When they talk about the American heartland ..
Kansas gets right in the middle of the discussion. In fact,
Smith County, Kansas, is the midrib of the 48 contiguous states,
and the actual geodetic center of North America lies about 40 miles
south of Lebanon, at Meade's Ranch. And so Kansas is also the reference
point for land surveying in North America (whenever a surveyor is sighting
on property lines and boundaries, they are actually checking the position of
that property in its relation to a Ranch in the northwestern part of Kansas!).

Seems as if Hollywood also took its bearings from Kansas,
particularly during its formative and less talkative years ..
some of the brightest lights and most enduring stars of the
early cinema were native sons and daughters of Kansas ..
including:  Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle (from Smith Center);
Buster Keaton (Piqua); Zasu Pitts (Parsons); and Charles
'Buddy' Rogers (Olathe); later to be followed by:  Hattie
McDaniel (the first black woman to snatch an Oscar -
for her role in Gone With The Wind); Harold Lloyd
(Burchard, KS); and Dennis Hopper (Dodge City, KS).

Aside from furnishing its share of Hollywood stars, Kansas
was also noted for furnishing Hollywood under the stars .. having
been one of the most enthusiastic of Drive-in states back during the
boom years for American Dr'ins, when as many as 125 outdoor theatres
had flourished within the Sunflower State. Since the peak years, 92% of
the Drive-in theatres in Kansas have gone dark or have been demolished ..
and presently, only 9 now remain in operation for us to enjoy and support:

Anthony (Harper County) Kansas Star-Vue Drive-in:   DARK located at 72 State Highway 14 North (aka: 72 N. Harper County Avenue) Solo screen with a capacity for a couple hundred cars, which had remained lit here for half a century (aside from storm damage that shut it down in '95). In recent years they were open on weekends only, from May-October, screening a single feature each nite. There's been no view of the stars here though for a couple of years (still dark, since 2003). Coffeyville (Montgomery County) Kansas Tal's Drive-in Theatre:   GONE formerly located on Cline Road Tal's had been in operation every year consecutively since 1949. But after having remained lit for more than 50 consecutive seasons, Season 2K was its last (effective Sunday, Sept. 17, 2000). The Drive-in property was acquired by the local school system (but is there a Lesson in that?!). Dodge City (Ford County) Kansas South Drive-in:  620-225-4301 located at 1019 West McArtor Road First lit back in 1947, this is the state's oldest operating outdoor cinema .. an old fashioned solo screen Drive-in, with a capacity for up to 300 cars; open seasonally, April thru October. Showing double features on one of the largest screens.   Movie audio provided with AM & FM radio (and with pole speakers still functioning); open on weekends only (Friday-Saturday-Sunday). Admission: $10 per carload covers all passengers. El Dorado (Butler County) Kansas Star Vu Drive-in:  316-321-2444 located on the east side of Route E1 (RR1) The second-oldest Drive-in which has remained operating in Kansas, is this solo screen, which was first lit back in 1949, for up to 300 cars. Their screen is usually lit with a double feature and audio is provided by (96.7 FM) radio broadcast. Admission: $6 for ages 12&up; $1 ages 6-11 5 and & under free. NOTE:   For several weeks there's been a view of the stars right-thru the screen .. after damage caused by a tornado on June 10th (2005). Things have been patched-up, and as of August 12th, the Drive-in is open again on weekends only; Fridays and Saturdays, for the remainder of Season 2005. Gas (Allen County) Kansas 54 Drive-in:  620-365-7676 located on Highway 54, 1 mile east of town Solo screen Drive-in which has been lit since the late 50's heyday of America's Drive-ins, which has a capacity for up to 300 cars. Iola see:   Gas, Kansas Kanopolis (Ellsworth County) Kansas Kanapolis Drive-in:  785-472-4786 located at 804 North Kansas Avenue Solo screen, which was first lit back during the early years of America's Drive-in boom in 1952, and has remained in continuous operation; with a capacity for up to 750 cars. Screening double features, seasonally, April thru September. Kansas City (Wyandotte County) Kansas   Boulevard Drive-in Theatre:  913-262-0392 located at 1051 Merriam Lane (near I-35) First lit on June 30th, 1950 (under present management since 1984); exceptionally well-maintained Dr'in; featuring the traditional speakers for nostalgia fans & DTS digital sound + FM Dolby stereo (March-Oct); 'SwapShop' flea mkt here on wknds. The Boulevard Drive-in was the first Dr'in to install DTS audio; Freq: FM (89.7) radio.   Admission: $7 person for ages 12 & up. On Friday & Saturday nites they offer a bonus triple screening. Medicine Lodge (Barber County) Kansas Pageant Drive-in:  620-886-5358 / 800-956-6843 located on Highway 160 (1½ miles east of town) This solo screen was first lit back in 1953 - tho not in continuous operation all these years. It was restored and revived, with both traditional pole speakers operating, as well as an FM radio broadcast of the movies' soundtrack. Screening a single feature, seasonally, May thru September. Ness City (Ness County) Kansas Star Drive-in:   DARK located on Highway 283 North Norton (Norton County) Kansas Sunset Drive-in:   DARK located at 215 East Main Street Osawatomie (Miami County) Kansas Midway Drive-in:  913-755-2325 located at 29591 West 327th Street (Route 5) .. mid-way between Osawatomie and Paola, Kansas and, mid-way between I-35 and the Missouri line) The smallest of Kansas' operating Drive-ins, this solo screen has a capacity for 240 cars. Screening double features, seasonally, April- Sept; and still using traditional pole speakers. Admission: $5.75 (ages 12&up); $1 for ages 3-11. Paola (see: Osawatomie) Wellington (Sumner County) Kansas Chisholm Trail Drive-in:    GONE formerly located on Route 1 @ 1850 East 16th (3 miles from Highway 60) At the time of its opening in May of 1950, the Chisholm Trail was reported as having the largest outdoor screen in all of Kansas. Their screen remained lit for 51 consecutive seasons, finally going dark on the last wknd of September, 2001, the property having been acquired by the local school district. Wichita (Sedgewick County) Kansas Starlite Twin Drive-in:  316-524-3267 located at 3900 South Hydraulic St @ MacArthur (3 blks from Hydraulic St. exit (Exit 2) off I-135 Wichita once had as many Drive-in theatres as are currently operating throughout the entire state of Kansas. There is some compensation and solace, by the fact that Wichita's sole remaining outdoor picture show is an exemplary Drive-in experience. It is also the largest of the state's Drive-in theatres, with two screens and a capacity for up to 1300 cars. The Starlite's twins are lit with double features, and on Friday and Saturday nites, a bonus triple feature, for one admission price. Audio is provided with a local FM radio broadcast, as well as traditional pole speakers. Admission:   $7 (12&up); ages 7-11 $1;   6 & under free (in spring and fall they feature a carload rate: $10/car).

If you are aware of any Drive-ins
that we seem to have missed, or
would like to contribute any
information to our efforts,
please use this envelope
to send a letter to us.

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