Sunset Drive-In
2601 Kings Highway,
Paragould,
AR
72450
2601 Kings Highway,
Paragould,
AR
72450
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The Sunset Drive-In was opened in October 1949 and was operated by Orris F. Collins. He was still operating it in the 1960’s.
Contributed by
Ken McIntyre
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Please update address to:
2415 Kings Hwy
Paragould, AR 72450
It was scheduled to open on Oct. 15, 1949, based on this article from BoxOffice the following week:
PARAGOULD, ARK. – Construction has started on one of the largest and most unusual drive-in theatres and entertainment centers in Arkansas.
It is the new 516-car drive-in being built by Orris Collins, who operates the Majestic and Paragould theatres here, on Highway 25 South, three-quarters of a mile from Paragould.
Completion date has been set for October 15. John A. Collins, father of Orris Collins, who formerly operated a circuit of theatres in Arkansas, has come out of retirement after ten years to supervise construction of the new theatre.
The elder Collins said “it took something unusual to bring me out of retirement and this is it.”
There are 17 acres in the section under development.
There will be a swimming pool which can be entered from the street by those who just want to swim or by theatre patrons from inside if they want a dip before or after the picture or even while it is going on. There is a miniature golf course in the rear which will be operated as the swimming pool – with entrances from the highway or from the interior of the drive-in.
There will be a playground with a miniature electric train which carries 25 youngsters on a choo-choo ride at the same time. Seats in the playground area will provide a place for parents who want to be near their children while they play and at the same time not miss the picture.
Atop the screen tower there will be a searchlight, revolving, to attract attention to the location.
A 12-foot tower light will be over the box-office. A 17-foot double face attraction board will be out front. A water tower, lighted with colored lights, will be an out-front attraction. All-tile rest rooms are part of the tower building construction.
The Sunset launched June 28, 1950 with “The Flaming Arrow” on a soft launch with the public opening the next night
A better address is 2601 W Kingshighway, Paragould, AR.
Google Maps has updated their addresses. This puts it right where the entrance/exit roads use to be. All traces of the drive-in were removed by 1994.
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