Valley Drive-in Theatre (Closed)
Lompoc, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Valley Drive-In Theatre may no longer be showing movies, but it's still one of those places that's hard to pass without slowing down for a look. The giant screen tower still stands over the property, and the old roadside marquee remains out by North H Street, quietly reminding travelers that this was once a place where hundreds of cars gathered beneath the stars. It's not often you find a closed drive-in with so much of its original character still intact.

When the Valley opened in 1959, it offered everything a family could want for a summer evening at the movies. There was room for hundreds of cars, a large CinemaScope screen, a snack bar, and even a playground where kids could burn off a little energy before the feature began. For nearly forty years, families from Lompoc and the surrounding Central Coast made the Valley part of their weekend routine before the final movies were shown in 1998.

Valley Drive-in marquee
Lompoc, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Unlike many drive-ins that vanished almost overnight, the Valley found an unusual second life. A recycling business eventually moved onto the property, and today customers drive through the same entrance roads that once led moviegoers to their favorite parking spot. It's a strange sight at first, but somehow it has also helped preserve the theater's layout. The old ramps, towering screen, and entrance sign still make it easy to picture what the place looked like on a busy Saturday night.

There was even hope for a comeback. In 2015, local supporters proposed bringing the drive-in back to life, and for a while it looked like movies might once again light up the giant screen. Unfortunately, the plans never moved forward, leaving the Valley to continue its quiet retirement.

Valley Drive-in Theatre
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Photo courtesy Stewart Isbell

Even without the glow of a projector, the Valley remains a wonderful roadside discovery. It's the kind of place that makes you pull over for a few minutes, study the old screen, and imagine families unfolding lawn chairs, kids racing toward the playground, and another double feature about to begin.

UPDATE: The Valley Drive-In remains closed, but both the screen tower and the roadside marquee continue to stand while the property serves as a recycling center. 08-26

The Valley Drive-in Theatre still displays its lettering on the back of the screen tower.

Sky View Drive-in Theatre
Oxnard, CA
Photos courtesy Larry Gomez

Here are photos of the undeveloped land at the former Sky View Drive-in Theatre located in Oxnard, CA. The Skyview is the last of five in Ventura County. This site had once been proposed for a major league baseball stadium complex and may now be developed for low income housing. Many thanks to Larry Gomez for photos and info. 03-08

According to the February 17, 2008 edition of the Ventura County Star, the Skyview Drive-in lot may also become a possibility for a big box retail store.

Sky View Drive-in Theatre
Oxnard, CA
Photo courtesy Larry Gomez

The Sky View Drive-In Theatre in Oxnard offered moviegoers a screen beneath the open sky along South Oxnard Boulevard. Its big outdoor layout belonged to the days when an evening at the movies meant bringing the family car, finding a speaker post and waiting for the sun to cooperate.

Opened in 1955 by Pacific Drive-In Theatres, Sky View had room for about 1,000 cars. Quite a crowd to gather in front of one screen. The location along the old coastal highway corridor made it a familiar entertainment stop for Oxnard residents and passing motorists.

Sky View Drive-in Theatre
Oxnard, CA
Photo courtesy Larry Gomez

During the day, the grounds also hosted a popular swap meet. Instead of watching the screen, visitors wandered between tables looking for bargains. Drive-in lots were handy places for that second job, with plenty of room to park and a layout already designed to handle crowds.

Movie screenings ended in 1988, but the screen tower and projection facilities remained for several more years. The old theatre was demolished in 1995, leaving a broad empty parcel where cars had once lined up for an evening’s entertainment.

UPDATE: Sky View and its roadside sign are gone. The cleared property remained undeveloped for many years after demolition, although its current use has not been confirmed. No movies beneath the stars here anymore. 09-26

Del-Mac Drive-in Theatre (Demolished)
Delano, CA
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Here are the remnants of the Del-Mac Drive-In Theatre, once a place to catch a movie beneath the Central Valley sky. Located off old Highway 99 between Delano and McFarland, the outdoor theatre served the surrounding farming communities long before the screen went dark. By the time this view was photographed, there was considerably less left to see than a double feature. 10-10

The Del-Mac opened in the summer of 1950, built by theatre operator Frank Panero and his sons, August and Ernest. Its name combined Delano and McFarland, letting both towns claim a little piece of the show. Quite a practical way to name a theatre sitting between two communities.

Del-Mac Drive-in Theatre (Demolished)
Delano, CA
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

The grounds covered about 20 acres, with room for roughly 440 cars. A wooden screen tower rose some 78 feet above the lot, carrying a screen large enough to turn the quiet roadside into an evening attraction. Pull into a space, hook a speaker onto the window and wait for darkness. No stadium seating required when you brought your own seat.

UPDATE: The Del-Mac grounds have been cleared and repurposed for La Jolla Cold Storage facilities. The old marquee and screen remnants are gone as of around 2011 after closing around 1980, leaving no outdoor movies at this former stop along the Highway 99 corridor. 09-26