This article was written by Jessica Te, SJtoday’s editorial intern.
June 6 marks the anniversary of the opening of the first drive-in theater in 1933, so in honor of National Drive-In Movie Day, let’s grab a bag of popcorn + celebrate the history of San Jose’s last drive-in, West Wind Capitol. 🍿
🎥 The opening scene
At the peak of the industry in the 1960’s, there were over 220 operating drive-ins in California. From the Spartan Drive-In on First St. to the El Rancho off of Almaden Blvd., San Jose had no shortage of multiplexes.
But since then, drive-ins have become nearly extinct, with only 15 remaining in the state — three of which are located in the Bay Area.
West Wind, originally known as Capitol 6 Drive-In, opened on May 25, 1971 with a screening of four free films — “The Owl and the Pussycat,” “101 Dalmatians,” “Valdez is Coming,” and “Zeppelin.” At the time, it was one of six other drive-ins located in San Jose. Of the six, West Wind is the only one left standing today. 🚘
At West Wind, there’s movie magic 365 days a year. | Photo via Kevin Fox, @kfury
🎥 A double feature
West Wind isn’t just your average theater… In 1978, they began operating as the West Wind Capitol Flea Market during the day to bring the San Jose community together with music, food, and vendors. The market operates year round and hosts live band performances every Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. 🛍️
🎥 Now showing…
In celebration of National Drive-In Movie Day this Monday, West Wind will be showing throwback feature films, including “The Goonies,” “Grease,” and “Back to the Future.” All tickets will be discounted to $5 per person + they’ll be selling $2 nachos all night long.
Let us know your favorite local drive-in movie memory by emailing hello@thesjtoday.com.