Starlighter Drive-In
1712 N. Riverside Drive,
Espanola,
NM
87532
1712 N. Riverside Drive,
Espanola,
NM
87532
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The side of the ramps still remain please update
The best address for the former Chico / Starlighter on Google Maps today is 1712 N Riverside Dr, where a tire store sits on the former drive-in’s entrance road.
The Santa Fe New Mexican wrote that the Trans-Lux theater folks bought the Starlighter in 1989, but it wasn’t as successful as Santa Fe’s Yucca, which Trans-Lux also owned at the time. Nevertheless, the Starlighter stayed open until at least Sept. 9, 1994, when it showed “Wagons East” with “Clear and Present Danger”.
Trans-Lux sold the Starlighter to a housing developer in early 1995, and the screen was taken down in April that year.
Santa Fe New Mexican, April 22, 1962: “‘Starlighter’ is the new name for the Espanola Drive-In Theater, formerly known as the Chico, however, it is still operated by the Dollison Theatre chain which has headquarters in Santa Fe.”
How many times did Fidel sell this drive-in?
Boxoffice, Aug. 21, 1954: “Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Mills have bought the El Capitan and the El Rio, along with the Chico Drive-In, Espanola, N. M., from the Fidel Theatres, Inc.”
Boxoffice, April 6, 1957: “Lester Dollison has bought the Chico Drive-In and the El Rio in Espanola, N. M., from the El Fidel Theatres”
Boxoffice, April 29, 1950: “Fidel Theatres has opened its new 475-car $75,000 drive-in at Espanola, N. M. Brenkert projectors and RCA sound and in-car speakers were purchased from Western Service & Supply.”
Sixty seconds with Google brought me to this page with a thorough rundown of average snowfall amounts for towns in New Mexico. Nearby Santa Fe averages almost two feet and even Carlsbad averages a couple of inches.
Is snow unusual in New Mexico?
Based on its Grand Opening ad, the Chico opened April 28, 1950 with Vincent Price starring in The Baron of Arizona.
I would say that April 1959 mention was probably a season opener, and this is the same drive-in as the Chico, based on the following.
Motion Picture Almanac drive-in list mentions for Espanola:
There is a listing fora Chico Drive-In for Espanola in the FDY of 1956. Was that a different theatre or is the 04/28/59 opening date incorrect?
Aerial View
Approx. address for this drive-in was 1720 North Riverside Drive. Some parts of the ramps are still visible just north of the housing tract to the west of this location.
From 1992 a view of the Starlighter sign and marquee along with the the sign and front of the screen.