Starlight Drive-In
3500 College Avenue,
Alton,
IL
3500 College Avenue,
Alton,
IL
1 person
favorited this theater
The Starlight opened in 1950, and originally had space for 400 cars. The original screen tower was huge, and very futuristic-looking for its day, like something out of a 30s Flash Gordon movie set. The drive-in’s name was spelled out in enormous illuminated letters.
In the mid-70s, a second screen was added and parking was increased to 960. (Soon afterward, this was reduced to about 800 when a playground was built under the original screen). The theater was part of the BAC Theaters chain for the majority of its time in operation.
The Starlight closed in 1984, when the property was sold to a developer, and a medical building was built on the site.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
Here is a June 1960 ad from the Alton Evening Telegraph:
http://tinyurl.com/4so665
Released in 1959 but it makes sense that it wouldn’t play at a drive-in until June of 1960.
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
ALTON,ILL.-Rains on April 27 and 28 forced the postponement of the grand opening of the Starlight Drive-In here, owned by the Alton Starlight Corp., in which Joe Goldfarb and Harry Beck of Alton and Charley Goldman of St. Louis are the principal stockholders. New opening date was May 6. It will have accommodations for between 750 and 1,000 cars.
The playground was built long before the second screen was added. At one time, the playground featured a working miniature train that offered rides to children before the show.
Did BAC eventually take over this theater?