Friends Responsible Traveller Pledge Newsletter Sign Up Groups Request Info Places to Visit Chatham-Kent Restaurants Accommodations Experiences Elgin County Restaurants Accommodations Experiences Haldimand County Restaurants Accommodations Experiences London Restaurants Accommodations Experiences Middlesex Restaurants Accommodations Experiences Norfolk County Restaurants Accommodations Experiences Oxford County Restaurants Accommodations Experiences Sarnia-Lambton Restaurants Accommodations Experiences St. The screen that the community all pitched in for has, sadly, been taken down.Things To Do Outdoors & Recreation Top Parks Hiking & Trails Biking Mountain Biking Road Biking Cycling Routes & Bike Trails Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP Birding Birding Hot Spots Self-Guided Birding Sites Canada's South Coast Birding Trail Winter Activities Food & Drink Restaurants Casual Dining Family Friendly Fine Dining Coffee Shops Ice Cream & Desserts Farm To Table Breweries Craft Beer Cookbook Cideries Distilleries Wine Next Stop: Taste Arts & Culture Arts & Galleries Museums & History Performing Arts & Theater Entertainment Casinos & Gaming Attractions Things To Do With Kids Road Trips Motorcycling Shopping Farmers Markets Local Shops On The Water Beaches Best in Class Family Friendly Unique Landscapes View All Lakes Lake Erie Lake Huron Lake St Clair Rivers Kayaking, Canoeing, & SUP Paddling Routes Boating Fishing Events Submit an Event Accommodations Hotels Bed & Breakfasts Pet Friendly Cabins & Cottages Glamping Camping & RV Parks Plan Your Visit Road Trip Ideas & Itineraries Couples Getaways Family Vacations Escape the Big City Trip Ideas Next Stop: Taste Companion Guide Small Town Getaways Love Local Perfect Pairings Getting Here Start Here U.S. As of October, 2010, the land was still in Bob Groves' name. The websites all went dark as well in 2008, and the Starlite oh-so-quickly slipped from the collective consciousness of Durham. Rumors, untrue, flew that the site had been sold to Wal-Mart. Places to eat, things to do, unique shops, and places to stay in Mitchell: Cornerstone Coffeehouse (1/2 block north of the Luxury 5 Cinemas) 123 E. It was announced that the land was for sale for $1.4 M, a number that put a chill on an initial push by the same people who wanted to try to revive the theater. Groves' death, and was abandoned - picked at by various thieves/souvenir hunters. I've never seen as clear an indication that a place with such character and history stayed open due to the passion of one person, and that person alone. The theater would, unfortunately operate for only another year and a half, until March 2007, when its owner, Bob Groves, died suddenly. You can still see the list of contributors and donations on the archived Starlite website, where I pulled much of this information from. A sustained, community-wide fundraising drive garnered enough funds to restore the screen, triggering the re-opening of the theater in August 2005, albeit without its trademark sign. If there incliment weather the flea market will be canceled. The Starlite was shuttered when it suffered a fire that destroyed the screen in August 2004, shutting the theater down for a year. The flea market starts March 26th and continues every other weekend after that. The Starlite also become a unique experience for Durhamites of the current generation - much like going to a Bulls game for many people, it was often more about sitting outside on a summer night with your friends, some beer, and some hot dogs than it was about the movie.īob Groves at the helm of the Starlite (date unknown), Courtesy of George Stephens 14AArrive 30 to 40 minutes before showtime on Friday & Saturday. It isn't clear if it had been previously revived - one comment alludes to the theater being abandoned from 1961 until the 1970s, so perhaps there was a previous owner who reopened the theater.īob was well beloved by many in the community for his "How many you got hiding in the trunk?" greeting and his overall good nature. Search for movie showtimes and buy tickets at STARLITE DRIVE IN - powered by Veezi. The most recent resuscitation of the theater was due to the efforts of Bob Groves, a native of Cumberland, MD who purchased the Starlite in 1986. I was more agog at the combination concession stand / projection room / gun shop - I particularly remember a glass display case with a line of stun guns. Much like riding the streetcar to/from school when I was a kid in New Orleans, I didn't appreciate the rare opportunity to enjoy the experience of a previous generation at the time. My first experience with the Starlite was ~1990 when I was in college. The Starlite drive-in theater opened in the mid-1940's and operated until ~1961, when it was abandoned.
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