SUNDOWN DRIVE-IN

Location:12322 Washington Bl, Whittier.
Year built:Opened August 25,1954
Operated by:H.W.Bruen; Pacific Theatres
Vehicle Capacity:1000
Notes:Closed September 3, 1990. Last movies shown
"Taking Care of Business" and "Arachnophobia".
Demolished on February 20, 1999.


Photo circa 1955

  Whittier News, 08/25/54  
1954 photo courtesy Wesley Horton

After investing half a million dollars, Hugh Bruen, president  
and general manager of Bruen Theatres Co., opened the  
Sundown Drive-In Theatre on August 25, 1954. The gala  
event included a ribbon cutting ceremony and guest stars,  
including James Arness of "Hondo" and "Them" and Ann 
Robsinson, co-star of "Dragnet" with Jack Webb, to hand out  
orchids to all in attendance. Opening movies shown were
"Valley of Kings" and "The Law vs. Billy The Kid."
 

 


Classic Googie style screen tower seen during Sundown's happier days 		Another ad promoting the premiere  
of theSundown. 08/25/54. 
 



For almost four decades, the Sundown provided a night's enterainment to everyone from families looking for a inexpensive night out with the kids to young adults on dates to grandparents on baby sitting duties. Movies shown at the Sundown throughout it's life included blockbuster hits such as Planet of the Apes, Star Wars, and Jaws, G-rated Disney movies, and even movies in Spanish to serve the surrounding Hispanic population. But as times changed, peoples' taste's changed and the Sundown, along with the entire drive-in theatre industry, took a back seat  to the ubiquitous indoor multiplex theatre and it's climate controlled atmosphere and superior sound qualities. The Sundown last lit up on September 3, 1990. Although no longer showing movies, the drive-in lot was used as a swapmeet until mid-1998 when that operation closed for good as Home Depot decided to build a store on the site of the Sundown. Demolition would soon follow.

Demolition began in mid-February, 1999, with the 
snack bar and projection booth the first to go. 
A few days later, the demolition crew and 
equipment turned their attention to the screen 
tower. After pounding away at the concrete supports, 
the screen tower leaned, creeked, and groaned, and 
the end came on February 20, 1999, at 9:35am 
when it crashed to the ground creating a large 
dust cloud. In the end, the contorted screen tower
lay quietly on its face ready to be sent to the scrap
yard.
 
Sundown Drive-In Theatre, 1954-1999. R.I.P.

This is what was left after the dust settled.

Thanks to John Garcia for the two pictures below



Thanks to Mark Tanner for the two pictures below