Video: Starlite Returns To Carload Pricing

Yesterday afternoon’s Wichita Eagle had good news for drive-in fans there. After a year of selling tickets per person, the Starlite Drive-In Theatre will return to carload pricing during the spring and fall seasons. The Starlite is scheduled to reopen on the first weekend of March.

Owner Chuck Bucinski had switched to selling individual tickets because movie studios wanted it that way. He’ll still be doing that during the summer months, but otherwise it’ll cost $13 per carload for whatever’s showing, though the selection may be affected by the pricing model. “There will be a few studios while on carload pricing we won’t be able to show their movies right when they get released,” Bucinski said.

That’s the whole story, and I’m happy to share it with you. Not only does it give me the opportunity to repeatedly type “carload,” it also includes a very nice little video from the Eagle. It should bring a smile to your face as you wait for full drive-in season to return.

Apr. 20: South Drive-In Theatre, Dodge City KS

It’s Day 110 of my virtual Drive-In-a-Day Odyssey. It took a bit over two hours to drive the US highways from Kanopolis to the South Drive-In Theatre in Dodge City KS.

According to an article in The Legend Magazine, the South was built by Glen Cooper in 1947. “Cooper and his wife, Roma Loi, rode the wave of drive-in popularity near the crest, flying to Hollywood in their private plane to bring movie stars to town, creating elaborate floats for the Boot Hill Fiesta parade, and constantly expanding the menu in the snack bar.”

After Glen Cooper passed away, his son Ron moved to Dodge City to take over the South. At the time of that Legend article, 2011, he was still using a film projector and worrying about converting to digital. “We’d need a rich philanthropist who’s in love with drive-ins, or some kind of grant to do that,” he said.

Local cell phone company United Wireless explains on its web site what happened next. “In 2012, our region was in danger of losing a real treasure in the South Drive-In Theatre, which just happens to be our neighbor on McArtor Road. … So we bought it from the previous owners, made some upgrades for showing films in digital format, and have been having a ball giving our friends and neighbors a great place to have fun on warm evenings.”

The South opened for the 2017 season just last weekend, but at this time of year it only shows movies Fridays through Sundays. That meant another Thursday night without the fun and camaraderie of a shared viewing experience under the stars.

Miles Today / Total:  131 / 11906 (rounded to the nearest mile)

Movie Showing / Total Active Nights: dark / 51

Nearby Restaurant: In Dodge City, home of fabled cattle drives, I needed to find some steak. That’s why I visited Casey’s Cowtown Club, home of the fabled Dodge City Strip. What I got was a big old-fashioned steak dinner with a large slab of grilled perfection with a salad, potato, and rolls. Yum!

Where I Virtually Stayed: Most of the hotels in Dodge City sit along US 50, or as it’s known in town, Wyatt Earp Boulevard. The Best Western Plus Country Inn & Suites is the closest to the South, and it’s one of the best places to stay in town. For one thing, it’s got its own bar, so that’s nice, and the breakfast eggs are cooked to order. In between, my room had a fridge, a microwave, and good wifi.

Only in Dodge City: From the time the railroads carved the US into four time zones, Dodge City has always observed Central time. But the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad drew its time zone line at its Dodge City station, now restored and serving Amtrak passengers. The ATSF built two large sundials on the station grounds, one marked for Mountain time and another just east of it marked for Central.

Next stop: Mesa Drive-In, Pueblo CO.

Apr. 19: Kanopolis Drive In Theatre, Kanopolis KS

It’s Day 109 of my virtual Drive-In-a-Day Odyssey. It took about two hours to drive from Wichita to the Kanopolis Drive In Theatre of Kanopolis KS.

A 2012 Salina Journal article quoted by a commenter at Cinema Treasures said the Kanopolis Drive-In opened in 1952. OnlyInYourState claims that it was built by a “World War II veteran laid off from the salt mines”. Some reports suggest that its original name was the Lakeview, although it’s about 10 miles from Kanopolis Lake.

Whatever its name, the drive-in showed movies to cars in its small lot (about 150 cars) until it closed in 2006. Josh Webb and his family bought the place in late 2011 and reopened it for the 2012 season. “The years are starting to add up, and we didn’t want to see it fall down any more than it was,” he said.

The drive-in is only open weekends this time of year, leaving me with a Wednesday night watching TV in my room. At least I was able to get an early start for the next morning’s drive.

Miles Today / Total:  114 / 11775 (rounded to the nearest mile)

Movie Showing / Total Active Nights: dark / 51

Nearby Restaurant: The place to eat in Kanopolis is Orozco’s Portales Cafe. The tortillas are homemade, and this unassuming place provides an authentic Mexican experience at a reasonable price.

Where I Virtually Stayed: There are no hotels in Kanopolis. I love a good historic hotel, so I drove up old US 40 to the Midland Railroad Hotel in Wilson. I sprang for a jacuzzi room, so I enjoyed a relaxing bath while soaking in history. My room was clean, the wifi worked, and the continental breakfast was all that I needed before another day on the highways of Kansas.

Only in Kanopolis: According to Wikipedia, in 1885 a 17-member group from Ohio purchased 4,740 acres, including recently decommissioned Fort Harker and its buildings, for $71,000. The town’s name came because the group believed it would soon become a “Central Metropolis,” because of its location. Newspaper advertisements proclaimed that Kanopolis was “destined to be the railroad, commercial, and manufacturing capital of Kansas.” The town tripled its population from 1900 to 1940, but never had as many as 1000 residents.

Next stop: South Drive-In Theatre, Dodge City KS.