Star-Lite Drive-In

8327 S. Tacoma Way,
Lakewood, WA 98499

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Seattleprojectionist
Seattleprojectionist on July 16, 2023 at 4:44 pm

I belonged to the Seattle IATSE Union Local 154 but worked this drive in for a weekend in 1992 as an emergency fill in Projectionist even it was in the Tacoma IA local’s jurisdiction. The regular projectionist was in the hospital and the Tacoma local didn’t have anyone to cover the job. That weekend would have been the last time I ever worked at a drive in.

Jamey_monroe45
Jamey_monroe45 on July 15, 2023 at 5:59 am

Now Young’s Auto (think O'Reilly’s!) @ 8327 S Tacoma Way, Lakewood, WA 98499. Not Tacoma!

Please update.

Jake Bottero
Jake Bottero on January 30, 2022 at 2:04 am

Currently an Amazon warehouse. Thanks, Jeff Bozos.

rivest266
rivest266 on July 11, 2021 at 8:23 pm

Grand opening ad: Star-Lite Drive-In openingStar-Lite Drive-In opening 26 May 1948, Wed The News Tribune (Tacoma, Washington) Newspapers.com

ScarlettandRhett
ScarlettandRhett on July 8, 2019 at 8:54 pm

Good bye star-lite

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on June 20, 2019 at 5:19 pm

The News Tribune of Tacoma published a short video yesterday of a crew preparing to demolish the Star-Lite screen tower to make way for a distribution center.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on November 3, 2018 at 10:11 am

1000 cars.

JackCoursey
JackCoursey on July 12, 2015 at 10:58 pm

Any idea as to when the wider screen was added? The original, which is still partially visible behind the existing screen, appears to be curved rather than flat.

StarBright
StarBright on May 11, 2015 at 8:36 pm

My husband and I met at the Star Lite Drive-In. He worked the field as a bouncer, I worked as a cashier both in the booth and the snack bar. We worked for Al and Joanie Larpentuer back in 1970. Those were fun times. We don’t have pictures, just lots of memories. We married in 1971 and continued to work there until our family started. Today we have taken a room in our home and named it the Star-Lite Theatre. Theatre seats from 6Ave. theatre which we recovered and black and maroon drapes which I made. This doesn’t sound much like the Star Lite Drive In but it is a lot warmer. And you can pause for the cause without missing any of the film. Thanks for the pictures, now I have something to hang up that is a part of the history of the “STAR LITE DRIVE IN”

jwmovies
jwmovies on December 5, 2012 at 9:20 pm

  1. ABOVE ADDRESS IS INCORRECT. THE ADDRESS IS 8327 South Tacoma Way.

  2. DRIVE-IN STATUS SHOULD BE CLOSED. THIS IS JUST A SWAP MEET. IT DOES NOT PLAY MOVIES.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on April 2, 2011 at 8:55 pm

Thanks for the pictures, I have it being owned by William Forman.he owned Several drive-ins in this state and it parked 550 cars.

KenLayton
KenLayton on September 6, 2005 at 1:08 pm

About a month ago, Channel 7 (KIRO-tv) did a news story about the City of Tacoma shutting down the swap meet for a while. Seems the business owners had no business license to operate a swap meet. Also sellers are required to buy an individual swap meet license too!

teecee
teecee on May 3, 2005 at 9:00 pm

great find! the hyperlink won’t work as typed due to the ending comma which needs to be removed. Here is the corrected link:

http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images/

kateymac01
kateymac01 on May 3, 2005 at 8:18 pm

There are great photos to look at if you go to http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/images/, and then type Star-Lite in the search line.

teecee
teecee on May 3, 2005 at 3:37 pm

nice photos here:
http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/watstar