In revisiting my old maps, I realize @jwmovies is correct about the location. I incorrectly commented it was “end of Ventura Avenue off of Riverside Ave” when I should have said “end of Contra Costa Ave off of Riverside.” I was looking at an old map of the area which didn’t have street names and confused one street for the other. So, the description by “billspain” on the main photo above should also be corrected.
The site/link that Joe Vogel posted in 2008 for the 1959 photo of Macdonald Ave at night/Fox Theater, no longer exists. However, through the magic of the web-gods archives, you can view it here: http://web.archive.org/web/20200303212813im_/http://eastbayhistory.com/images/3488.16%20-%20Macdonald%20Ave,%20night,%20Fox%20Theater%201959_web.jpg
The Four Star/Coliseum Family Cinemas at Eastmont Mall must have closed at the end of July 1997 as this July 24th ad, is the last one listed in the Oakland Tribune. The ads no longer appear after that. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108576502/last-movie-listing-for-coliseum-family/
Regarding: “The Regent Theatre of 1916 remains a mystery. It is not listed on the Lost Movie Theatres of Richmond web site, nor is a house called the MacDonald that was operating in 1929. There are still bits of Richmond’s theater history waiting to be discovered.” You can find the history of the Regent (1106 Macdonald Ave) on the Lost Movie Theatres of Richmond web site under the October 2014 topic “The Early Years: Opera Houses, Nickelodeons & Storefront Theaters (1900-1930)” or select ‘Regent’ from the Theatre Index found on the right side menu listing. [richtheatres.blogspot.com/search/label/Regent]
Thanks for uploading our photo here. You can see the original post in the photo album where this came from here: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=150844502969529&id=103382684382378
Garrity Way is not the official address for Hilltop Drive-In. It was on Hilltop Drive at Hwy 40. And, the map at upper right doesn’t even come close. It’s pinpointing on Cutting Blvd. in the southern part of Richmond where the “Easter Hill” housing projects are. Try moving North about 4 miles up to Hilltop Drive where it’s between Robert Miller Drive and Shane Drive.
The comment above “A shopping center now sits on the site.” is incorrect. There is a small shopping center in the area, but that’s not where the drive-in was. Also, it was not at the corner of Dam Road as it was so often described in the newspaper ads. The drive-in was at the end of Ventura Avenue off of Riverside Ave. I posted a topo map showing the exact location.
If you have access to Facebook, you can see my pictures of the interior of these two buildings here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1497000899577.67520.1070745411&type=3
The Rancho Drive-in was definitely located at 1220 Connecticut Ave. San Pablo, CA 94806 (I worked there as a teen).
The San Pablo Drive-in theater was near Riverside Ave and Hwy 80 in San Pablo.
Yes, this is the original Grand Theater and the building is still standing to this day. It is the Auto body shop on the Rheem Avenue side and a Tire sales shop on the 23rd Street side in Richmond, California. I was just by there today and took pictures for my facebook photo album titled “Bay Area Today” which can be seen here-
Rheem Avenue photo: View link
In revisiting my old maps, I realize @jwmovies is correct about the location. I incorrectly commented it was “end of Ventura Avenue off of Riverside Ave” when I should have said “end of Contra Costa Ave off of Riverside.” I was looking at an old map of the area which didn’t have street names and confused one street for the other. So, the description by “billspain” on the main photo above should also be corrected.
Unfortunately, the link for the topo map no longer works as berkeley.edu updated their website which changed/revised links to their maps.
The site/link that Joe Vogel posted in 2008 for the 1959 photo of Macdonald Ave at night/Fox Theater, no longer exists. However, through the magic of the web-gods archives, you can view it here: http://web.archive.org/web/20200303212813im_/http://eastbayhistory.com/images/3488.16%20-%20Macdonald%20Ave,%20night,%20Fox%20Theater%201959_web.jpg
The Four Star/Coliseum Family Cinemas at Eastmont Mall must have closed at the end of July 1997 as this July 24th ad, is the last one listed in the Oakland Tribune. The ads no longer appear after that. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108576502/last-movie-listing-for-coliseum-family/
Regarding: “The Regent Theatre of 1916 remains a mystery. It is not listed on the Lost Movie Theatres of Richmond web site, nor is a house called the MacDonald that was operating in 1929. There are still bits of Richmond’s theater history waiting to be discovered.” You can find the history of the Regent (1106 Macdonald Ave) on the Lost Movie Theatres of Richmond web site under the October 2014 topic “The Early Years: Opera Houses, Nickelodeons & Storefront Theaters (1900-1930)” or select ‘Regent’ from the Theatre Index found on the right side menu listing. [richtheatres.blogspot.com/search/label/Regent]
The Women’s City Club (aka City Club Theatre and later Paris Theatre) at 1428 Alice Street.
See photo here: https://books.google.com/books/content?id=bYI_eT_EVOEC&pg=PA38&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&sig=ACfU3U0k6peuQeRStQKkakaqfHoMvSKatQ&w=1280
Thanks for uploading our photo here. You can see the original post in the photo album where this came from here: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=150844502969529&id=103382684382378
Garrity Way is not the official address for Hilltop Drive-In. It was on Hilltop Drive at Hwy 40. And, the map at upper right doesn’t even come close. It’s pinpointing on Cutting Blvd. in the southern part of Richmond where the “Easter Hill” housing projects are. Try moving North about 4 miles up to Hilltop Drive where it’s between Robert Miller Drive and Shane Drive.
The original address was 5401 Industrial Way; Coliseum Way came later. May 1964 Oakland Tribune article in photos.
The comment above “A shopping center now sits on the site.” is incorrect. There is a small shopping center in the area, but that’s not where the drive-in was. Also, it was not at the corner of Dam Road as it was so often described in the newspaper ads. The drive-in was at the end of Ventura Avenue off of Riverside Ave. I posted a topo map showing the exact location.
You can see a vintage photo of this drive-in on flicker. https://www.flickr.com/photos/23136132@N04/5686453656/
enlarged photo here- https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5310/5686453656_8eed365d0d_b.jpg
here is a link to that photo: http://www.museumonmain.org/uploads/8/5/½/8512779/5759438_orig.jpg
If you have access to Facebook, you can see my pictures of the interior of these two buildings here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1497000899577.67520.1070745411&type=3
I think you made a typo, John, this is 23rd Street, not Macdonald Avenue.
The Rancho Drive-in was definitely located at 1220 Connecticut Ave. San Pablo, CA 94806 (I worked there as a teen).
The San Pablo Drive-in theater was near Riverside Ave and Hwy 80 in San Pablo.
Yes, this is the original Grand Theater and the building is still standing to this day. It is the Auto body shop on the Rheem Avenue side and a Tire sales shop on the 23rd Street side in Richmond, California. I was just by there today and took pictures for my facebook photo album titled “Bay Area Today” which can be seen here-
Rheem Avenue photo:
View link
23rd Street photo:
View link