Big Sky Drive-In
4111 W. Indian School Road,
Phoenix,
AZ
85019
4111 W. Indian School Road,
Phoenix,
AZ
85019
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Additional Info
Previous Names: Tab Drive-In, Vale Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
The Tab Drive-In opened October 18, 1956 with Glenn Ford in “Jubal” & Pedro Armendariz in “The Littlest Outlaw”. It was renamed Vale Drive-In on February 22, 1958. In 1959 it was renamed Big Sky Drive-In. It operated until 1985. Car capacity was 400.
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Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 13 comments)
In between the Pawn Now and what used to be a Kmart, there is a strip of land that I believe was the driveway for the Big Sky. I always remember seeing the sign for the Kmart when I saw movies there. In the 80’s, they were showing rock movies. I remember seeing “Song Remains the Same” there.
The Oct. 24, 1956 issue of the Motion Picture Exhibitor reported “The Tab Drive-In, 4227 West Indian School, opened last week. The spot is owned and operated by Hi-Plains Picture Company, in which Wayne Arnold, Everett Toomey, and Marvin Bell are partners.
“The new ozoner is equipped with a wide screen and the latest sound equipment. Six playground units for children are being built and a snack bar is included in plans.”
Note that this address matches several ads posted in the Photo section here.
Opened as Tab Drive-in with some cartoons(not named), “Jubal” and “Littlest outlaw”. Opened as as Vale Drive-in with “Jack Slade” and “Panhandle”.
Boxoffice, Aug. 10, 1957: “The operators of the Tab Drive-In have filed a petition for bankruptcy.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 10, 1957: “The operators of the Tab Drive-In have filed a petition for bankruptcy.”
Boxoffice, March 24, 1958: “Wayne Arnold has renamed the Sage Drive-In in Phoenix the Vale”
Boxoffice, Oct. 27, 1956: “The Tab, newest drive-in theatre (in Phoenix), will show movies from dusk to dawn as long as patrons are on hand, according to Manager Wayne Arnold”
The Sage / Vale was definitely on West Indian School Road, near where aerial photos show a drive-in by 1958 through 1986. (The screen was gone in 1987.) Please add Sage Drive-In as a Previous Name here.
Reopened on 10/10/1957 with “Duel in the sun” and “Funny face”.
Reopened on 10/10/1957 as Sage Drive-in.
Reopened as Vale Drive-in on 22/2/1958 with “Jack Slade” and “Panhandle”.