Vista Drive-In

1823 Mission Avenue,
Oceanside, CA 92058

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Additional Info

Previous Names: Midway Drive-In

Nearby Theaters

Aerial Photo of the Vista Drive-In from 1964

The Midway Drive-In was opened by December 16, 1948. It was later renamed Vista Drive-In and had closed by 1978.

Contributed by RobertR

Recent comments (view all 10 comments)

hownowbrownpaul
hownowbrownpaul on May 27, 2008 at 9:29 pm

The address listed for this theater was 1823 Mission Avenue. The MiraCosta College Community Learning Center (1831 Mission Ave.) is currently at that location next to an Arby’s restaurant. The theater was presumably torn down in the 70s (or late 60s?), and a Big Bear grocery store occupied the space for two or three decades.

silverhorse7
silverhorse7 on September 6, 2010 at 7:23 pm

I remember when it closed in the mid ‘70’s. We had haunted houses in the concession stand/projector room for a few years until they tore it down in 79.

LebowskiT1000
LebowskiT1000 on February 22, 2013 at 11:50 am

I believe this theater should be labeled “The Vista Drive-In”

Here is a link to a pic of it: http://www.drive-ins.com/pictures/catvist001.jpg

And it was located on the corner of Thunder Drive and W. Vista Way on the eastern edge of Oceanside, CA.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson on January 27, 2014 at 1:29 pm

There is a drive-in at 3480 Mission Ave. that is now a swap meet. It looks like it has 3 screens, website is oceansideswapmeet.com. I will try and find out more info next month when I’m down there on vacation.

Scott Neff
Scott Neff on January 27, 2014 at 3:32 pm

That’s the Valley-Drive In at 340 Mission Ave.

SteveSwanson
SteveSwanson on January 27, 2014 at 7:31 pm

Thanks Scott, I guess I didn’t look thru all the DI’s in Oceanside. At least I’ll be able to shoot some new pics of the interior to share.

NYozoner
NYozoner on March 22, 2015 at 5:55 pm

The aerial photo on this listing is of the Vista Drive-In, and should be removed. I’m fairly certain this entire listing should be removed.

The three drive-ins in the vicinity of Oceanside were named the Midway Drive-In, the Valley Drive-In, and the Vista Drive-In.

wmu81
wmu81 on October 22, 2020 at 2:44 pm

The aerial shot shown is better addressed as 2095 W Vista Way, Vista, CA and just across the line from Oceanside

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on June 11, 2021 at 3:48 pm

Aerial photos show the 1823 Mission Avenue drive-in by 1953, then redeveloped between 1978 and 1980.

And this ad from 1948 shows that back then, it was advertising as the Mission Drive-In.

Early ad for Oceanside's Midway, later to be known as the Vista Drive-In.Early ad for Oceanside’s Midway, later to be known as the Vista Drive-In. 23 Dec 1948, Thu Times-Advocate (Escondido, California) Newspapers.com

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on June 11, 2021 at 4:04 pm

It May Have Opened As Early As December 16, 1948. A Few Ads Survive A Few Days Earlier Than That.

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