Sunset Drive-In

5078 Clinton Highway,
Knoxville, TN 37912

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Sunset Drive-In

The Sunset Drive-In opened September 1, 1950. It closed on November 30, 1958. I was told that it was located on Clinton Highway, not too far from the Merchants Road intersection on your right as you were driving towards Clinton from Knoxville. I suspect it was closed by the time the Twin Aire Drive-In was built a few miles north on Clinton Highway in 1969.

By 1972 there was a shopping center where the Sunset Drive-In had been; maybe a K-Mart, but I can’t remember for sure. I don’t know much about it, but was told by folks that lived in that part of town in the 1960’s that it was huge, and the notorious "passion pit" for the teenagers! I would like to know more about it.

Contributed by Bob Brown

Recent comments (view all 19 comments)

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on March 31, 2010 at 3:39 pm

Thanks for the info.everytime i searched for it I couldn’t find it.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on September 12, 2010 at 5:04 pm

It was a Howard and Howard Drive-in.[in 1956]

jwmovies
jwmovies on December 16, 2012 at 3:22 am

Approx. address for this drive-in was 6635 Clinton Highway. Now Chili’s & Home Depot.

tntim
tntim on August 23, 2013 at 7:54 am

JW, the Sunset Drive-in was in the 5000 block of Clinton Hwy. The Twin-Aire was in the 6600 block where Wal-Mart is now located.

BOTTLDIGGER
BOTTLDIGGER on July 8, 2014 at 7:13 am

I THINK I SAW WERE THE SUNSET HAD 1500 SPEAKERS – IT WAS ADVERTISED AS THE LARGEST SINGLE SCREEN IN THE WORLD.

NYozoner
NYozoner on November 27, 2014 at 11:10 am

5078 Clinton Hwy
Knoxville, TN 37912

The above address will map accurately to the location of the drive-in, which is now occupied by a retail shopping plaza anchored by Food City, Advance Auto Parts, and Ace Hardware.

tntim
tntim on December 13, 2014 at 11:40 am

I have added a picture of the highway entrance in the photo section.

tntim
tntim on May 20, 2017 at 12:31 pm

I have posted newly found pictures in the photo section

tntim
tntim on June 29, 2020 at 2:31 pm

The Sunset Drive-In closed on November 30, 1958. The last movie ad is posted in the photo section.

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