in grand opening week

[2]

The curvaceous snack bar

[2]

Efficient service lines and "relish" centers in the back of the picture

[3]

The drive-in could hold 2000 cars

[3]

Nice fountain feature at the entrance


[1] Anaheim Bulletin / Pacific Theatres
[2] Boxoffice -- August 16, 1967
[3] Motion Picture Herald--July 17, 1968

 


 

Search 70mm Engagements By Year

1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970
1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980
1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997      

 

Back To 70mm In Orange County Main Page

Back To Theatre & Photo Gallery

 

 

 

Copyright 2005 From Script To DVD.  All rights reserved.

         

[Contact Us]     [About This Site]     [Site Index]     [Terms & Conditions]     [Friends Of FSTD]