Los Angeles Theatres: Hastings Drive-In

400 N. Halstead St. Pasadena, CA 91107 | map |

Opened: May 11, 1950. It was north of Foothill Blvd. on a site bounded by Rosemead Blvd. on the east and Halstead St. on the west with the screen near the north end of the property. The entrance was on Halstead. The photo appeared on the cover of the Modern Theatre section of the Oct. 7, 1950 issue of Boxoffice with this caption:

"Among the newest uses of display lighting in theatres is the 'animated light' featured in the attraction board of the new Hastings Drive-In Theatre near Pasadena, Calif. The photo on this month’s cover shows workmen installing the diffusing panels of translucent plastic over the fluorescent tubing which is used to create an ever-changing color effect."

Thanks to Michael Kilgore for locating the article.

Architects: It was designed by the Utah firm of Cartwright and Wilson, specialists in drive-ins. Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor Dallas Movie Theaters for the data.

Capacity: 1,000 cars

"For the First Time in Drive-In Theatre History! Roy Rogers Will Appear In Person!..." It's a May 11, 1950 opening day ad. Thanks to Dallas Movie Theatres for locating it for a post on Cinema Treasures.

An item that Michael Kilgore located in the May 20, 1950 issue of Boxoffice:

"Altadena, Calif. – Featuring the latest in modern equipment, the new Hastings Drive-In, a 1,000-car operation, opened here Thursday (11). It is the first ozoner to be constructed by Comet Theatre Enterprises, headed by R. H. Hoese, president; Earl Whitaker, vice-president, and Ernie LeSueur, secretary-treasurer.

"The opening night’s attraction included personal appearances by Roy Rogers, Republic cowboy star, his actress-wife Dale Evans and Trigger. The outdoor showcase is being operated on a single-bill policy and an 80-cent admission scale."

An article appearing on page 48 of the Modern Theatre section of the October 7, 1950 issue of Boxoffice. Thanks to Joe Vogel for spotting it.

The Hastings was purchased by Sterling Theatres, a Seattle-based firm headed by John Danz, in 1955. Later they became known as Sterling Recreation Organization. In 1968 SRO built the Pasadena Hastings Theatre, a 1,542 seat house, on the southern edge of the drive-in. Thanks to Ed Collins for this excerpt from an article in the November 1982 issue of "SRO Spotlite," their publication for employees:

"With the purchase of a one-year-old drive-in in 1948 [sic] in Pasadena, CA, came the beginning of a new generation of SRO. The Hastings Drive-in, accommodating 1,000 cars, was the first theatre that SRO purchased in California. The drive-in was unique in the SRO circuit in that it had in front of the screen a miniature train which children could ride.

"A well-equipped playground was located near the train. While the kids played, their parents were free to enjoy the benefits of an efficient and well-stocked snackbar, and together the family settled down for an evening of good movie entertainment. As the 1960s neared the end, so did the drive-in. The value of the property had increased dramatically, and with the good business insight, SRO executives began building 'a theatre of the future.'"

Closing: The last show at the theatre was Sept. 3, 1968. It was still listed in the 1969 city directory.

Status: The site has been redeveloped. Part of the site was used in 1975 for the Mann Hastings Ranch 3. The Hastings indoor theatre built in 1968 by SRO south of the drive-in ended as the Pacific Hastings 8. An L.A. Fitness branch is now on that site.

The drive-in is at the top of this October 1951 photo from the J. Allen Hawkins collection appearing on page 35 of the Arcadia Publishing book "Pasadena 1940-2008." The page with the photo is included in the book's preview on Google Books. Note the theatre's marquee on the right at the corner of Foothill Blvd. and Halstead Rd.

Hastings Drive-In

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