Star Vu Drive-In

201 Iron Creek Road,
Panora, IA 50216

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50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on June 24, 2026 at 10:54 am

The Star Vu closed after the 1976 season. Margaret Gibson (also a retired postal worker), its operator for its entire life, did something unusual to the traces. In May 1977, she planted soybeans from all over the parking property. Her soybeans at the drive-in traces also made national headlines.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on March 14, 2026 at 7:44 am

A 1979 aerial view shows the drive-in already disappearing, with no screen and faded traces, but the foundations of the concession building still visible. It was already wiped by 1983.

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on June 9, 2019 at 5:26 pm

A few more details emerged a month later in the July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:

PANORA, IOWA – Dorothy Kean and Mrs. Margaret Gibson have opened the new Star-Vue Drive-In here with a car capacity of 250. The ozoner is equipped with Century sound purchased from the Des Moines Theatre Supply Co.

Willis Warner and Otis Hesket constructed the ozoner and concessions stand. The drive-in is equipped with a horseshoe pit for use in daylight hours.