Sunset Beach Drive-In
4164 U.S. 40,
Claysville,
PA
15323
4164 U.S. 40,
Claysville,
PA
15323
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The Sunset Beach Drive-In was located in Claysville, seven miles west of Washington, PA. and was opened on May 30, 1948 with Ginger Rogers in “Magnificent Doll”. In 1955 it was operated by C.M. Ducray and Stern-Hanna Theatre Services. It later ran mainly X rated fare such as this classic double feature,"A Clockwork Blue" and "Weekend Lovers". It was closed in 1986 following flooding.
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MikeRogers
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
Approx. address for the Sunset/Sunset Beach drive-in was Claysville, PA 15323, behind the Buffalo Swimming Pool.
Believe it or not, the screen is still up!
What’s fascinating is the community pool in front of a drive-in playing porn!
Film Daily Yearbook and International Motion Picture Almanac both refer to this location as Sunset Beach Drive-In.
Even though it doesn’t map correctly, a better address for this theater would be 4169 U.S. 40, Claysville PA 15323. This is next to the pool.
Please update.
Not only is the screen still up as of a June 2018 street view, but the ticket booths and marquee are both still there as well. It would also appear that the projection booth/concession stand were repurposed. So the whole thing is pretty much intact, just the small problem of houses/other buildings in the way….
This drive-in was part of a complex called Sunset Beach Park which included the pool and picnic grounds, apparently the owner sold the property in May 2018 due to declining business and the cost of maintaining the pool. I’m not sure what the new owner plans to do or is doing with the site.
Closed in 1986 after a flood. The speakers and speaker poles have been removed and replaced with Picnic shelters.
The Sunset Beach Drive-in opened its gates on May 30, 1948 with Ginger Rogers in “Magnificent Doll” with no extra short subjects. However, what’s unique about the Sunset Beach Drive-In is that one of its original installations is a swimming pool according to the Wheeling News-Register. Unfortunately I cannot find where on earth the pool sits in the theater property.
The pool is hiding in plain site. It sits right next to the road. The pool was filled in sometime between 2012 and 2018. If you go to Google Street View and go back to 2012, you’ll see the pool intact and active.
Ah I see, and right next to the pool is the screen still standing in decent condition as of 2023.
I find it hilarious that in the latest street view the old marquee still says “closed for the season” despite the pool being filled in and the site is clearly being used for a trucking/construction company. Also directly opposite the marquee on the other side of the road a resident still proudly displays his Trump banner, LOL.