Starlite Drive-In
715 Flack Avenue,
Alliance,
NE
69301
715 Flack Avenue,
Alliance,
NE
69301
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The Star Lite Drive-In Theatre launched September 14, 1949 with Glenn Ford in “The Return of October” supported by a cartton and short subjects. At the opening pf the 1950 season, the venue advertised as the Starlite Drive-in. In 1955, the original screen tower was widened to present CinemaScope films. Sunday sermons were a feature at the ozoner. The Starlite closed for the season a final time on August 30, 1976 with Burt Reynolds in “The Longest Yard.” Rumors of a 1977 season opener didn’t transpire.
Boxoffice, Feb. 13, 1967: “Burdette Fitch has sold the Starlite Drive-In at Alliance, Neb., to Paul Cory of Riverton, Wyo.”
Boxoffice, April 21, 1969: “Ernest Schweigerdt has taken over the Starlite Drive-In, Alliance, Neb., from former owner Paul Cory.”
More spellings from the Showmen’s Trade Journal of Oct. 1, 1949, take your pick. On one page: “A 350-car, $75,000 drive-in has been opened at Alliance, Neb., by Charles Britton, Jr., Arthur Dobson and Fitch Burdette, using Brenkert booth equipment and RCA car speakers, bought through Western Service and Supply.”
On another page, same issue, under New Theatres: “Omaha — Charles H. Brittan, Jr., Park Dobson, Jr., and Burdett Fisher, a 300-car drive-in north of Alliance, Neb.”
We’ve got an opening date for the Starlite, Sept. 14, 1949.
The Sept. 3, 1949 issue of BoxOffice wrote that it was being built “on Route 19 north of Chimney Town by Charles H. Brittan jr., Park Dobson jr., and Burdett Fitch.” and was to be known as the Starlight.
And that must have been what happened, since the May 27, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported:
ALLIANCE, NEB. – The Starlite Drive-In has been opened here by Managers Park Dobson, Burdette Fitch and Charlie Brittan. The ozoner was built last summer and was open from September 14 until early December.
This was my Grandpa Fitch’s drive in theater!It’s to bad I never got to see it. My grandpa died when I was very young and I barely remember the stories told of the drive-in. I can remember my mom saying she had to sometimes sleep in the back seat of their Buick LoL. Thanks for sharing! I just stumbled on this site and was very suprised to see this! (:
thanks,Chuck.
thanks,Chuck.