The Starlite Drive-In is Returning to Bozeman
For nearly 40 years, the Starlite Drive-In operated in Bozeman on 7th Ave about where Midwest Welding & Machine is today. In 1989, Bozeman's only drive-in theater closed its gates as many drive-ins did at that time around the country. This weekend the Starlight is being revived near Four Corners.
The large traditional rectangle white screen will be replaced by a 25-ft LED light screen that allows for watching movies in full daylight. It also allows for movie-goers to enjoy an earlier start than the traditional light-projectors did.
Filmlites Montana will be operating the drive-in on their land just outside of Four Corners on River Road west of Bozeman. They are even working on reconstructing the original Starlite Drive-In sign with the help of Erik Nelson (Ole) from Media Station. Nelson was the one who has the original Starlite sign and has been storing it for many years.
“Ole and I are long time friends," says JP Gabriel, owner of Filmlites Montana, and we decided during this Covid 19 pandemic it could be a good time to open back up the Starlite Drive-In with the new interest in drive up entertainment. However, the days of the old projector up on a large blank screen are no longer the best way to show movies. I combined my video wall LED screen panels with Jeremiah Slovarp’s at Jereco Studios in Bozeman, to create a 25 ft diagonal High Definition screen. The kind you would see at concerts outdoors. This allows the movie to start before it gets dark and has an incredibly bright high-definition look.”
The new Starlite Drive-In will open this weekend featuring two Montana-made movies: Walking Out & The Ballad of Lefty Brown.
Friday, July 24 - Walking Out
A suburban teen goes hunting with his estranged father. When a mishap with a bear occurs, he must use his survival skills to save the both.
Montana Locations: Hyalite forest near Bozeman. Paradise Valley in Livingston.
Cast: Matt Bomer, Josh Wiggins, Bill Pullman
Directed by Missoula Montana natives: Andrew J. Smith and Alex Smith
Saturday, July 25, Ballad of Lefty Brown
When cowboy Lefty Brown (Bill Pullman) witnesses the murder of his longtime partner, he strikes out to find the killers and avenge his friend's gruesome death. Tracking the outlaws across the vast and desolate Montana plains, Lefty recruits a young gunslinger, Jeremiah, and an old friend, a hard-drinking U.S. Marshall, to help deliver the men to justice. A thrilling and action-packed Western, The Ballad of Lefty Brown is a story about loyalty, friendship, and the relentless pursuit of justice.
Montana Locations: Bannack State Park in Bannack, Montana, 25 miles southwest of Dillon. Other locations included Dillon, Montana, Virginia City, Montana and Ennis, Montana.
Cast: Kathy Baker, Jim Caviezel, Peter Fonda, Tommy Flanagan, and Michael Spears.
Details:
Tickets and Information: www.starlitedriveinmontana.com
Located: 6465 River Road, just north of the Cottonwood Golf course on River Road
Tickets: $15 adults, $10 kids 12 and under, $12 seniors 65 and older, Sold per person, not per vehicle.
Food and beverage concessions will be sold at the event.
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