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