SUNLAND TUJUNGA MEMORIES INCINERATORS/WASHING MACH
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From: Marie (Pepe) E.
Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2008, 1:57 PM
Subject: Sunland Tujunga Memories Incinerators/Washing Mach
Reply to: 264564
ID: 261995

I got my drivers license when I was 16 and I drove a 1953 Chevy station wagon. The first time I drove to the Sunland Drive-in I somehow managed to get the speaker wedged into the front bumper of the car. I couldn't go forward and I couldn't go backward, so I finally knocked on the window of the car next to me, in which there was two couples, and asked the drive if he could help me get unstuck. With much shaking of his head and rolling of his eyes he got the car unstuck. I was so mortified, I just knew that everyone in the place was staring and talking about the dumb girl who got her car stuck around the pole.

Just one of my drive-in memories. Getting caught trying to sneak in the exit is another.

------ On 6/17/08, Arthur Altshiller wrote ------

Courtesy of Jean Aney Steimer

SUNLAND DRIVE-IN-THEATER Location:Foothill Boulevard and Woodward Avenue in SunlandYear built:Opened July 1, 1950Operated by:Edwards Theatre Circuit Vehicle Capacity:700 carsNotes:Many thanks to Vic Pallos for this wonderful contribution and great interior photographs. Additional thanks go to the Little Landers Historical Society in Sunland-Tujunga and the Los Angeles Times theater listings. Finally, a big thanks to Ray Brunke for the wonderful night image of the screen tower and marquee. Added 08/29/05:

The Sunland Drive Inn opened at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 1, 1950. The original screen was 75 by 80 feet, and I remember it being widened with panels on each side after CinemaScope and other wide screen films debuted in the mid-50s.Opening films: "My Wild Irish Rose" (1947), musical starring Dennis Morgan and Arlene Dahl, and "Albuquerque," a western starring Randolph Scott and Gabby Hayes. (Advertised in the local newspaper as an "all-color double feature." Judging by the dates of the films, it appears they could have been studio re-releases.) During the early years they ran two double features a week. Films ran Wednesday through Saturday and Sunday through Tuesday.Sunland Drive-in tidbits:· 10 Acres · 700 car capacity · One-mile of fencing surrounded the interior · Original screen was 75 by 80 feet, constructed to withstand winds of 200 mph. In the mid-1950s, panels were added on both sides of the screen for CinemaScope and other widescreen films · Seven miles of sound cables were laid to equip the speakers, 1,200 tons of rock and 26,000 gallons of oil for grades and paving, and 28 cubic yards of concrete to support the screen structure · The marquee extended at a 90-degree angle from the back of the screen superstructure, and it's design was mid-century modern Snack Bar: Originally decorated on three walls with Hopalong Cassidy print wallpaper (flown in from Chicago). Counters were red plastic, floor was green checkered lineoleum. Restrooms: (What I remember most about the men's room was the large wall-to-wall urinal (no individual fixtures in those days!). Snack Bar goodies: the usual (but not memorable) stuff -- popcorn, hot dogs, soda, candy, coffee. Pizza was added later in the 50s. On cold nights they sold a lot of Hot Toddy, a chocolate drink that I think is long-gone. The Sunland closed on Tuesday, September 14, 1976. Closing films were "St. Ives" starring Charles Bronson and "At Earth's Core," a "B" sci-fi flick starring Doug McClure.Closure Details: According to a local newspaper article in the summer of 1976, negotiations had been underway "for several years" involving the Morgan-Edwards Theatre Corp. and Federal Amusement Corp., the latter who operated the theater, to demolish the drive-in and develop the property. In early September 1976, the public announcement was made that a $3 million K-Mart department store would be constructed. After the theater closed on September 14, demolition began one week later and was expected to take one week.Current Use: The K-Mart opened the following spring (1977) and closed in 2004 as part of the parent company's closure of several of their department stores. According to the Little Landers Historical Society, the Edwards company still holds title to the property, although I could not confirm that from another source. Currently, there is a vacant department store shell on the property. Home Depot reportedly is interested in moving in, although the local residents would prefer another department store.Personal recollections:--Since Sunland-Tujunga was a small town, the drive-in was usually a top attraction, especially on the weekends.--Stately palm trees were planted on both sides of the screen and clearly visible from the parking area. On warm, breezy summer nights, seeing those palm trees sway gently was a classic California image.--The setting was picturesque, as Sunland-Tujunga is surrounded on three sides by hills and mountains, which were clearly visible from the drive-in.--For many years the drive-in screen could be seen from many blocks away in the surrounding residential neighborhood--until trees grew too tall.- - During the 1950s and the projectionist was a guy named Mac, who looked like he'd been in the business a long time. On hot summer nights, Mac left the side door open to the projection booth. Curious kids (and adults) could peak in and watch Mac load the large reels into the hot, arc-light projectors. The booth wasn't air- conditioned. All Mac had was a fan to keep cool. It wasn't a glamorous job.--The marquee was gorgeous at night, with its mid-century modern design and brightly colored neon. Unlike some other drive-ins, there was no artwork on the back of the screen. Instead, the neon lighting extended to the top of the screen. It was quite a sight.

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