Sunset Drive-In
3319 Central Avenue,
Hot Springs,
AR
71913
3319 Central Avenue,
Hot Springs,
AR
71913
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previous Names: Sunset Movie
Nearby Theaters
The Sunset Drive-In was opened in 1950. It looks like this drive-in was closed around 1984 to make way for the expansion of an adjacent car dealership.
Contributed by
Ken McIntyre
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
The owner, Jessie Howe, passed away and the family members who were running it, Tucker and Irene Bowen, were ready to retire.
The Sunset was a landmark for young and old alike. If you lived in Hot Springs, you went to the Sunset.
She also owned the Strand Theater.
I’m not sure how to update the map/image above, but it’s wrong because it’s showing an area near Hot Springs Mall. The Sunset was located directly across Central from K-Mart (now currently Central Station Marketplace) which was/is at 3310 Central Ave. When the land was sold, a Wal-Mart was built but it’s now closed and moved farther south on Central.
PLEASE UPDATE ADDRESS TO 3310 Central Ave.
The address is: 3319 Central Avenue, Hot Springs, AR 71913 3310 is on the wrong side of the street
Description credit Garland County Historical Society.
“The Sunset Drive-in Movie Theater The Sunset was opened by Mrs. Jessie Howe in the 3300 block of Central Avenue in 1950, when Central Ave was a narrow two-lane road and the location was "out of town”
Chuck Cunning (former President of GCHS) described visiting the Sunset in the mid-1960’s: “The whole place breathed excitement: drivers scurrying for the perfect parking spot, quick testing of window speakers, laughing teenagers emerging from car trunks, trips to the concession stand, where several people sat in folding chairs—visiting more than watching, kids shouting as they flew through the night air on swings, young couples moving close. And the air was thick with the aroma of honeysuckle, hamburgers sizzling on the grill, buttered popcorn, citronella oil, Marlboros and contraband beer.”
By 1985 Central was four-lane; the Sunset property was valuable and drive-in theaters were not as popular as they once were. It was sold. Who remembers the Sunset? Did you arrive in the trunk of your friend’s car? Did you ever drive off with a speaker, apologize and turn it in at the concession? Shareable memories?
Photo added: 1955 Hot Springs High School Old Gold Book. Garland County Historical Society archives"
Boxoffice, May 16, 1960: “Sunset Drive-In, Hot Springs, Ark., has been forced to close after the screen tower was destroyed. Mrs. Jesse Howe, owner, is rushing repairs and will reopen shortly”