Mesa Drive-In

2145 5th Avenue,
Oroville, CA 95965

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Mesa Drive-In

The Mesa Drive-In was opened on November 23, 1949 with Fred Astaire in “The Barkley’s of Broadway”. By 1955 it was operated by United California Theatres Inc. The entrance road is part Feather River Ranger District on 875 Michell Avenue. It was closed on December 7, 1968 with Frank Sinatra in “The Detective” & Paul Newman in “Hombre”.

The drive-in itself is now Feather River Tribal Health Clinic.

Not to be confused with the newer Mesa Drive-In which has its own page on Cinema Treasures.

Contributed by James Monroe

Recent comments (view all 6 comments)

Drive-In 54
Drive-In 54 on October 12, 2016 at 6:43 am

The address for the Feather River Tribal Health Clinic is:

2145 5th Ave
Oroville, CA 95965

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on June 21, 2019 at 7:38 am

From the Nov. 12, 1949 issue of BoxOffice:

OROVILLE, CALIF. – The Mesa Drive-In was opened here recently by George Hickox and Newell C. Post. The theatre was built at a cost of $130,000 and will accommodate 570 cars.

Hickox plans to inaugurate a plan whereby suggestion slips will be available to patrons so they may list their choice for advance bookings.

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on December 5, 2019 at 1:34 pm

Looks like the original “recently” date slipped. Boxoffice, March 11, 1950: “OROVILLE, CALIF. – George B. Hickox has sold his half interest in the Mesa Drive-In to Frank S. Devincenzi of Santa Rosa. Newell C. Post, owner of a half interest in the theatre, and Devincenzi will be owners and operators. The theatre, built by Hickox, was opened last November 23.”

Jamey_monroe45
Jamey_monroe45 on August 15, 2023 at 3:44 pm

Correction: The entrance road is now 885 Mitchell Ave, Oroville, CA 95965 next to the Feather River ranger station. The theatre itself behind this location.

Please update.

kennerado
kennerado on August 15, 2023 at 11:08 pm

OK, it appears there was either two drive-in’s in this town or the Mesa was moved up the road. The Mesa does not exist at this address in a 1958 aerial photo HOWEVER, a smaller drive-in DOES exist at the current address of 2700 Lincoln St. The remains of this drive-in also exist in a 1969 when the “new” Mesa has been constructed.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on August 16, 2023 at 8:48 am

The “new” Mesa Drive-In opened its gates on May 20, 1969 with “Young Americans” and John Wayne’s “The War Wagon” plus a disc jockey meet-and-greet from then-Top 40 radio station KAOR (now KPYV) and musical performances by a local choir known as “Sing-Out Oroville” were presented before showing. it was first managed by Gerald Smith.

Yes, this indeed replaced another drive-in also named the “Mesa Drive-In”. The “old” Mesa Drive-In was first managed by George Hickox and opened on November 23, 1949 with Fred Astaire in “The Barkleys Of Broadway” along with two cartoons, a newsreel, and a couple of short subjects. The old Mesa closed on December 7, 1968 with Frank Sinatra in “The Detective” and Paul Newman in “Hombre”.

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