Sunset Drive-In
1601 E. Church Street,
Aurora,
MO
65605
1601 E. Church Street,
Aurora,
MO
65605
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Related Websites
Sunset Drive-In (Official)
Additional Info
Functions: Movies (First Run)
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
417.678.6609
Nearby Theaters
The Sunset Drive-In opened in April 1951 as a solo screen with a capacity of 200 cars. It was operated by Ralph Hough Jr. In 1966 it was sold to Jesse, Cecil & Clyde Ruble. It is open seasonally April thru September. Since 1977 it has been operated by David L. Marks and in 1979 the original wooden screen was destroyed by a fire. A new steel screen was built in time for the 1980 season and the car capacity has been increased to 325 cars. It plays two first-run features each night. Admission is $8.00 per person with children under 5 free.
Contributed by
Chuck Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
I went to this drive-in on Sunday and it was great. I loved the atmosphere and both movies were good (Invincible and Accepted). Too bad they don’t show R-rated movies. Also, the admission is now $5.00 for both movies but concessions are cheap.
According to David L. Marks of the Sunset Drive-In, they made the conversion to digital projection last year.
According to the Sunset web site, it was first owned and operated by Ralph Hough Sr. and family, then sold in 1966 to Jesse, Cecil and Clyde Ruble. In 1977, David Marks bought the Sunset from the Rubles.
Fire struck the old wooden screen in 1979; it was replaced with a steel screen for the opening of the 1980 season. Over the years the drive-in has enlarged from 200 to 325 cars. The Sunset upgraded to FM sound in 2001.
Variety, March 15, 1950: “Clifford Hough sold his interest in drive-in near Lebanon, Ill. (sic), to his father; he will build an ozoner near Aurora, Mo.” (Hough was described in early 1952 as the owner of the Moonlite Drive-In south of Lebanon MO.)