In April of 1957 sunrise services were offered on Easter Sunday at the Star-Lite Drive-In Theater, 8301 South Tacoma Way. Worshipers could listen to the service without leaving the comfort of their cars over the theater's car speakers. Those attending heard Dr. Fulton C. Lytle, guest speaker, and listened to singing by a men's chorus. The Star-Lite was the second drive-in built in the Tacoma area; it opened in May, 1948. The massive outdoor theater covered over three acres. (Photograph ordered by News Tribune.) (TNT 4-22-57, p. 7) TPL-8544

Drive-in theaters--Tacoma; Star-Lite Park In Theatre (Tacoma);

The Tacoma Safety Council and the Tacoma Police Department teamed up to promote traffic safety in the spring and summer of 1957. Volunteers, including the Fort Lewis servicemen pictured here, hoped to inspect every vehicle in Pierce County. This free community safety-check was held at the Starlite Drive-in, at South 83rd Street and South Tacoma Way. TAC 211.

Automobile inspections--Tacoma; Safety; Star-Lite Park In Theatre (Tacoma);

Star-Lite Theater was built in 1948 by E. Chester and Sue Nilsson and Charles L. and Cora Theuerkauf. Star-Lite was the second drive-in theater built in Tacoma. View of man admiring the new plywood panels used at the Star-Lite Theater, photo ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. These panels form the back of the enormous screen. The Theater opened May 26, 1948 showing "Golden Earrings" with Ray Milland and Marlene Deitrich and "Adventure Island" with Rory Calhoun and Rhonda Fleming. It closed as a drive-in theater in 1996 and operated as a swap meet site.

Drive-in theaters--Tacoma; Plywood; Remodeling--Tacoma; Star-Lite Park In Theatre (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Star-Lite drive in theatre was one of the largest outdoor theaters in the world. Sue and Chester Nilsson and Cora and C. L. Theuerkauf were the owners. Star-Lite had a 39 by 54 foot screen and was spread out over three acres on South Tacoma Way, the theater was having their Grand-Opening celebration this week. View of laborers working on the roof trusses for the bunker style type theater area, this area would give people who did not want to bring their cars, an enclosed area to watch the movies from, it would accommodate up to 60 people (T.N.T., 5/25/48, p. 8).

Roof trusses--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Progress photographs; Construction workers--Tacoma; Drive-in theaters--Tacoma; Star-Lite Park In Theatre (Tacoma);