THE FIRST-EVER DRIVE-IN CINEMA IN THE HEART OF HOLLYWOOD

making A Piece of history…

Post 43 is both a historic, private clubhouse for local veterans in the heart of Hollywood, and home to a newly remodeled, state-of-the-art, 6,000 sq.-ft. cinema with seating for 482 guests. Earlier this year, when the pandemic forced the closure of the theater, the Legion’s internal theater team proposed moving the theater operations outdoors and was supported by the club’s leadership, who saw an opportunity to serve the greater film community of Los Angeles. The Legion has thus been busy developing the drive-in since April, working closely with city officials to ensure the safety of guests.

“There should always be a safe way for people to experience the joy of seeing a movie together in the place where movies are made,” says Taylor Umphenour, the Legion Theater’s chief projectionist and driving force behind the project. “We are doing everything we can to help keep the flame of cinema aglow.”

The Hollywood Legion Theater’s drive-in is the first-ever drive-in cinema in the heart of Hollywood. The drive-in will be among the first in Los Angeles to offer public screenings seven days a week as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. It will have a capacity of 30 vehicles, and feature DCI-compliant 4K digital projection with advanced stereo FM sound transmission. The 38’ custom-built screen system is mounted to a rigid truss frame on a ballasted scaffold system, providing an ultra-stable image. Cars will be arrayed in an amphitheater-like setting, unusual for drive-ins, and afford patrons with the beautiful nighttime backdrop of the Hollywood hills.

“I’m extraordinarily proud of our theater team here at Post 43 who led the charge on this from start to finish,” said Post 43 commander Jennifer Campbell. “We are not only bringing joy to the greater Hollywood community we serve, we are allowing the veteran members of Post 43 the camaraderie of a shared experience all while creating new jobs in the theatrical exhibition sector, which as we all know has been very hard hit by the pandemic.”

Ambitiously, plans are already in place to add 35mm projection to the new drive-in cinema. Film lovers who care about film preservation and exhibition on celluloid film are encouraged to donate to the newly established Legion Theater Film Fund, which will finance the installation of the drive-in’s film system. “We feel it is our responsibility as keepers of that flame to preserve film exhibition for the public,” said theater director Bill Steele. 

Alongside ticketed public screenings, the drive-in is also available for private parties, studio premieres and events rentals.