Lunar Drive-in cinema in Dandenong, Melbourne officially closes with traditions seen tearing down the cinema screen
- Lunar Drive-in closed in July
- Tradies were seen tearing down movie screen this week
An iconic drive-in, once crowned the largest in Australia, has been demolished after nearly seven decades of operation.
Viewers captured footage of the moment a bulldozer toppled the large cinema screen at the Lunar Drive-in, located in south-east Melbourne, this week.
The video, posted on Reddit with the caption “End of an era,” was met with great disappointment online from former patrons of the Dandenong Cinema.
Earlier this year, the theater revealed it would shut down decades of operation, citing cost-of-living pressures.
The final program of the cinema aired on July 9.
Tradies has torn down one of the screens at the Lunar Drive-in cinema after it closed last month
Lunar Drive-In’s owners disclosed the closure in May. Image: Supplied
“We would like to thank all of our loyal customers, our wonderful staff, past and present, and all of our supplier friends in the industry for a fantastic 21 years,” the company said.
“For six weeks, we will be showcasing the latest blockbuster movies along with some drive-in classics. We hope to see many of you before we close.
‘Thank you for supporting Lunar Drive-in, Dandenong.’
The cinema was reportedly still hosting 400,000 guests a year before it closed.
The cinema was reportedly still hosting 400,000 guests a year before it closed.
It opened in May 1956.
Owner David Kilderry previously said the cost of keeping the doors open had become too high.
“Fifteen acres of land… that’s hard to justify when nobody’s here during the day,” he told Seven News.
‘And, we only operate a few hours each night.
“We are particularly sad for our customers and our staff, but also for some of our long-term suppliers.”
The cinema shows the latest film on July 9. Image: Supplied
Among the rising costs was the land tax, which has reportedly ballooned to a staggering $1,000 a day, and was expected to double within a year.
The closure of the iconic date night spot was lamented by many locals and former patrons online, some of whom were unaware it had closed.
“Ah man this makes me sad,” wrote one user on the Reddit website.
The hours I’ve spent staring at that screen.
One of the last films shown was the classic American Graffiti. Image: Supplied
Another wrote: ‘So sad, heartbroken that we haven’t been to a movie in the past few weeks.
That’s what you get when the council charges ridiculous fees.
One user wrote: ‘Still hurts to watch.’
Others shared memories of the many years of the theater’s operation.
‘First drive-in when I got my license,’ wrote one user.
“I saw Mad Max on the big screen, it was great.”
Over the past few weeks, the theater has shown a number of recent blockbusters and classic films.
Among the iconic movies that aired in recent days were American Graffiti and Jurassic Park.
