Star-Lite Drive-In
8327 S. Tacoma Way,
Lakewood,
WA
98499
8327 S. Tacoma Way,
Lakewood,
WA
98499
2 people
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I belonged to the Seattle IATSE Union Local 154 but worked this drive in for a weekend in 1992 as an emergency fill in Projectionist even it was in the Tacoma IA local’s jurisdiction. The regular projectionist was in the hospital and the Tacoma local didn’t have anyone to cover the job. That weekend would have been the last time I ever worked at a drive in.
Now Young’s Auto (think O'Reilly’s!) @ 8327 S Tacoma Way, Lakewood, WA 98499. Not Tacoma!
Please update.
Currently an Amazon warehouse. Thanks, Jeff Bozos.
Grand opening ad:
Star-Lite Drive-In opening 26 May 1948, Wed The News Tribune (Tacoma, Washington) Newspapers.com
Good bye star-lite
The News Tribune of Tacoma published a short video yesterday of a crew preparing to demolish the Star-Lite screen tower to make way for a distribution center.
1000 cars.
Any idea as to when the wider screen was added? The original, which is still partially visible behind the existing screen, appears to be curved rather than flat.
My husband and I met at the Star Lite Drive-In. He worked the field as a bouncer, I worked as a cashier both in the booth and the snack bar. We worked for Al and Joanie Larpentuer back in 1970. Those were fun times. We don’t have pictures, just lots of memories. We married in 1971 and continued to work there until our family started. Today we have taken a room in our home and named it the Star-Lite Theatre. Theatre seats from 6Ave. theatre which we recovered and black and maroon drapes which I made. This doesn’t sound much like the Star Lite Drive In but it is a lot warmer. And you can pause for the cause without missing any of the film. Thanks for the pictures, now I have something to hang up that is a part of the history of the “STAR LITE DRIVE IN”
ABOVE ADDRESS IS INCORRECT. THE ADDRESS IS 8327 South Tacoma Way.
DRIVE-IN STATUS SHOULD BE CLOSED. THIS IS JUST A SWAP MEET. IT DOES NOT PLAY MOVIES.
Thanks for the pictures, I have it being owned by William Forman.he owned Several drive-ins in this state and it parked 550 cars.
About a month ago, Channel 7 (KIRO-tv) did a news story about the City of Tacoma shutting down the swap meet for a while. Seems the business owners had no business license to operate a swap meet. Also sellers are required to buy an individual swap meet license too!
great find! the hyperlink won’t work as typed due to the ending comma which needs to be removed. Here is the corrected link:
http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images/
There are great photos to look at if you go to http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images/, and then type Star-Lite in the search line.
nice photos here:
http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/watstar