Salinas Drive-In
34 Simas Street,
Salinas,
CA
93901
34 Simas Street,
Salinas,
CA
93901
1 person
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: National Theatre Corp., Syufy Enterprises
Previous Names: Auto Movie Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
The Auto Movie Drive-In opened on July 1, 1948 with Gene Autry in “The Strawberry Roan” & Franchot Tone in “Lost Honeymoon”. It was taken over by Syufy Theatres and became a twin screen theatre on June 26, 1969. It expanded to 4-screens on July 11, 1975. It was closed on September 16, 1990. Three of the screens were demolished to begin work on construction of the Century Park 7 on the site. On July 29, 1991 the remaining screen was reopened screening Richard Pryor in “Another You”. That was ‘The End’!
The Century Park 7 was built on the site (it has its own page on Cinema Treasures).
Contributed by
MIKE RIVEST
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
Grand opening ad
Auto Movie Drive in opening Wed, Jun 30, 1948 – 13 · The Californian (Salinas, Monterey, California, United States of America) · Newspapers.com
This reopened by Syufy Theatres as a twin drive-in on June 26th, 1969 called the Salinas Drive-In and expanded to 4 screens on July 11th, 1975 and closed in early 1991 to make way for the Century Park cinema complex. 1969 ad posted.
The 4 screen layout was one of the weirdest I’ve seen, uneven fields and screens in strange positions.
Boxoffice, July 20, 1959: “The Saturday Only Automovies in Salinas … has been closed by the National Theatres”
A few corrections if I may…
The correct address given the aerial map is 34 Simas Street, Salinas Ca 93901. Now Platt Electric Supply.
The above address is incorrect. It was Century Park 7 Now Celebration church. The building is south of the actual entrance to the drive in theater. Actually at screen 4. The rest of the field lay empty until the hardtop closed. Once the church opened, other businesses like the Supply store also opened.
Please update.
Though originally closed after business on September 16, 1990 so that the Century Park 7 Theatre could be built in its place, the drive-in appeared in the Salinas Californian once more on Monday July 29, 1991 showing Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor’s “Another You” on one remaining screen.