60 years of movie magic

Local News

Related Photos

Holly Toal/staff

Discussion

March 15, 2010

Stornellis celebrate anniversary at the Sunset Drive-In

By Holly Toal<br><a href="mailto:holly.toal@journal-register.com">E-mail Holly</a> The Journal-Register Mon Mar 15, 2010, 02:14 AM EDT

MIDDLEPORT — By Holly Toal

holly.toal@journal-register.com

MIDDLEPORT — Nothing screams “summer” like the drive-in. With the mild nighttime breeze and smell of hot dogs and popcorn in the air, people often spend their spring and summer nights piling into the car and heading to the drive-in to see a new flick.

At the Sunset Drive-In in Middleport, many movie-goers have been frequenting the drive-in for years.

“If the weather’s good, we’re good,” said Mario Stornelli, who with his wife of 33 years, Denise, owns the business.

In August of this year, the Sunset Drive-In will celebrate its 60th anniversary in business.

A lot of Stornelli’s customers have been coming to the drive-in for years — since they were kids — and now bring their own kids.

The Sunset Drive-In was opened by Stornelli’s father, Alex, in 1950. At that time, it only had one screen and the main restaurant.

The couple also owned the movie theaters in Medina and Albion for a short time.

During his parents’ tenure at the drive-in, Stornelli spent many days as a kid helping out at the restaurant —a tradition his own family would carry on.

In 1994, Stornelli and his wife took over the business. They added two more screens and expanded the restaurant, moved the film projectors upstairs, and enhanced the landscaping.

Throughout the years, one of the biggest changes the drive-in has seen is the switch from speakers to radio sound. Also, Stornelli explained that they still use 33 millimeter film, but it is now loaded onto platters, as opposed to the old-fashioned reel-to-reel. Those platters are run by longtime projectionist Arnold Herdendorf.

Since the restaurant expanded and the projectors were moved upstairs, Stornelli explained that movie-goers have fewer “interruptions,” as kids used to wave their hands in front of the projector.

Three years ago, Stornelli’s son, Kris — who used to hang out at the drive-in as a child — opened an ice cream shop in front of the restaurant, which seems to complete the drive-in experience.

The restaurant at the Sunset Drive-In is now open for dinners, and the Stornellis are hoping to begin showing movies March 26.

The drive-in is located at 9950 Telegraph Road (Route 31) in Middleport. Call 716-735-7372 for movie listings.

Contact editor Holly Toal at 798-1400, ext. 8225.

Text Only

Local News

Test story
May 24, 2012
Market on Main will offer fresh produce, baked goods

Medina’s Main Street has more than its fair share of spots to pick up prepared food, but starting this summer there will be a place to buy artisanal bread and locally-grown produce.

Dave and Bonnie Reigle have operated a produce stand on their Ridge Road farm for 17 years. They plan to open Reigle’s Market on Main in the former Whole Nine Yards and be open year-round as a bakery and produce store.

April 18, 2012
Lyndonville BoE approves budget propositions

The Lyndonville Board of Education approved the four propositions district residents will vote on May 15, including the school’s $12,964,687 budget.

The 2012-13 budget decreases spending by 1.28 percent, but the property tax levy will rise by 1.95 percent to $4,620,374. The estimated property tax rate is $18.40, an increase of 1.38 percent and a bump of a quarter for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

April 18, 2012
Medina BoE OK's budgets for May 15 vote
Medina Central School District residents will have the option this May to vote for a budget that does not raise the property tax levy next year, but does increase the district’s budget by 1.74 percent.

April 18, 2012
Ridgeway sets public hearings
The Ridgeway Town Board will hold two public hearings at its next meeting on May 21.

April 18, 2012
Hoag will host STEM summer camp
The Hoag Library in Albion isn’t set to open until the weekend after Independence Day, but preparations are well underway for a two-week summer camp for a select group of Albion students.

April 16, 2012
Growing like a weed
The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s Home and Garden Show had a new home this year, and a record crowd came out to Knowlesville for helpful advice, information about local businesses and organizations, and a wide range of activities, promotions and giveaways.

April 16, 2012
Village budget talks continue

Medina’s 2012-13 budget is coming together at a series of meetings between department heads and village board members that largely focus on projected spending plans and areas where cuts can be made and additional revenue can be found.

The board met Monday with Police Chief Jose Avila, who said his department budget will be less than the current year despite increasing salaries and associated benefits.

April 16, 2012
Hoag Library era nears in Albion
The transition of Albion's long-time library to a modern South Main Street facility is quickly approaching, which had the Swan Library Board of Trustees discussing the closing of the current library in early June, a month of movement and plans to resume service at the new Hoag Library on the day after the facility's July 7 grand opening at their Wednesday meeting.

April 13, 2012
Pillars hosting Titanic evening

The extravagant experience that the high-class passengers enjoyed on the first and final voyage of the RMS Titanic will be replicated in a dinner at The Pillars Estate’s new ballroom this weekend.

The Pillars echoes the luxury liner’s grand staircase and chandelier, with historic touches throughout the restored County House Road mansion’s ballroom.

April 13, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

60 years of movie magic

Stornellis celebrate anniversary at the Sunset Drive-In

Site Map

Contact Us