Starlight Drive-In
3500 College Avenue,
Alton,
IL
62002
3500 College Avenue,
Alton,
IL
62002
2 people
favorited this theater
The Starlight Drive-In opened May 6, 1950, and originally had space for 400 cars. The original screen tower was huge, and very futuristic-looking for its day, like something out of a 1930’s Flash Gordon movie set. The drive-in’s name was spelled out in enormous illuminated letters. In August 1952 it was taken over by the Bloomer Amusement Company (BAC Theatres).
In the mid-1970’s, a second screen was added and parking was increased to 960. (Soon afterward, this was reduced to about 800 when a playground was built under the original screen).
The Starlight Drive-In closed October 14, 1984, when the property was sold to a developer, and a medical building was built on the site.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Here is a June 1960 ad from the Alton Evening Telegraph:
http://tinyurl.com/4so665
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
ALTON,ILL.-Rains on April 27 and 28 forced the postponement of the grand opening of the Starlight Drive-In here, owned by the Alton Starlight Corp., in which Joe Goldfarb and Harry Beck of Alton and Charley Goldman of St. Louis are the principal stockholders. New opening date was May 6. It will have accommodations for between 750 and 1,000 cars.
The playground was built long before the second screen was added. At one time, the playground featured a working miniature train that offered rides to children before the show.
Did BAC eventually take over this theater?
Yeah they ran merely all the drive ins in the 70s and 80s (except for the Shop City and the Falcon)
*In the metro east area
Opened May 6, 1950. Closed October 14, 1984. Bloomer took over in April, 1952.
Motion Picture Herald, Aug. 30, 1952: “The Bloomer Amusement Co., of Belleville, Ill., has purchased the Starlight drive-in east of Upper Alton, Ill. The sale was completed by Joe Goldfarb and Harry Beck of Alton, Ill.”
Opened with Robert Young in “Sitting Pretty” along with two cartoons: “The Magic Flute” (which I forgot where it came from), and Mighty Mouse in “The Catnip Gang”. It actually opened on May 5, 1950 according to its page.