Sandell to raise cash for Mulkey

The Sandell Drive-In will mark its 61st anniversary this Sunday, September 4, with an Elvis Presley double-feature to benefit the Mulkey Theatre.

“Harum Scarum” will be screened at dusk followed by “The Trouble With Girls,” and admission will be free but a donation for the Bring Back the Mulkey project will be requested at the gate. The donation will also put you in the drawing for door prizes between features.

The Sandell began as dream of Gary and Nell Barnhill, who had met at a Dalhart theatre. They married, moved to Turkey, Texas, and were raising two young girls – Sandra and Adele – when they purchased the land in Clarendon where the drive-in now sits on.

The Barnhills would later purchase the Mulkey Theatre and operate it in tandem with the drive-in.

The family operated the theatres continuously until 1984. The Sandell then sat vacant for 18 years before John Morrow and his family reopened it in 2002. At the peak, Texas had 532 drive-ins. After the Sandell re-opened, there were 16 still operating.

The Mulkey Theatre was purchased in 2008 by the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation and renovations have been made to the 1946 landmark since that time and are continuing.

In May of this year, the CEDC received a grant of $50,000 from the Don & Sybil Harrington Foundation to help install new heating and air-conditioning in the Mulkey. Project supporters have until December 31 to raise matching funds to help with that phase of the renovations.

Morrow is looking for a big crowd this weekend at the Sandell, and he hopes everyone will come enjoy the movies and help raise funds for the Mulkey Theatre project.

The gates will open at 6:00 p.m. and Elvis impersonator Smokey Binion, Jr., from Stinnett will be on hand to set the mood and entertain the crowd.

The Sandell will also be showing Kubo and the Two Strings as its featured presentation this Friday and Saturday. To learn more about the Sandell Drive-In, visit www.sandelldrivein.com.

To donate to the Bring Back the Mulkey project, send your check or money order to the Clarendon Community Fund, PO Box 906, Clarendon, TX 79226.