Video: Madera Opens For 72nd Season

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KFSN, Fresno CA’s News Leader, ran a nice little video about this season’s reopening of the Madera Drive In Theatre, one of the few drive-ins to survive over 70 years with three distinct names.

The Madera opened as the El Rio Drive-In in 1948. According to the drive-in’s page at Cinema Treasures, it was purchased by the Gran brothers in 1972. Some time between 1964 and 1977, possibly at the time of the sale, the name changed to the Park Vu Drive-In. Eventually, that name changed to the Madera, but when? This 2003 photo shows a Madera Drive-In sign at the ticket booth, but this 2005 photo still shows a faded Park Vu sign.

Somewhere along the way the drive-in also added a second screen. It might have been when the name changed from the Park Vu to the “Madera 2” that was in the 2003 photo.

Except for the original opening year, none of that was mentioned in this little video, featuring employee Dulce Garcia and a table full of snacks. If someone out there has better name-change details or photos, I’d love to hear about it. Meanwhile, enjoy this slice of life in Madera.

West Wyoming PA’s Moonlite May Reopen

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Clean wide drive-in screen in daylight

The restored screen at the Moonlite Drive-In from a July 2018 photo on its Facebook page

After percolating for a couple of years, the Moonlite Drive-In might be ready to turn the lights back on in West Wyoming PA this June. According to The Citizens’ Voice, owner Eric Symeon bought a digital projector from the recently closed Cascade Drive-In in West Chicago IL.

Symeon has been working on this project since early 2017, which I wrote about back then. Last summer, he restored the screen by replacing missing panels and painting it. The Voice article said he’s currently working on the electrical system and fixing the concession stand. And if he’s put down the cash for the projector, that makes his announced date of June sound even more likely.

The Moonlite first opened around 1951, and for almost all of its first life it was listed as being owned by James Rizzo. Some early directories showed it starting with just 100 cars, then growing to 350 or 400, so Rizzo might have added rows to the lot. The Voice article said that the Moonlite has been closed for 32 years, making 1987 the end until now.

It’s always a shame when a perfectly good drive-in dies, but there’s a little hope salvaged when its parts can help revive or expand another drive-in. I hope there’s a happy ending here later this year.

Video: Wichita’s Starlite Improbably Reopens

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This is great news from KSN, Wichita’s News Leader. The Starlite Drive-In Theatre, closed and apparently sold in a questionable turn of events, was rescued at the last minute and celebrated its Grand Opening under new ownership last weekend. And I’ve got more video than I can use, so also check out the following sources.

Blake Smith, who also owns the Admiral Twin Drive-In in Tulsa OK, told KFDI that he was excited to get started. “It got stange last year — and I didn’t even realize — and then everybody went crazy and it kinda got to me, and…it’s funny how things work out.” KFDI also posted a Facebook video of the ribbon cutting.

As KWCH reported, the Starlite already had a cold opening – really cold – on March 1. It wrote that “Smith and his staff have been working to get the south Wichita theater up and running since December.” They also have video of that frosty, happy event. Enjoy!