Under the Stars: Sunset Drive-In

Marks owns and operates Aurora’s Sunset Drive-In, where he shows movies outdoors to people on warm summer nights.

“I just enjoy putting on something that people are going to enjoy,” says Marks, who notes that he’s not in it for the money.

As proof, he points to the bottom line: The drive-in generates less than $16,000 in annual profit. Marks also earns his living by driving a school bus full time for the Aurora R-VIII School District.

Love story

A love affair with the outdoor cinema business, particularly Sunset, began long ago for Marks.

The drive-in was established in 1951 by Ralph Hough Sr., who sold it to the Ruble family in 1965. Marks wanted to buy the drive-in at that time, but he was just a Marionville High School senior, and his father didn’t want to commit to running the theater if Marks got drafted to fight in the Vietnam War.

Marks settled for working as a projectionist at Sunset for the next six years. Then, in 1977, the Rubles sold their theater to Marks, who also owned an indoor theater in Aurora at the time.

When Marks bought Sunset, drive-ins were still common in the Ozarks. He says nearly every town had a drive-in once upon a time, including five in Springfield. When VCRs became prevalent in the 1980s, most drive-ins shut down, he says. Sunset even closed during the summer of 1987 due to a lack of business.

Almost extinct

Now, in southwest Missouri, only Aurora, Seymour and Carthage have drive-ins. The lack of competition helps keep Sunset afloat, says Marks, who estimates that 75 percent of his customers commute from outside the immediate Aurora area.

One of his most loyal customers travels about 15 miles from Monett.

“I’m kind of a drive-in aficionado,” says Frank Yankoviz, a public defender in Monett who says he’s visited most existing drive-ins in Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas. “The Sunset Drive-In is my favorite.”

Yankoviz recalls childhood memories of going regularly to a drive-in during the 1960s. Now, he typically heads off to Sunset after work on Friday nights. He says he takes off his tie, eats hamburgers and popcorn, does some people-watching and generally unwinds from his week.

Yankoviz enjoys being outside during movies so much that he hasn’t been to an indoor theater in about two years. Last summer, he only missed two weekends at Sunset, he says.

Marks also has the support of Aurora Mayor Steve Kahre, who calls Sunset an asset to the town of 7,000. The drive-in helps generate revenue for local restaurants and gas stations, Kahre noted.

Sunset can accommodate 325 cars, and there are times Marks has sell-out crowds, though he wouldn’t disclose attendance figures. Yankoviz says it’s best to arrive early to secure a good spot.

Sunset’s season runs April–October, with shows Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights beginning around 9 p.m. An outdoor loudspeaker or car stereos, via an FM transmitter, provide sound.

An $8 adult ticket is good for two first-run, family-friendly movies – now showing are “Ratatouille” and “Meet the Robinsons.” To stay competitive with indoor theaters, Marks says he tries to keep concession prices low and allows customers to bring food and use on-site grills. Also, kids can use provided playground equipment.

If it’s up to Marks, Sunset Drive-In will live forever. He says he’d like his two teenage sons to take over one day.

“I feel lucky to be able to do what I like to do and still at the same time do something that is so unique,” he says.