Sunset Drive-In
5776 Shinnston Pike,
Meadowbrook,
WV
26404
5776 Shinnston Pike,
Meadowbrook,
WV
26404
2 people
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The Sunset was open in 2020 and 2021, but its last movie update on Facebook was for the first weekend in August 2021. Its web site also has no movie updates, and when I tried to call the phone number, it just rang. I hope the Sunset opens some time in 2022, but I’m starting to consider it closed.
Boxoffice, Nov. 3, 1958: “Meadowbrook, W. Va. - After a series of explorations, water has been found on the Sunset Drive-In property, according to owner John Ellis. Former owners Alex Silay and Steve Medve jr. gave up in their search for water at the ozoner and sold out several years ago.”
In 2012, The Exponent Telegram wrote, “During the past 65 years, (then-manager John) Ellis only knows of one season the Sunset Drive-In wasn’t open.
“Ellis and his wife Norma have been running the Sunset for the past 12 years, helping his older brother Anthony Ellis, who owns both the drive-in and the neighboring Sunset Ellis Restaurant.
“For the 25 years prior to that, Ellis’ brother leased the Sunset Drive-In to Jim Henderson, owner of the Grafton Drive-In, before Ellis and his wife took over.”
That explains the Henderson listing, but now I’m stuck wondering what year the Sunset was closed.
The West Virginia Historic Theatre Trail wrote, “The Sunset Drive-in Theater opened in 1947 … making it the oldest operational drive-in theater in West Virginia. It has been owned by the Ellis family since 1955, along with the adjacent Sunset Ellis Restaurant, which shares its roadside marquee. (Prior to that time, the Ellises had owned another combination drive-in theater and restaurant operation, the Ellis Drive-in, in nearby Bridgeport; it no longer exists.)
When I clicked on Kenmore’s map link today, Google said the address is 2643 Horners Run Rd, Shinnston, WV 26431. Wikipedia says that Meadowbrook is an unincorporated area, yet that’s where my reference books site it 70 years ago. Confusing!
The Sunset was one of just 748 drive-ins in the first Theatre Catalog list in the 1948-49 edition, owned by Alex Silay and Steve Medve, Jr., capacity 400. In 1952, it was Alex Silay and Gray Barker. The 1955-56 edition lists it owned by Ellis Bros. and Joe Feeney.
The 1952-54 editions of the Motion Picture Almanac had the Sunset owned by A. Silay, capacity 400. The 1955-59 editions listed the owners as Silay & Medve. In 1961-66, it was Ellis Bros.
The 1978 MPA bumped the capacity to 500 and changed the owner to A.J. Ellis. Other owner listings: 1980-82: M. Deangelis. 1984: De Angelis. 1986-88: J. Henderson.
There’s a very nice 70th Anniversary video on YouTube.
The address is 5776 Shinnston Pike, Meadowbrook, WV 26404. https://goo.gl/maps/K6wLT
Also, the photo in the picture above is the Sunset Drive Inn.
Rice’s Drive Inn and Sunset Drive Inn are two different properties, and they were/are owned/operated by two different families. Although only about 4 miles apart, Rice’s closed in the late 50’s. The Sunset is still open and operated by the Ellis family.
The Sunset Drive-In has made the conversion to digital projection.
The drive-in is located here — not far from Jewel City Blvd.
I checked there website and it does not list a street address. I checked on Facebook and PM a message asking.
Approx. location for this drive-in is about 3 blocks south of U.S. 19 & Jewel City Blvd. in Northern, WV 26404.
A more interesting photo of the screen tower:
View link
The drive in does not have a website, but there is a good picture of screen at:
http://i_love_drive_ins.tripod.com/id17.html
Wow,i would love to see pictures!Do they have a website?I just moved out of a screen tower apartment.The Mustang in London Ontario which used to be called the Sunset.