How Las Vegas erased its drive-in movie past for casinos and resorts
A stretch of the Las Vegas Strip once hosted two drive-in cinemas, the Motor Vu and the Stardust Drive-In. Both operated on the same site before giving way to the famous Stardust Resort and, later, Resorts World. The area’s transformation reflects decades of change in the city’s entertainment scene.
The Motor Vu opened in 1949, offering space for 525 cars and charging 50 cents per vehicle for double features. It ran until 1956, when falling attendance forced its closure. Three years later, in 1959, the site reopened as the Stardust Drive-In under new management—Mrs. R. Q. Eubanks, Sr. and Mr. R. Q. Eubanks, Sr.
The land that once hosted drive-in movies now stands as part of a modern casino resort. The transition from Motor Vu to Stardust Drive-In, then to Budget Suites, and finally to Resorts World traces the evolution of Las Vegas itself. Each era left its mark before making way for the next development.
