Sunset Drive-In
555 Israel Road SW,
Tumwater,
WA
98501
555 Israel Road SW,
Tumwater,
WA
98501
3 people
favorited this theater
The Sunset Drive-In operated from September 2, 1949 when it opened with Loretta Young in “Mother is a Freshman” & Randolph Scott in “Canadian Pacific”. It was closed at the end of the 1986 season. It used it’s original Brenkert BX-80 projectors and RCA sound system throughout it’s life.
The screen was a wooden structure using telephone poles for basic support. The picture area was 40 feet high by 94 feet wide. It had asbestos tiles for the picture area.
The theater was demolished in 1987 and was replaced with Tumwater City Hall which now occupies the site. The original driveway of the theater now takes you to the Timberland Regional Library next door to the City Hall.
Contributed by
Ken Layton
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Recent comments (view all 13 comments)
The Point Tavern, which at one time hosted the theater marquee on top of it’s building, has been torn down and replaced with a brand new 7-11 store.
I have now added the hand drawn map of the property I made.
Opened with “Mother is a freshman” and “Canadian Pacific”.
I have added several photos from the Joe Basil collection. Joe managed the Sunset from about 1952-54 for United Drive-Ins, of which his father, A. G. Basil, of Raymond, WA was a partner. I was a ten year old kid at the time and spent many happy times at the Sunset, including a trip to the top of the screen on one occasion! Joe passed away in 2013 and I ended up with the old Sunset negatives. Finally got around to scanning them and finding this site to post them. I am delighted to have a place to share them after so many years have passed by.
Thanks for posting those pictures. They are so crystal clear. Do you have any more? I spent ten years working there before it closed.
grand opening ad:
Sunset Drive-In opening 02 Sep 1949, Fri The Olympian (Olympia, Washington) Newspapers.com
I’m putting together a pop-up display about Sunset Drive-in for the City of Tumwater’s “Screen on the Green” event in July. Could I have permission to use some of the photos you’ve posted for my display?
Joe Bob Briggs, Dec. 11, 1985: “Communist Alert! There’s not much time left to save the Sunset Drive-In in Tumwater, Wash., where the city is holding meetings to try and confiscate the land for a new City Hall. Same old story - somebody sees a beautiful drive-in and the COVET it for alien uses."
Adding a couple of names. Boxoffice, Sept. 14, 1949: “A. L. Berg and F. S. Miller opened their new Sunset Drive-In near Tumwater September 1”
Boxoffice, Oct. 1, 1949: “The Sunset Drive-In on Highway 99 near the Olympia airport, was opened recently by A. L. Berg and Fred S. Miller, owners. RCA sound and projection equipment is used in the 428-car situation.”
Closed on October 6, 1985 with “St. Elmo’s Fire” and “Year Of The Dragon”.