Moonlite Theatre

The Moonlite Theatre, also known as the Moonlite Drive-In, is a historic drive-in theater located near Abingdon, Washington County, Virginia. It was built and opened in 1949, and remained one of the few drive-ins still open in Virginia until finally closing in 2013. The theater reopened briefly in 2016 but closed shortly after due to a pending lawsuit. Remaining original buildings and structures include the 65-foot-tall screen tower and office wing, the ticket booth, the concession stand/projector booth building, and the neon-illuminated attraction board at the edge of the highway. The theatre includes 454 parking/viewing spaces designed as reverse-incline ramps.[3][4]

Moonlite Theatre
Moonlight Theatre, July 2013
Moonlite Theatre is located in Virginia
Moonlite Theatre
Moonlite Theatre is located in the United States
Moonlite Theatre
Location17555 Lee Highway, near Abingdon, Virginia
Coordinates36°40′26″N 82°03′00″W
Area13.3 acres (5.4 ha)
Built1949
Architectural styleDrive-in theatre
NRHP reference No.07000802[1]
VLR No.095-5256
Significant dates
Added to NRHPAugust 8, 2007
Designated VLRJune 6, 2007[2]

Background

The Moonlite was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007, and was one of few drive-in theaters nationwide to be awarded that distinction.[1][note 1]

The theater closed in 2013 and was in danger of being lost due to neglect. Some renovation work was begun in late 2016 under an agreement establishing joint ownership of the theater and through monetary and labor contributions from private individuals. Although these were not yet complete, it re-opened and began showing its traditional week-end double features in October 2016.[5]

As of March, 2017, the agreement that led to the renovations has come under dispute and a lawsuit has been filed. [6]

Beginning in 2020, the Barter Theatre started producing plays and staging them at the Moonlite Theatre due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] Plays performed on a stage were simultaneously projected into the big screen, and audio was provided through FM radio. The Barter also put on a summer concert series at the drive-in during 2021.[8] As of 2023 the theatre is closed for business.[9]

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Moonlite Drive-In (Abingdon, Virginia).

Notes
  1. NRHP-listed drive-ins include 66 Drive-In, Beverly Drive-In Theatre, Moonlite Theatre, and Spud Drive-In Theater.

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  3. Michael J. Pulice (April 2007). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Moonlite Theatre" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
  4. "Accompanying four photo". dhr.virginia.gov.
  5. Smolka, Maggie (2016-09-30). "You'll now be able to drive-in to the..." WCYB. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  6. "Dark Side of the Moonlite: Lawsuit filed against owner of Moonlite Drive-in". BRISTOL HERALD COURIER. 2017-03-24.
  7. "Barter Theatre to present live performances at the Moonlite Drive-In on Abingdon, Virginia". WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  8. Still, Mike (2021-06-08). "Barter Theatre announces Moonlite Drive-In Summer Series casts". Kingsport Times-News. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  9. Sorrell, Robert (2023-06-22). "A dive in to local drive-ins: Region still boasts summertime pastime". Herald and Tribune Online Newspaper Jonesborough Tennessee. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
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