Comments about Sundown Drive-In in Tampa, FL

MichaelKilgore on June 17, 2023 at 8:47 pm

The Exhibitor, April 8, 1953: “The Sundown Drive-In, Tampa, Fla., opened, owned by J. B. Shipley, W. T. Robinson, Jr., and B. N. Pooley, Jr.”

Also, as others have noted, many drive-ins throughout history lasted only one abbreviated season. Three that I’ve researched and written about are the Sands (July 31-Oct. 15, 1953) in Needles CA, the Independent (July 31-Oct. 2, 1949) in Cortez CO, and the Fair Park (July 17-Aug. 18, 1948) in Oklahoma City. That last one would be my nominee for shortest life of any drive-in with graded ramps - as opposed to temporary pop-up drive-ins.

rivest266 on October 1, 2017 at 6:51 am

The Sundown Drive did not place any ads in the newspapers until June of 1953.

Mike Rogers on April 19, 2011 at 1:42 pm

Golly, looks like one could be built right back SUNDOWN II ?

Nunzienick on April 12, 2011 at 10:06 pm

Here’s a current aerial of the property as it looks today:
View link

Nunzienick on April 11, 2011 at 5:47 pm

Aerial from 1957. The Sundown had already been closed for 3 years:
View link

Nunzienick on March 31, 2011 at 10:23 am

pcfous: Yes, I’d love to see it….thanks! Send to

pcfousj on March 31, 2011 at 6:34 am

Nick I have a aerial of the sundown if you want it

pcfous

AndyCallahanMajorMajor on February 2, 2011 at 3:28 pm

It’s great now that they added 1969 imagery.

I apologize about my link above. It shows the area just north of the Sky-Vue in South Pasadena. This should show the Sundown.

Nunzienick on February 2, 2011 at 3:19 pm

Thanks for the link Andy! I hadn’t heard of Historic Aerials before. It took me a couple minutes to figure out how to navigate before realizing you need to input address & city. Clicking in the dots at the bottom right of image then brings it into focus. My search for a photo of the Sundown proved fruitless so this is great.

AndyCallahanMajorMajor on January 29, 2011 at 10:02 am

Here is a 1969 view, courtesy of Historic Aerials.

NYozoner on January 29, 2011 at 3:40 am

There was a drive-in near Buffalo, NY, that lasted for only 3 months! The Nite-Way Drive-In opened in August 1948, then closed for the winter by mid October. A January windstorm knocked down the screen, and they never reopened. This drive-in was also notable in that they advertised the availability of AM radio sound, in 1948! Did people even have radios in their cars then?

This website contains more information about the Nite-Way, I’ll check to see if it’s already been added on CT, if not then I will see to it personally.

AndyCallahanMajorMajor on December 3, 2010 at 10:41 am

Nick, you’ll have to do a write-up on the 40th Street drive-in someday. One of those ads mentions the fairly obscure Plant City/Dover drive-in, which gives us some sort of time period.

Mike Rogers on December 2, 2010 at 9:20 pm

Nick,Great stuff.

Nunzienick on December 2, 2010 at 9:07 pm

Oh yes..I remember those ticks..lol! That drive-in was outside of Clover, NC if I remember correctly. But it was worth it just seeing those old rusted projectors still in the booth!

Sundown Drive-In grand opening ad dated March 18, 1953:
View link
The last published ad on August 13, 1954:
View link

Mike Rogers on December 2, 2010 at 12:22 pm

thanks Nick.that is one danger to watch for is Rattlesnakes and Copperheads.However,you know me i venture on.I do recall you getting Ticks on you one time exploring an old Drive-in in North Carolina.

AndyCallahanMajorMajor on December 2, 2010 at 8:23 am

Great write-up, Nick. This was one of the theaters I’d been wondering about. I guess the location plus the nearby Hillsboro really did this one in.

TLSLOEWS on December 2, 2010 at 8:21 am

Thanks for this posting Nick.

Sundown Drive-In

5400 West Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa, FL 33614

5400 West Hillsborough Avenue,
Tampa, FL 33614