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Shinnston has one of three remaining WV drive-ins

Exponent Telegram file photo The theater at Sunset with the rain visors for some of the front rows of parking.
Exponent Telegram file photo
The theater at Sunset with the rain visors for some of the front rows of parking.

SHINNSTON, W.Va. — Summertime can be marked by the sun going down later, fireflies coming out at night, and watching movies in the back of a car or lawn chair at the drive-in theater.

“It’s in my blood, I love it and I love the people,” said Anthony Ellis, owner of Sunset Drive-In Theater.

The Sunset Drive-In was built in 1947 and opened in 1948. It has been under the ownership of the Ellis family since 1955, he said.

“When dad bought it, it was just a drive-in and had a street car for concessions. Once dad bought it, he started making changes and developed the restaurant from the drive-in,” said John Ellis, general manager of the drive-in.

The drive-in is only one of three left in the state and one of about 350 left in the United States…

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