Saving her memories

When Brooke Eads heard the Starlite Drive-In theater was going to close, she immediately knew she needed to help.

The Starlite has been a town icon since 1955, and its current owners, Cindy and Troy Jarvis, said they couldn’t keep it open any longer.  

Eads, a 32-year-old publisher and photographer, grew up attending shows at Starlite.

Now, Eads is trying to buy the Starlite, but first she needs to raise the money.

“I have been going to the drive-in since I was a child and have great memories there,” Eads said. “I also worked at Starlite Drive-In for the previous owners, Carl and Ruth
Stewart, when I was in my teens and early 20s.”

Cindy Jarvis has a similar affection for Starlite and said many of her best memories were made there. Her kids had friends over. The family sometimes camped at the drive-in.

“Starlite was our home away from home on the weekends,” Jarvis said. “Everyone would work — they loved working the drive-in. Then we would play after people left.”

There are specific arrangements in place so that no major modifications will occur after the sale.

“They do not want to sell to someone who will change the drive-in, and that’s not my intention either,” Eads said. “I want Starlite to re-open better than ever and flourish.”

The only change, according to Eads, will be the addition of newer digital projection equipment required for drive-in theaters.

The cost of such equipment will run about $100,000, so Eads has planned fundraisers to cover expenses.

She said she wants to maintain the sanctity of the Starlite theater she grew up with while also embracing some new traditions.

“I love the idea of showing old movies from time to time, as well as holding a Halloween event every year,” Eads said.

Scott Shafer, a friend and former coworker from Author Solutions, Inc., met Eads through a mutual friend. Eads was in a leadership position in her sector of ASI.

“I could definitely see that she was a leader type,” Shafer said. “She always had things done on time and made sure everyone had everything they needed to get stuff done on time, too.”

Cherish Denton, another friend and coworker, added that with Eads’ head role at ASI came many helpful administrative changes.

“She ended up writing a lot of the procedures of our operation,” Denton said. “We had a lot to figure out, and she was huge in getting that figured for the company.”

Shafer said he has faith that Eads will help bring Starlite into a new era of drive-in culture.

“To see her actually try to get this transferred to digital and to keep the Starlite up and running is something I admire,” Shafer said. “There are so many drive-ins that have this hurdle they have to overcome, and so many of them are going to be lost in that transfer.”

Both Denton and Shafer share Eads’s love of drive-ins and said the passion she has for the place will be an asset she competes with other buyers interested in the space.

Eads said she hopes the reopened theater with the added events will attract community members for years to come.

“I want new generations to enjoy the drive-in that so many of us grew up with,” Eads said. “It is one of the few standing places that is fun for all ages and is still affordable.”

Denton advised Eads to take pride in all that she has done so far even if the fundraising step does not take off as planned.

“It would be amazing, and I think she could do it, but if it didn’t happen, what she did matters so much more and means a lot to people,” Denton said. “For her to do this is letting a lot of people know what a great person she is and how much she can change things.”

Cindy Jarvis said she hopes the drive-in continues to thrive, regardless of who is in charge.

“It isn’t what is on the screen,” Jarvis said. “It is the experience. It is one of those entertainment pieces that families get to escape and be with their family.”