Dateline: May 22, 2003

Comptroller's office features local drive-in

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The Sandell Drive-In is one of three Texas drive-in theatres featured in the current edition of Fiscal Notes, which is published by Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn’s office.

The article, entitled “Driving Texas,” discusses the comeback of theatres around the state. The number of drive-ins open in the Lone Star State peaked at 388 in 1954 – one year before Gary Barnhill built the Sandell and named it for his daughters, Sandra and Adele.  The Sandell closed 30 years later, and by 1998, the total number of Texas drive-ins had dropped to 18.

Current theatre owner John Morrow is interviewed in the article. He re-opened the theatre last summer and is running it every weekend with the help of volunteers for the benefit of the community.

To read the entire article, visit the comptroller’s Web site at www.window.state.tx.us.