Sunset Drive-In
7320 N. McCormick Boulevard,
Skokie,
IL
60076
7320 N. McCormick Boulevard,
Skokie,
IL
60076
3 people
favorited this theater
Opened on July 22, 1951 with Glenn Ford in “Follow the Sun”, a typical drive-in with concession stand and playground beneath the screen. Located just north of Touhy Avenue and just south of a Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago water filtration plant at McCormick Boulevard and Howard Street in Skokie. Closed in the mid-1970’s and replaced by light industry.
Contributed by
Eric Vedowski
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Recent comments (view all 17 comments)
It took me a while to track this one down. I saw Clint in “The Enforcer” here when it came out. Or whatever the one with Tyne Daly was. Being an action film, the crowd went out in a haze of gravel when departing.
I had a `56 Plymouth Savoy. It was a minor attraction at the show given it’s age.
But they never checked my trunk.
This M&R theatre opened July 22, 1951 with “Follow the Sun” (bio of golfer Ben Hogan with Glenn Ford & Anne Baxter) as the featured attraction. Other bits from the grand opening ad in the Tribune include:
The world’s largest screen! 48% Larger than any other drive-in theatre screen!
Wider roadways and more space between cars to make parking much easier.
Completely new RCA ramp lighting and numbering that gives the exact location of your car. No more getting lost.
Latest IMPROVED RCA sound and high-fidelity tone speakers.
Last mention I find in the Trib is September 1978 when “Smokey and the Bandit” was playing there. By 1980 Gene Siskel included the Sunset in a list of “long gone” drive-ins in a story he did on outdoor theatres.
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I saw Smokey and the Bandit there! And Young Frankenstein! I was born in 1971, for what it’s worth. Later I worked at the M&R Evanston.
In 1987, in the middle of the night, I worked cleaning some M&R drive-in way out west (from Evanston). I drunk lots of warm beer that was left behind. It wasn’t fun work.
If you to this website http://www.historicaerials.com/ and enter Touhy & McCormick, Skokie in the box it’ll bring up aerial views-drive in visible from 1952 to 1974.
Aerial from 1962
Opening night ad added to Photo section.
Nice looking grand opening ad!! ChrisB
Opened In 1951, Grand Opening Ad Already Posted 6 Years Ago.
Update: A print of “A Night at the Sunset” has finally turned up in the David Szabo collection at the Chicago Film Archive. Will try to rent a copy and post more info.