HomeDrive-In TheatersSundance Kid Drive-In - Oregon, OH

Sundance Kid Drive-In - Oregon OH

Address: 4500 Navarre Ave
City: Oregon
State: OH
Zip: 43616
Open: 1949
Closed: Open
Capacity: 2231
Owner History:
Number of visits to this page: 4166
General Information:

The Parkside Drive-In opened on April 27, 1949, featuring “It Had To Be You” starring Ginger Rogers and Cornel Wilde. The second feature playing that evening was “Key Witness”. The drive-in got its name from being located across from Pearson Metropark in Oregon, OH. It opened as a single screen with a 622-car capacity. It was owned by Jim Dempsey who also owned the Telegraph Drive-In.

Ray Searles purchased the Parkside Drive-In and Telegraph Drive-In from Jim Dempsey. Searles built the Star-Lite Drive-In in Sylvania, Ohio, and also operated the Princess Theatre in Toldeo, Ohio. After his death in 1960, his sons Dan & Edward, took ownership of the theatres. The sons also handled the other family businesses which included a greenhouse and a chain of coin-op laundry and dry cleaning stores.

In 1979 a second screen tower was added to the Parkside Drive-In. The Parkside Drive-In was part of the Co-Operative Theatres of Ohio chain and the Jack Armstrong Circuit, until the Great Eastern Theatre Co. took over management of the drive-in.

In 1987 it was renamed Sundance Kid Drive-In. After 63 years of showing movies, the Sundance Kid Drive-In is still going strong. Originally there were eight drive-in theatres in the Toledo area. The Sundance Kid Drive-In is the last one operating in the area and still screens first-run movies on its twin screens.

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Info Updates:
5/19/2022 - Thomas Watkins
For many years, I’d driven past the Sundance Kid en route to Cedar Point. In 2019, I made a trip to find ET was one of the final films of the season. I regretted not leaving the park early and making it home earlier to catch it. The next summer, during the pandemic, I caught wind the theater was showing only old flicks. I said it was certainly worth my trip when I found the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was one of those shows. So I packed up the car in July for a trip to Ohio. i really liked the places. It was dark, uncrowded and very throw back. I got their good which was great. The show was enjoyable and i felt satisfied I went. I was going to return when I saw Halloween 4 and then…A Christmas Story & Scrooged were playing. But, things kind of got hectic and I couldn’t get back. I hoped to make another trip this year, however it’s looking like the Sundance might have gone dark. They apparently wanted to sell the land, not the theater, and after announcing the show would go on for one more year….it seems Paramount Theaters has scrubbed any future show times from the website. Odd because they made an announcement the theater would open in April. Even held a hiring event. But, since March, it’s been off line, My hope is the Sundance comes back with new ownership or a new land contract of sorts. It was such an institution on my way to Sandusky (going back to 1993 when I recall Cliffhanger showing) I’d hate to see the old girl standing abandoned at the edge of the road. Especially since I knew how special the experience was. But, if she’s gone…..I am thankful I have that one memory of my visit. It was a dark drive. Took hours to get home. But, I wouldn’t trade it for any thing!
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Please note that location entries may feature older photos or post card views that may not represent the current appearance, features, addresses, phone numbers, or contact names of the attraction. This site is intended to be a historical as well as current record of various attractions but it is not always possible to have up-to-date information due to the vast number of locations featured here. We ask you consult the propietor for current information.

Sundance Kid Drive-In - 2010 Photo
2010 Photo
Sundance Kid Drive-In - 2010 Photo
2010 Photo
Sundance Kid Drive-In - 2010 Photo
2010 Photo
Sundance Kid Drive-In - 2010 Photo
2010 Photo
Sundance Kid Drive-In - 2010 Photo
2010 Photo
Sundance Kid Drive-In - 2010 Photo
2010 Photo
Sundance Kid Drive-In - 2010 Photo
2010 Photo
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