Starlite Twin Open Air Drive-In
6215 Ocotillo Avenue,
Twentynine Palms,
CA
92277
6215 Ocotillo Avenue,
Twentynine Palms,
CA
92277
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Additional Info
Previous Names: Starlite Open Air Drive-In
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The Starlite Open Air Drive-In, as most references spelled it, opened in March 1956. The Motion Picture Herald reported on March 31, 1956: “Bill and Prudie Underhill have opened a new 450-car drive-in, the Starlight, in Twenty-Nine Palms.”
The Motion Picture Almanac listed the Starlite Open Air Drive-In, capacity 400, owner William Underhill, through its 1966 edition. In 1958 it was twinned, with a larger screen facing east and a smaller one facing north. From January 1, 1973 the Starlite Twin Open Air Drive-In was owned by D. Dunham. Frome September 1978 the owner became J. Shay, who continued to own the Starlite Twin through the final MPA list in 1988.
The Starlite was still included in a 1994 topo map, but a 2005 aerial showed it completely gone, replaced by the Sagewood Apartments.
Contributed by
Michael Kilgore
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“Booking and buying along (Los Angeles) Filmrow were Gladys Underhill, Twentynine Palms and Starlight Drive-In in Twentynine Palms, who reported she has closed her Plaza Theatre.” — Boxoffice, March 21, 1960
An early hint on the Starlite’s second screen came in a County Planning Commission preview in the July 10, 1958 issue of the San Bernardino County Sun: “Final item … is an application by W. J. Underhill for a variance to establish facilities for a second drive-in theater on his 10-acre parcel, in the central Twentynine Palms area, to help take care of extra bookings. The snack bar would be removed from its present location and placed between the new and old theaters to serve both units.”
A 2005 aerial photo shows the Sagewood Apartments in place, so it appears the demolition took place at least a few years before that, probably more.
The only trace of the drive-in remaining is the entrance road on the south side.
Four days earlier, the Twentynine Palms newspaper, the Desert Trail, wrote that Don Dunham would take over the Starlite Twin “on long term lease” from the retiring owners Prudie and Bill Underhill on Jan. 1, 1973.
The Desert Trail, Sept. 28, 1978: “Bill and Prudie Underhill sold their Starlite Twin Drive-In Theatre and roller rink … to Major and Mrs. John Shay … Don Dunham(’s) lease has been cancelled to effect the transaction.”