
By Stephen Smoot
One of the great lost experiences in modern America has been the magic of drive in theaters. Today, the nation has less than 10 percent of the estimated 4,000 that served the public through the 1950s and 60s.
As the numbers diminish, nostalgia and a renewed appreciation for the experience has brought renewed interest. Those still in operation tend to magnify the tourism appeal of an area as well.
Until last fall, the Sunset Ellis Restaurant served the area as both a traditional diner that offered family Italian food and also a drive in theater. A fire, however, damaged the restaurant extensively and forced the owners to shut down the business.
Suddenly, a large property came available.
Meanwhile, the Harrison County Commission had set money aside for two facilities, one for livestock judging and another that would expand the capacity of Animal Control. Especially in terms of the proposed animal control building, the size of lots became an issue.
The Commission chose to purchase the Sunset Ellis property for both, but what would come of the massive movie screen dominating the property near US 19?
In a Commission meeting last December, Susan Thomas, Harrison County Commission President, shared that “I think it would be good for the area if we could preserve a piece of the drive-in . . . and keep it going – somehow, some way.”
In a meeting in the following month, Thomas stated “I hope to preserve the screen if it is in a preservable condition,” then added “I don’t know if there will be a lot of room left” after the County constructs its needs.
Both of the other commissioners echoed support for keeping the screen available, if possible. Then came a major obstacle in the form of an engineers report. After a structural evaluation of the screen, it was determined that it suffered serious problems that created safety issues for the land surrounding it.
Commissioners received an estimate for over half a million dollars at the very least to bring the screen back to a safe condition of use.
This news came in the midst of meetings featuring discussions over the County budget, including specific issues with payroll and expansion of the Rail Trail. Commissioners initially favored allowing the seller to keep the screen and an adjacent living space while building a fence around the screen large enough to ensure that falling debris did not injure anyone or harm county property.
Since then, the resident who was going to keep that living space, Antoinette Casto, has launched community appeals on social media to save the screen and somehow restore it to use.
She stated on Facebook recently that “I have recently been told the theater screen is going to be torn down due to the current state of the infrastructure.”
Casto went on to add that “I suppose that is their prerogative. I know many of you want the drive-in to continue.” She urged those concerned to contact Harrison County to “express that you would like it to remain.”
The Harrison County Commission then issued on May 30 a message to the community regarding that effort. Harrison County Administrator Laura Pysz-Laulis issued a notice stating “to provide an opportunity for open communication, we have established a dedicated email address where community members can share their thoughts, concerns, and suggestions. All submissions will be reviewed by Commissioners.”
The address is sunsetellisdrivein@harrisoncountywv.com
In recent years, the community of Franklin in Pendleton County formed a non profit organization to purchase and develop a drive-in theater of similar vintage nearby in the South Branch Valley. The organization developed a large scale concession stand and also secured grants to build a live stage in front of the screen for both music and theater performances.
It currently runs the top showing movies in the nation on weekends with plans to have vintage movie showings at other points in the future.