Starlite South Drive-In

1308 Hadley View Court NE,
Rochester, MN 55906

Unfavorite No one has favorited this theater yet

Showing 5 comments

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on October 5, 2025 at 6:03 am

Actual closing date is September 6, 1987. Screen 1 closed with “Beverly Hills Cop II” and “The Golden Child”, Screen 2 closed with “Dragnet” and “Top Gun”, and Screen 3 closed with “Summer School” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”. Carisch Theatres was its last operator.

  • Also correction from my March 13, 2025 (2:51 PM) comment: The Starlite South was tripled in May 1978, not on April 5, 1979.
rivest266
rivest266 on March 17, 2025 at 9:53 pm

Last season: 1987.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on March 13, 2025 at 12:43 pm

Opened with Randolph Scott in “Gunfighters” (unknown if extras added).

rivest266
rivest266 on March 13, 2025 at 11:02 am

Opened August 6th, 1948 as the Outdoor theatre and reopened as the Starlite Drive-In on April 15th, 1965, and renamed Starlite South after the Starlite North opened. Outdoor Theatre (Starlite North) openingOutdoor Theatre (Starlite North) opening 05 Aug 1948, Thu Post-Bulletin (Rochester, Minnesota) Newspapers.com

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on August 20, 2023 at 7:53 am

The Starlite South was twinned in the early-1970s, and was tripled a short time later.

The Starlite South closed for the final time on June 11, 1988. One of its last features according to the Star Tribune of Minneapolis is “The Karate Kid Part II” playing at one screen, but the final features on the other two screens were unknown at this time. It was last managed by Bob Toogood who also operated other theaters and cinemas in Rochester. At the time, the Starlite South housed a total capacity of 800 cars. On its final night of operation, only 150 cars attended its final showings.

The theater is located on 1308 Hadley View Ct NE, Rochester, MN 55906 where a U-Haul and Storage Rentals of America currently occupies the former drive-in site.