Compton Drive-In
Compton, California1950-1995
Order Compton Drive-In tees, long sleeve tees and hoodies. Ted Mann built it on Rosecrans Avenue, and it held 1,196 cars. Its screen tower carried a mural of a Viking ship under a striped sail, and it ran for 45 years until January 7, 1995. Pick a style below, then read the full Compton history further down. Down Home Apparel is an American small business remembering the best places and teams of yesteryear, and every shirt is printed to order in the USA.
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Compton Drive-In History
The Compton Drive-In in Compton, California, had its grand opening on January 6, 1950, on Rosecrans Avenue. Ted Mann, later known for Mann Theatres, built it with a partner, and Pacific Theatres ran it from then on. The architects were Balch and Bryan. Opening night brought a double bill, a newsreel, two cartoons and a crowd of Western stars in person. It held 1,196 cars.
Its screen tower carried a mural of a Viking ship under a striped sail, with Compton in big script above it. Pacific used painted murals on a number of its drive-ins in those years, and this one became a local landmark.
In 1960 Pacific won a temporary injunction against the used car lot and restaurant next door. The court action said their bright lights had been put up after the drive-in opened and were spoiling the picture for customers.
The Compton ran for 45 years. Its last show was on January 7, 1995. A church called The Vision reportedly started using the site a week later. It was later torn down, and houses now stand there.