Moonlite Drive-In
Missouri J and Co Road 406,
Hayti,
MO
63851
Missouri J and Co Road 406,
Hayti,
MO
63851
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Sorry! It was the Moonlite (not Moonlight). My error.
Based on the aerial provided by NeonMichael, a close address is Missouri J & Co Rd 406, Hayti Township, MO. The drive-in was about a quarter-mile north of the intersection on the west side of what is now Missouri J.
By 1969, the drive-in was demolished. The 1969 aerial does show what might be the projection booth/concession stand intact, but it was totally gone by 1980.
Today, there are a couple of buildings and a private residence on the property. There is no trace of the drive-in remaining.
https://tinyurl.com/y3dm274m
Based on a 1952 USGS aerial, the then-61 was about a mile and a quarter south of Hayti on US 61, now Missouri J, the outer road west of I-55. Google Street View in October 2016 showed a couple of unrelated, undermaintained small buildings by the road there now.
If there was a drive-in along HWY 61 in or near Hayti, it must’ve been totally demolished and unrecognizable by 1969. Any information about its possible location would be helpful.
From the May 7, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
Gene Boggs, who operates the Joy and Missouri theatres in Hayti, Mo., has changed the name of his drive-in from the “61” to “Moonlight.”
Launched at the 61 Drive-In Theatre on June 10, 1949 by John Mohrstadt who also created an amusement park with mini-train there.
For the 1955 to 1958 seasons, the theatre was renamed the Moonlight Drive-In Theatre. The theatre was purchased with the two indoor theaters as a group and does not have appeared to re-opened after the 1958 season.