Sunset Drive-In

255 Elks Lane,
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

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Showing 9 comments

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on October 13, 2018 at 1:22 am

Opened in 1950.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on March 18, 2010 at 9:05 pm

Here is a 2008 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/yecmyk5

Silicon Sam
Silicon Sam on December 1, 2009 at 11:11 pm

Excellent video on the Sunset Drive In:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKX8Negb1VE

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on April 15, 2009 at 1:27 am

From the March 18, 1950, issue of Boxoffice Magazine: “Also set to open in April is the Sunset in San Luis Obispo, a 500-car drive-in owned by Don McClaren and Charles Pasquini. McClaren, a former branch manager for J.P. Filbert Co. here, served as his own architect.”

J.P. Filbert Co. was a theater supply outfit in Los Angeles.

Alison
Alison on July 23, 2008 at 10:23 pm

I grew up going to the Sunset Drive-in in the 60’s and 70’s and took my kids there often in the 80’s. I’ve since moved to the East Coast but am coming home for a family reunion. I’m looking forward to taking my grand-children to see a movie there! What a hoot!

bojeta
bojeta on July 18, 2006 at 12:17 am

Glad to hear one of the good guys is running the Sunset. Being a Poly grad, and living just down the road in Santa Maria, I’m gonna make it a point to head up to SLO and see a flic at the Sunset. I’ll take my `47 Plymouth!

I feel really lucky to live close to two of the few remaining drive-ins in CA. There used to be two running at once here in Santa Maria, but the Park Aire Drive-In closed down in the early `90’s to make room for yet another housing development.

GaryParks
GaryParks on August 3, 2004 at 3:09 pm

I’ve passed by this drive-in along Highway 101 for decades. I noticed not long ago that the red neon SUNSET sign tower sign is much better maintained these days. The fact that it’s run by a drive-in buff explains this. I have gone off the highway to find the entrance and marquee sign. There’s nice neon on it as well, and is worth a look.

MagicLantern
MagicLantern on August 2, 2004 at 4:01 pm

Wow! “Friday that 13th” in a drive-in – that must’ve been great! Drove past it the other evening but you couldn’t catch a glimpse of what was playing from the freeway.

scottfavareille
scottfavareille on August 2, 2004 at 2:58 pm

This drive-in is owned by a drive-in buff! Originally opened in 1951, a great drive-in. I regularly went there in the late 1970’s-early 1980’s when I lived in the area. Also has Sunday swap meets. Amongst the films I saw there: Friday the 13th, Road Games, Grand Theft Auto/Eat My Dust