In the 1880s, Illinois farmer Arthur Fremont Gilmore migrated to Los Angeles and bought 256 acres of land in the Fairfax area. After discovering oil on the property, the family opened a series of attractions, including the iconic Farmers Market and the Gilmore Drive-In Movie Theater, formerly located at Third and Fairfax. The drive-in had a capacity of 650 cars and operated from 1948 until 1978; it was razed five years later.
Source: At the Grove, a drive-in movie with a twist: You’re nearer the stars – Los Angeles Times