Harbor Drive-in Theatre (Demolished)
National City, CA
Photo courtesy M.C. Morrissey Photo courtesy M.C. Morrissey

Here’s the Harbor Drive-in Theatre in National City, where the enormous green screen backing gave the place a memorable roadside presence. No baseball game behind this “Big Green Monster,” just an outdoor movie waiting for the sun to go down. Finding the theatre probably wasn’t much of a challenge with that structure looming over the lot.

The Harbor opened in 1948 and expanded during the 1950s, making room for more cars and another generation of drive-in evenings. For visitors, the routine was familiar: find a space, settle in, and hope the car ahead didn’t block the view.

Harbor Drive-in Theatre
National City, CA
Photo courtesy M.C. Morrissey Photo courtesy M.C. Morrissey

The screen tower was part of the attraction even in daylight. Before the picture started, the building itself advertised what happened here after dark. Drive-ins certainly knew how to make a large piece of roadside scenery earn its keep.

A swap meet gave the property daytime activity, while movies kept the screen busy at night. For decades, the lot offered more than one reason to pull off the boulevard, whether the outing called for bargain hunting or a double feature.

UPDATE: The Harbor closed in 2003 and was subsequently demolished. Spy Kids 3-D was among its last movies. Its year-round movie nights are now part of National City’s past, along with that unmistakable green screen tower. Another roadside giant has left the picture. 10-26

Escondido Drive-in (Gone)
Escondido, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Check out the former Escondido Drive-in, where daytime bargain hunting replaced evenings beneath the movie screen. The old outdoor theatre grounds found a second job, keeping people coming through the entrance after the film program ended.

The drive-in opened on July 6, 1950, with The Boy from Indiana. Admission was advertised at 50 cents per person, giving local moviegoers an outdoor alternative to the downtown theatres. Bring the car, find a space, and let the evening unfold through the windshield.

The theatre later relocated nearby in 1967, continuing its run as Escondido grew around it. Eventually, the movie crowds dwindled, and a “Closed for the Winter” sign appeared in 1982. Unfortunately, this was one winter closing that didn’t lead to another season.

Escondido Drive-in
Escondido, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The open grounds remained useful, though. Vendors and shoppers took over the space, trading coming attractions for changing tables of merchandise. Instead of waiting for darkness, visitors could arrive in daylight and see what turned up between the rows.

UPDATE: The site remains active as Escondido World Marketplace. The movie screen is gone, but the property still draws a crowd for its swap meet. Different attractions, different hours, and considerably more walking than a night at the drive-in required. 10-26

Santee Drive-In Theatre (Demolished)
Santee, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

A night at the movies came with a windshield view at the Santee Drive-In Theatre. Check out the big roadside marquee, which gave Woodside Avenue a familiar announcement of coming attractions. Beyond the entrance, the outdoor screens waited for sunset and another evening of movies under the stars. Quite a sight for travelers who remembered when these outdoor movie stops dotted Southern California.

Opened in 1958 by John Forte and Walt Long, the drive-in became a longtime East County destination. The founders built the original screen themselves, giving this movie house a rather hands-on beginning. Apparently getting the picture up meant picking up a hammer first. Their work helped establish a place that would welcome generations of moviegoers over the next 65 years.

Santee Drive-In Theatre
Santee, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

A second screen arrived in 1972, adding another choice for the cars rolling through the gate. For decades, the Santee offered that familiar combination of a movie, something from the snack bar, and a seat brought from home. Families could settle in while the evening sky slowly darkened above the lot. Finding a comfortable spot was easy enough, provided the windshield was clean and the car ahead wasn’t too tall.

UPDATE: The final movies played on December 31, 2023, bringing the Santee’s long run to an end. An October 2026 report confirms construction has begun on the industrial development replacing the drive-in. The redevelopment includes plans to rehabilitate and relocate the entrance sign within Santee. The screens have finished their show, but the old marquee may yet get another roadside appearance. 10-26