It’s been a long time since I’ve been to the movie theater, and even longer since I ventured to a drive-in (one the handful of drive-in movie theaters still operation in Kentucky happens to be in my hometown). But the allure of the drive-in is strong, and if I close my eyes I can mentally transport myself to a humid summer night, the low hum of conversation flickering nearby, lightning bugs moving across the sky, and a movie playing on an enormous screen in front of the car. So as I drove through Owsley County, Kentucky, last fall and spied a familiar concrete silhouette up ahead, I felt a little shiver of excitement.
The view of the Moonlite Drive-In from the road.
The Moonlite Drive-In, located near the intersection of KY Route 11 and Highway 1938, opened in 1949, just outside the county seat of Booneville.
Looking toward the screen and the road.
Kentucky boasted 16 drive-in movie theaters in 1948, the year before the Moonlite began showing movies.
In the 1930s, Richard Hollingshead of New Jersey began experimenting with showing movies outside – with a projector placed on the hood of his car, he would show the movie on his garage. His early efforts seized upon two things Americans loved and were loathe to part with even during the grim Depression years: cars and movies.
The concession stand is a mid-century gem.
Hollingshead’s 1933 patent outlined the following key elements: “a location in a field (preferably by a highway), a screen facing the field and shielded by a large wind-resistant ‘screen house’, a series of inclined ramps radiating out in a semicircle around the screen, and a projection booth located at a suitable distance from the screen.”[1]
Owsley County is the second least-populated county in Kentucky, and the Moonlite Drive-In is on the smaller size, with room for 200 cars. I had no idea the county boasted a historic drive-in, so my chance encounter with the site was indeed exhilarating.
Although it looks lonely, there is a certain loveliness to the rows of speakers.
The Moonlite was open Friday and Saturday nights from Memorial Day to Labor Day. I can imagine scene every weekend: the families piled into station wagons, the teenagers carrying out the social rituals of the day, and folks setting up lawn chairs in the bed of their pickup trucks.
The ticket booth is an interesting shape with a slightly faux mansard roof.
The son of the original owner purchased the Moonlite in 1995 after it passed out of the family. The drive-in closed in 2012, but it looks as though it could reopen any minute. The grass is neatly mown, and everything looks to be in good shape – there just needs to be a movie projector, a lot of people, and some hot buttered popcorn and Coca Cola from the concession stand.
Thank you, nice piece! Shared it to an Owsley Historical group on Facebook.
Thank you, and thanks for reading!
Really enjoying your blog, as a Kentucky native and preservationist. Didn’t know there was a Boonville, KY! Hopefully I’ll get inspired this spring to get my blog going – after I get a couple of National Register nominations completed. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, and thanks for reading! Good luck with your nominations and blog!
I remember the Moonlite back when I was a little girl. My dad would take us on special occasions, or if there was a good movie playing on Friday night. I can’t recall what age I was but I recall the swings at the basics of the giant wall and playing with my cousins while everyone was getting ready for the movie to play.
The first movie that I can recall seeing was the first Shrek movie. The last one that I can recall is the first Fast and Ferocious movie.
Looking back it don’t seem to be all that long ago, seems like yesterday. I often wondered if anyone would open the old drive-in back up at least one more time but that may be something that could happen later down the road. Now of days there really isn’t much to do so reopening the drive-in may be a good idea.
Thank you for sharing old memories, it was nice to travel back when one more time.
My Ex Husband and I ran this drive in about 3 years ! I remember those days so well . Lots of fond memories .
omg i can’t wait
I spent many of weekends as a teenager going to this theater. I don’t remember a lot of the movies. Teenagers didn’t really watch the movies!! As a young child my parents took us to the one in our county. We had one in Lee county just the next county over. As I read your blog I reminisced of all the fun we had!! I also took my oldest child to Booneville drive in and later my daughter in Powell county.
we used to go there!!
looking forward to opening again, Owsley County needs it!!!
I came from Jackson in breathitt county many times to the drive in and would do it again if it reopens
I Grew Up Going To That Movie Theater!!
Some Of My Fondest Memories!!💜
Everyone Was So Kind, Friendly And Happy To Get Out A Few Hours ForA Good Old Time.
Definitely The Hot Spot For Dates.🌹
I Treasure The Great Memories I Have, And Also Lots Of My Hometown Memories Growing Up There. What A Treat!!🥰😍🤩
Love The Great People Who Live There To This Day!!🧡💛💚💙💜
This Drive was owned and built by my Grandfather Jerry Wilson. I grew up at this drive in. I rode my bicycle there during the day after my sibling and Mother would clean the grounds from the night before popcorn and coke paper products. At night I would eagerly await my grandfather and grandmother’s arrival for the open of the concession stand and the admission booth
This drive in has so so many fond memories
To see this article warms my heart and so many delightful memories flood my mind
I still have Moon Lite Drive in film purchases and stationery from my late grandfather !
Thank You for this wonderful article!
The Last Movie I seen there was Jaws 1
Thanks, for the memories. I recall many weekends my parents took us to the Moon Light dive in. Loved it.
Booneville Drive-in was where my husband took me on our first date–24 years ago this summer (2021). A Batman movie was playing. We left shortly after the 2nd movie started. Our first date was due to a fellow co-worker that was riding to work with my future husband lying to both of us by telling each of us that the other one wanted to go to the Booneville Drive-In that Saturday night. We were working at Mid-South at the time. We met up at work, left my vehicle there in the parking lot, and I was drove down all the side roads from Annville to Booneville for a burger at Spencer’s then popcorn and a movie at the drive-in. Three years after that first date we got married. Love the Booneville Drive-In. A favorite spot for us!! Would LOVE to see it reopen so we could go and take our 8 year old son….he needs to grow up being taken to the drive in on the weekends.
Great memories! Several years ago we drove by an old drive-in and told our 11 year old son about them. A computer child, he said, “You expect me to believe that?” 🙂