Starlite Drive-In
3900 S. Hydraulic Street,
Wichita,
KS
67216
3900 S. Hydraulic Street,
Wichita,
KS
67216
2 people
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Related Websites
Starlite Drive-In, Wichita (Official)
Additional Info
Functions: Movies (First Run)
Previous Names: Rainbow Drive-In, Landmark Twin Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
The Rainbow Drive-In opened on October 1, 1953 with Dane Clark in “Fort Defiance”. The single screen theatre had a capacity for 600 cars. It was operated by Mrs. T.H. Slothower. In 1974 it was demolished and rebuilt, reopening as the Landmark Twin Drive-In.
In 1998 it was renamed Starlite Drive-In and has a capacity for 1,300 cars. It closed on October 13, 2018. It reopened for the 2019 season.
Contributed by
Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 13 comments)
Wichita is among a dwindling number of cities which still offers its lucky families the casual, relaxing experience of sharing DOUBLE- and TRIPLE-FEATURE MOVIES under the stars. While economic factors steadily cause other cities' drive-ins to be replaced with new businesses, Wichita families strongly support their last remaining drive-in. Why do they? A one-of-a-kind facility, it is one of the NICEST ones ever built anywhere. (The original owners insisted that it be completely FIRST CLASS.) One parent who often brings her children called it “a nostalgic treasure”. Kids LOVE It! No babysitter needed… bring jammies for the tots.
Wichita’s Starlite Twin is 1 of 5 drive-ins left in Kansas. See Bob Curtwright’s story in the active age, July 2015.
The 1976 IMPA still listed it as the single-screen Rainbow, capacity 500. By 1982, it was updated to the twin-screen Landmark, the name the IMPA kept through its final drive-in list in 1988.
360Wichita.com has a great article with a lot of photos of the 1974 construction work. My favorite is a blurry photo of the old Rainbow marquee holding the message “watch for the happy event / we’re expecting twins”.
Some of this info may have been bouncing around on somebody’s Facebook page the past few days but—Wichita Eagle (KC Star also mirroring on their website) reports today the Starlite is now closed for good. (Page creator can change status to ‘Closed’ perhaps?) Link here
Liquidation auction scheduled for November 13th.
https://www.kansas.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article221082370.html
Opened with “ Fort Defiance”. Renamed Landmark Drive-in in 1974. Second screen opened in 1979. Renamed Starlite Drive-in in 1998.
great news! it’s reopening for the 2019 season!
here is there website
https://starlitefun.com/
more info about the reopening
https://www.kansas.com/entertainment/ent-columns-blogs/keeper-of-the-plans/article222795385.html
Reopened as the Landmark Drive-In on June 21st, 1974 and the 2nd screen opened on August 9th, 1974. Grand opening ad posted.
The Rainbow’s screen and concession stand were demolished entirely to make way for the new and much larger Landmark Twin Drive-in and concessions in 1974. The Rainbow’s single screen was situated just a bit north of where the new concession stand is located today. The theatre was renamed the Starlite in 1998.