WESTMINSTER : 39 Drive-In May Fall for Shops, Hotel

The chill of a cold January night didn’t discourage the movie-goers who began lining up outside the Hi-Way 39 Drive-In more than an hour before dusk.

As it has since the drive-in theater opened in 1955, the crowd included families in station wagons, young couples on dates and teen-agers crowded into cars. By the time “Back to the Future, Part II” appeared on the screen, the drive-in was packed.

But the scene, repeated nightly for 35 years, eventually might be history. Hi-Way 39 Drive-In is one of a dwindling number of drive-ins in the county. If Westminster officials have their way, it, too, soon will disappear and be replaced by a shopping center or hotel.

Mayor Charles V. Smith said he would like to see the 25-acre site used in a way that is more financially lucrative to the city.

Smith said the location of the drive-in, off Beach Boulevard just south of the Garden Grove Freeway, makes it prime commercial property that could bring the city as much as $1 million in sales tax each year after a shopping center or hotel were built.

“It will remain a drive-in for at least another year,” Smith said. “But there’s a strong chance that we’ll be working on some plans by the end of the year.”

City Manager Jerry Kenny said his staff has been meeting with representatives of Pacific Theaters for nine months, discussing the “highest and best use of the property.”

Kenny said a final decision on closure of the drive-in is up to Pacific Theaters.

Milt Moritz, a spokesman for Pacific Theaters, insists that the closure isn’t imminent.

“The city has been talking about closing the drive-in for years,” Moritz said. “As far as we know, we’re still operating a drive-in there, and a very popular one at that.”

Hi-Way 39 and Anaheim Drive-In are the only drive-ins operating year-round in Orange County. Drive-ins in Buena Park and La Habra are closed for the season but scheduled to reopen later this year, said Moritz.

The possibility of Hi-Way 39 Drive-In eventually closing was unsettling to some movie-goers.

“There’s too many shopping centers around already,” said George Ross, 27, of Garden Grove. “Drive-ins are always good, and this one has to stay. I have a family, and this is the easiest way for us to go to the movies.”

Sandy Bryski, 35, said, “It’s very personal here at the drive-in. You can sit together and bring the kids. They can fall asleep, and if they act up, you can just roll up the windows and not bother anybody else.”

At $4.50 a head, Bob Briggs of Huntington Beach said, drive-ins are still the best bargain in town.

“You get to see two movies for the price of one,” said Briggs, 26. “I’ve been coming to this drive-in since I was 6 years old. I remember when it just had one screen. There was a time when I was coming here two times a week and knew just about all the employees. I would hate to see a place like this close down for something as ordinary as a shopping center.”

Huntington Beach resident Julieanne Doan said she prefers a drive-in to a walk-in because she can just be herself.

“I can relax, dress how I want, talk during the movie and smoke a cigarette and not have to worry about bothering anybody,” said Doan, 19.

Huntington Beach resident Paula Andrews said she would be upset if her monthly trips to the drive-in came to an end.

“This is the last place,” said Andrews, 29. “If they take this one away, we’re in trouble.”

But not everybody waxed sentimental about nights at the drive-in.

Robert Busenburg, a snack bar attendant, said getting rid of the drive-in simply signals progress.

“I think people are starting to go to walk-ins more now anyway,” said Busenburg, 17. “Drive-ins are becoming a thing of the past.”