Utah’s Sunset Drive-In snack bar burns down

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Sunset Drive-In at night

photo by Arbyreed, used by permission

We’ve got sad news from Utah. The Sunset Drive-In in Vernal is closed indefinitely after a major fire Friday night. According to the Deseret News story, Uintah Fire District Chief Jeremy Raymond said it started with a grease fire from the Sunset’s deep-fat fryers. Raymond called the combination box office and concession building “a total loss.”

The Vernal Express fire story, which said it was still under investigation, said that the projection booth and drive-in screen both survived the fire. What neither article addressed is a deeper question: When will the Sunset rebuild and reopen? Or was this the final chapter for this over 60-year-old landmark?

There are a few more details, and you really should read both stories to see the full range of morning-after photos. Let’s hope that the Vernal community rallies around the Sunset and brings it back better than ever.

Reminisce with the past and current owners of the Verne

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Verne_URLThis week, the Worthington (MN) Daily Globe gave us a present of the kind of relaxing, fun drive-in theater article that’s always a pleasure to read. The occasion was a meeting of Walt Deutsch, a guy who owned the Verne Drive-In Theater (Luverne MN) back in 1960s and 70s, and Glenn Burmeister, the guy who owns it today.

There are so many highlights, but I was most struck by a story that sounds a lot like a report we carried about a Russian drive-in that was looking for someone to scare its patrons.

Burmeister said, “During ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,’ (Deutsch) had a chainsaw, took the chain off and would go in back of a car, start it up and come out with the chainsaw.”

“There were five girls in the car and when I ran that they piled out the other side,” Deutsch said.

And then there’s romance. “We have had two wedding proposals here,” Burmeister said. “We have another one coming up. I got an email from a guy and he asked if we would do it. Usually what I do is I’m upstairs and I read it and it goes over the speaker system. The one guy, they were in a pick-up and they stood up and I read it. I asked, ‘What if she says no?’ He says, ‘Then I’m embarrassed in front of a lot of people.’”

And those are just two of the great, fun anecdotes that the Daily Globe article covers. I shouldn’t even have to tell you that you should go read it!

Aut-O-Rama wins business of the year award

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Aut-O-Rama drive-in marquee

photo by Fan of Retail

The Aut-O-Rama Twin Drive-In Theatre has something to celebrate beyond switching to digital projection. This week, it won the North Ridgeville (OH) Chamber of Commerce’s 2013 Business of the Year.

NorthCoastNow.com has the story of the local, family-run business that has found a way to succeed. Brothers Tim and Del Sherman, who are treasurer and vice president, accepted the award. Their mother, Deborah, is the president. Del’s wife handles the concession stand.

“We’ve been around for a long time, and it’s because of our community we stick around,” Del said.

Chamber CEO Dayle Noll praised the Aut-O-Rama’s local involvement and noted that it draws customers into the area. “Certainly with Aut-O-Rama being the only drive-in on the whole West Side of Cleveland and being located in North Ridgeville, they do a great job of bringing people to the city,” Noll said.

For the standard award presentation picture and more info about what the Aut-O-Rama’s been up to lately, go read the article!