Then and now: Movies at the old drive-in
“Old Long Skis” is a contributor we see often here on Lake Tahoe News. OLS (aka Bob Rockwell) has lived here since 1962 and he’s sharing with me historic photos of some local businesses.
One of those was the Tahoe Drive In Theatre where he worked. It closed in 1984.
I’ve added related photos, mostly depicting the original movie marquee atop the frame which still stands today at Herbert and Highway 50.
It was OLS’s job to climb a ladder and straddle the adjoining roof to post the red plastic letters on that marquee each time the movies changed. He also trained to be the projectionist.
The marquee is visible above the red convertible in this frame from Winter-A-Go-Go which was filmed at South Shore in 1965. I saw that movie at the Tahoe Drive In. Ah, those days when a night 
at the movies meant two full features, cartoon, and newsreel.
The footprint of the drive in theater is still evident today in the 1350 block of Glenwood Way in Bijou as seen in this Google aerial photo.
If I remember correctly, the city of South Lake Tahoe at one time intended to make it a snow-play park.
— Bill Kingman
The first Drive In Was located on the upper Park Ave area where the road goes to the back entrance to Harrahs
It was owned by Steve Myers and he later moved it to Glenwood Way in Bijou. Those were the good old day’s when Tahoe was a great place to live. Never had to lock a door or take your key’s out of the car, everyone knew everyone and Tahoe was a perfect place to live.
Thanks for the Memories.
nice, OLS- It was rumored that we would sneak a few classmates in the trunk of our cars! P.S.- do you have any photos from the A&W rootbeer stand?
Xlocal,
Do you or anyone else remember the theater that was in a quonset hut? I’m thinkin’ it was in the late 50’s or early 60’s It was located somewhere between Park and Stateline avenues on the north side of the highway. It had a dirt floor with wooden benches for seating.This was before we moved here and where my folks would drop me off when they went gambling at Harrahs. They’d always get a couple of slot machines next to the window. When the movie was over I would walk up there, stand on the sidewalk outside and watch them pull the handles. Now that was entertainment! Take Care , Old Long Skiis
I used to help a friend of mine change the marquee in the early 70s. We’d all go in my girlfriend’s pick-up which we’d back in to a spot and have lawn chairs in the bed. Funny I can remember a lot about the drive-in and what we did, but can’t remember any of the movies we saw…
The old Theater was owned by Rudy and Jean Buchanan, It was located three lots East of Park Ave or next to where the Travel Lodge is today, across from the Cresent V Center where the old Van Sickle Stable was. There was an old log cabin next to the Theater and back from the Hwy, That is where my family lived in the winter, when we were unable to live in our house at Emerald Bay during the winter because of the road not being kept open during the winter,My folks sold the house at Emerald Bay in 1953 after the winter of 51/52, That was a winter to remember and in fact the people that went through that winter still meet every year to talk about the old day’s, each year the old timers are fewer and fewer, most now are the Kids that grew up and went to school there during those years
One of my first jobs was changing the marquee in 1974… I did 1 at Lakeside theater, next was the Drive in…. when I walked the plank from roof to sign, carrying a box of letters, at night, I thought I was going to die! Did it once. Quit and never picked up my paycheck!
Thanks for reminding me about my Dad’s friend, Rudy. Buchanan is my middle name, my mother’s maiden name and was a distant relative of Rudys. I went there with my Dad to visit a few times. I took my kids to the drive-in just before it closed, to see an Indiana Jones movie, I think. They were in their pajamas in the back of the (Subaru) station wagon, of course…
I have the movie Winter-A-Go-Go. 1965. “Ski buffs and ski babes on the go-go in the snow-snow”. Silly and fun comedy (similar to Annette Funicello’s beach movies) filmed at Heavenly. Great fun, especially seeing the mountain and resort back in time.
What fun the ‘old timers’ (above) have had reminiscing. It’s nice to return to those slower paced days occasionally. More, please.
Hi Tony and to all you other old timers,
Yes, alot of people did sneek into the drive in. Besides changing the marquee I was also the security guard to stop people from sneaking in and generaly keeping the peace. The problem with that was I knew most of the kids walking in from the meadow and hiding in the bushes up by the screen. I left em’ alone. They were mostly all friends of mine.
Yes, their were people hiding in trunks of cars but I very rarely kicked anyone out. For a small bribe I’d let em’ stay. I even snuck a few in with my own car when I went to work!
XLocal thank for giving me the location of that old quonset hut theater. Kinda like where the Texaco station used to be. I worked at that gas station for a short time to.
Finally, thanks to everyone who remembers the drive in and the fun times we had back then.
Keep em’ comin’ Bill Kingman. Old Story Skiis
p.s. Tony I do have some photos of the A&W when my folks had it and I was the manager. Unfortunately they’re not fit to print in a family publication like Lake Tahoe News. I won’t go into detail, nuff said.
Great memories of watching The Good Bad And The Ugly in 1968, at the Tahoe Drive-In on Glenwood Way.In 1974, I became the marquee man at the Lakeside Theatre at the Y. Then on the week-ends, I was promoted to carry the flashlight and make sure no-one was making out. Of course I was young myself, So I didn’t care.Those were great day’s growing up in South Lake Tahoe… Thinks for bringing back some great memories.
Great article, Bill!!! I remember going there in the late 70’s/early 80’s. Cannot recall the movie, but I do remember strawberry daquiri’s (sp?) were involved. Those were the days! Thanks Bill, you are awesome!!
It’s great to have Then and Now back. Always puts a smile on my face. Keep em coming. Thanks Art
the top picture reminds me of an old joke…. STPD found 2 people dead at the drive in today….. they went to watch ‘Closed For Winter’ and froze to death.
We lived on Rancho Circle near the drive in. one year I built a tree fort (I was 15)and wired in a speaker from one of the sound poles and watched from there! I could not “Drive In”. Also on warm summer nights, they would let us in on our bicycles (for $.25 )if we lade down in the very front row! and behaved! And of course when we drove in, we would sneak people in when we could!
all good Tahoe style history!
thanks for sharing, I love Tahoe