Sandhills Drive-In

279 S. Thatcher Street,
Valentine, NE 69201

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Additional Info

Previous Names: Star Theatre, Valentine Drive-In

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Sandhills Drive-In

This drive-in opened on August 11, 1951 as the Star Theatre. It was a 16mm operation and the opening movie was “Pennies From Heaven” starring Bing Crosby. In 1952 it was equipped with 35mm projectors and was renamed Valentine Drive-In on August 28, 1952, opening with Randolph Scott in “Colt 45”. It was initially owned by Mr. Roy Metger followed by Mr. Robert Sharp and finally by Mr. A.D. Coble.

The name was changed to the Sandhills Drive-In on July 17, 1964. Car capacity was 275 cars. The drive-in was still listed as open in the mid-1970’s.

Contributed by Chris1982

Recent comments (view all 6 comments)

Kenmore
Kenmore on November 14, 2014 at 8:27 pm

The Drive-In was located at roughly 201 S. Thatcher Street, Valentine, NE https://goo.gl/maps/QHxHB

There is no trace of the drive-in left.

Kenmore
Kenmore on December 19, 2016 at 7:04 am

When mapping the address supplied by JWMovies, it is considerably off as it points to an empty field east of the airport.

A 1993 aerial and 1984 topo map clearly shows the drive-in on the West side of town. The entrance was at 279 S Thatcher St, Valentine, NE 69201. Valentine Locker sits too far west, one block over from the drive-in location

Today, a business sits on the property with no trace of the drive-in remaining save arguably for the entrance/exit road on Thatcher Street. http://tinyurl.com/zfngoqd

Kenmore
Kenmore on December 19, 2016 at 10:29 am

I found that 201 S. Thatcher Street was too far north. 279 seemed to hit the entrance road dead-on.

Of course, things change on Google frequently, so perhaps 201 will be good again someday.

Drive-In 54
Drive-In 54 on December 19, 2016 at 11:06 am

This is why sometimes using cross streets is the best way to locate a DI.

Kenmore
Kenmore on December 19, 2016 at 5:39 pm

Sometimes, I agree. But when the address does work that to me is better.

I’ve noticed that every couple of years there are changes to Google Maps or sometimes the street names change or new streets are added. So, when someone steps in to make the changes on this site I accept it and applaud their efforts to make it more accurate.

As long as the results are more accurate of course. ;)

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on August 30, 2022 at 8:23 pm

Glen Belendes launched the Star Theatre a mile west of Valentine, Nebraska, on August 11, 1951 with Bing Crosby in “Pennies from Heaven” supported by a Woody Woodpecker cartoon and another short subject using 16mm projection. Improvements under new operators in 1952 led to the booth getting 35mm projection and a new name as the Valentine Drive-In Theatre. It relaunched with that name on August 28, 1952 with Randolph Scott in “Colt .45.” In 1964, new operator Harmon “Bill” Grunke too over the venue and renamed it as the Sandhills Drive-In on July 17, 1964 with “13 Frightened Girls” and “Reprisal.”

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