Starlite Drive-In
8011 N. Highway 145,
Menomonee Falls,
WI
53051
8011 N. Highway 145,
Menomonee Falls,
WI
53051
5 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Marcus Theatres
Previous Names: Starlite Outdoor Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Starlite Drive-In (also known as the Starlite Outdoor Theatre) opened on September 1, 1955 and was fairly good-sized, with room for around 1,100 cars. The Starlite Drive-In later added a second screen at the back of the property, and operated as a year-round theatre until the early-1970’s. It originally offered in-car heaters during the winter. In its last years in operation, it was part of the Marcus chain. The Starlite Drive-In was closed in 1994, while still very popular, and demolished a year or so later.
Contributed by
Bryan
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Recent comments (view all 15 comments)
Didn’t the sign say “The cleanest bathrooms in the world” and the bathrooms were so disgusting I held in my urines all night. Luckily I didn’t have to do a #2.
Any comments or questions regarding any drive-in theater in Wisconsin, please check out my website at
www.drive-inthruwisconsin.com There you will find photos, original newspaper ads and a whole lot more. Or contact me at I will give you complete and accurate information about Wisconsin drive-in theaters, just ask. Thanks, Charles Bruss
I just happen to have salvaged one of the entrance neon signs, it takes up 26 feet of wall space in my rec-room. I was also able to snag a couple of speaker poles out of the woods. I grew up in the shadow of this outdoor theater, and spent many nights parked in those gravel rows. This was opened by Marcus Corporation, their grand gala opening was September 2nd. 1955. I sure do miss the old girl, but I was lucky to obtain some memorabilia. The favorite thing of most vistors that come over to view my Mini Museum of Wisconsin memories seems to be that old Drive In Theater sign.
In January, 2010 ground was broken to construct a big box store on these hallowed grounds. I would have liked to walked the old movie-moguls before the ground was leveled, but I showed up too late last week. The Starlite’s main lot will become the parking lot, as the new building is standing on the northwest corner of the property.
My greatest memory is seeing “It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World” summer of 1964 with my dad, sister and her girlfriend. I got the front seat of our white and red Dodge wagon, which I’ll never forget!
Huge two page ad from September 1st, 1955 at View link
Lots of memories here as a child! I remember I had my 1st Cherry Coke in a plastic bottle when it first came out! Seen Terminator and ET here and many other movies! I always remembered driving by at night when it was all lit up! Well it was opened when me and my family moved away to Tn back in 93" and here in the Tri Cities we have 4 drive in movie theaters all with in a 30 min drive or closer! But now I get the joy of providing my own family memories with my children & they love the drive in as I do to! I just hope the drive in theater never dies because its a memory that’s a lot stronger then a regular movie theater! I’m 34 now and last weekened watched The Avengers and MIB 3 and our local drive ins stay pretty packed here in East Tn! But it still is not the Starlight and never will be!
Uploaded film scans from 1992(closed) and 1995(demolition). Last film I saw there was Escape From Alcatraz in 1979. The biggest problem with seeing movies at the Starlite was the light pollution from US 45, which I’m sure wasn’t an issue when it was built. It tended to wash out the screen, especially the back one. As AJD did I was able to salvage the neon “W” from the “Welcome” sign, but it was so thin and brittle that it eventually cracked. I still have the “S” from “CLOSED” on the entrance sign.
1100 cars.
Opened on 1/9/1955.
Subcarrier where are these uploads located? :)