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Sunset Drive In Theatre

Sunset Drive In Theatre
1601 E Church Street
417-678-6609

The Sunset Drive-in first opened in April, 1951. It was owned and operated by Ralph Hough Sr. and family. The Sunset was sold in 1966 to Jesse, Cecil and Clyde Ruble. In 1965 the current owner David Marks, then  a high school senior, began working at the Sunset. David (aka Larry) purchased the theatre in 1977 from the Rubles.

In 1979 the old wooden screen burnt and was replaced with a steel screen for the opening of the 1980 season. Also in 1980, the Sunset Drive-In became automated. Over the years the drive-in has enlarged to accommodate 325 cars which is 125 cars more than it was originally. During the summer of 2001, lightning struck the sound system and the sound was upgraded to Digital Stereo FM with the use of Decade Transmitters made in Canada.


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