Sunset Drive-In
2001 N. Grimes Street,
Hobbs,
NM
88240
2001 N. Grimes Street,
Hobbs,
NM
88240
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Looks like Kenmore’s guess was about perfect. Boxoffice, April 27, 1957: “HOBBS, N. M. – Two drive-in theatres – the Tradewind and the Sunset, both on North Grimes between Princess Jeanne drive and Bender boulevard – have been sold to Frontier Theatres. O. O. Knotts, former owner of the two theatres, said the transaction included a modern home occupied by Knotts between the theatres. … Mark J. Cable, city manager for Frontier Theatres, said the two drive-ins would be closed "for the time being.” … Construction on the Sunset was completed in 1954."
A 1957 aerial photo shows a drive-in sitting just on the north side of the Trade Winds drive-in at 2001 N. Grimes Street, Hobbs, NM. You can see the Sky-Vu across the street.
Could this be the Sunset Drive-In? It would make sense since one manager could easily oversee both as they were side-by-side and even appeared to be connected.
More proof of existence: The Jan. 14, 1956 issue of Boxoffice described O. O. Knotts as the guy “who operates the Sunset and Trade Wind drive-in in Hobbs”.
Apparently it was real. An AP story from December 1955 mentioned an armed robbery at the Sunset Drive-In in Hobbs.
The Sunset did not advertise in the local Hobbs Daily News in the summer 1952 or 1960 issues I checked. (Very spotty availability online.)
The Motion Picture Almanac series included the Sunset in its drive-in for its 1957-65 editions. It had a capacity of 600 cars, and its owner was listed as O.O. Knotts.