This month marks the sixtieth anniversary of Costa Mesa’s Paulo Drive-In. Opened on July, 8, 1949, with the features “Streets of Laredo” and “Across the River”, the venue was Orange County’s third drive-in. Originally an independent, the drive-in was picked up by Pacific Theatres in the Fall of 1952. The Paulo lasted until February of 1976, when the site was demolished for an apartment complex and 55 freeway construction. Mirroring the decline of the drive-in theatre format, the venue closed out it’s run with a “B” film double bill of “Flesh Gordon” and “The Cheerleaders”.
.
Tags: 2 Comments
2 responses so far ↓
This is first time I actually found a mention of this drive-in! I was born in Costa Mesa and have many found memories of summer nights with my family watching double features and Woody Woodpecker cartoons. Life was good in O.C. back then. Thank you for sharing this.
I worked at this theatre in 1972 and 1973: sold tickets, sold food (if you could call it that), patrolled the field, changed the marquee… and told people to put their clothes back on and go home when the show was over. The manager had a bad case of acne, a real case of attitude – and a penchant for hiring Marines for the staff. Interesting times, those. Too bad they’re gone. RIP, Paulo.