Sunset Beach Drive-In

4164 U.S. 40,
Claysville, PA 15323

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Sunset Beach Drive-In 4169 U.S. 40, Claysville, PA 15323

The Sunset Beach Drive-In was located in Claysville, seven miles west of Washington, PA. and was opened on May 30, 1948 with Ginger Rogers in “Magnificent Doll”. In 1955 it was operated by C.M. Ducray and Stern-Hanna Theatre Services. It later ran mainly X rated fare such as this classic double feature,"A Clockwork Blue" and "Weekend Lovers". It was closed in 1986 following flooding.

Contributed by MikeRogers

Recent comments (view all 12 comments)

jwmovies
jwmovies on December 13, 2012 at 6:41 am

Approx. address for the Sunset/Sunset Beach drive-in was Claysville, PA 15323, behind the Buffalo Swimming Pool.

Believe it or not, the screen is still up!

What’s fascinating is the community pool in front of a drive-in playing porn!

NYozoner
NYozoner on January 4, 2017 at 3:11 pm

Film Daily Yearbook and International Motion Picture Almanac both refer to this location as Sunset Beach Drive-In.

jwmovies
jwmovies on January 25, 2019 at 9:16 am

Even though it doesn’t map correctly, a better address for this theater would be 4169 U.S. 40, Claysville PA 15323. This is next to the pool.

Please update.

TomMcGill
TomMcGill on January 25, 2019 at 9:32 pm

Not only is the screen still up as of a June 2018 street view, but the ticket booths and marquee are both still there as well. It would also appear that the projection booth/concession stand were repurposed. So the whole thing is pretty much intact, just the small problem of houses/other buildings in the way….

kennerado
kennerado on May 24, 2020 at 3:40 am

This drive-in was part of a complex called Sunset Beach Park which included the pool and picnic grounds, apparently the owner sold the property in May 2018 due to declining business and the cost of maintaining the pool. I’m not sure what the new owner plans to do or is doing with the site.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on May 24, 2020 at 8:11 am

Closed in 1986 after a flood. The speakers and speaker poles have been removed and replaced with Picnic shelters.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on June 11, 2023 at 4:29 pm

The Sunset Beach Drive-in opened its gates on May 30, 1948 with Ginger Rogers in “Magnificent Doll” with no extra short subjects. However, what’s unique about the Sunset Beach Drive-In is that one of its original installations is a swimming pool according to the Wheeling News-Register. Unfortunately I cannot find where on earth the pool sits in the theater property.

Kenmore
Kenmore on June 11, 2023 at 4:49 pm

The pool is hiding in plain site. It sits right next to the road. The pool was filled in sometime between 2012 and 2018. If you go to Google Street View and go back to 2012, you’ll see the pool intact and active.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on June 11, 2023 at 5:14 pm

Ah I see, and right next to the pool is the screen still standing in decent condition as of 2023.

kennerado
kennerado on August 1, 2023 at 9:48 am

I find it hilarious that in the latest street view the old marquee still says “closed for the season” despite the pool being filled in and the site is clearly being used for a trucking/construction company. Also directly opposite the marquee on the other side of the road a resident still proudly displays his Trump banner, LOL.

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