In 1937, Sarah Eskin found herself divorced from her tumultuous marriage to Jacob Eskin after he granted her the Eskin Theatre (which they had built together in Richland Center that same year) as part of the settlement, in what was described as an attempt to overwhelm her rather than an equal splitting of assets.
Undaunted, Sarah embraced being a single theater owner, recognizing the burgeoning drive-in movie trend. She set her sights on building Richland Center’s first drive-in theater.
On August 28, 1951, Sarah signed a deed granting her a lifetime lease on a 20-acre parcel of a family dairy farm for $15,000. ($176000 in 2024 dollars.) The deed stated the land must be forever used as a drive-in, or the title would revert back to the original owners.
Sarah opened the Hi-Way 14 Outdoor Theater on May 6, 1952. Sadly, the following year in 1953, she passed away in her home after working one Friday evening at her new drive-in, leaving its fate uncertain.
Despite multiple Wisconsin Supreme Court challenges by over the deed’s unique terms, the drive-in (renamed Starlite 14 in the late 1970s) continues operating on that original 20-acre plot for decades. Sarah’s pioneering creation endured.
While Sarah didn’t live to see it, her drive-in theater became an embedded Richland Center tradition over generations. As one former owner Bill Muth said, “No matter what comes along, the theatre always comes back.”
Make sure you stop in, Each movie night was a celebration of Sarah’s bold vision against the odds.
Together, the community can write the next act for cinema in their beloved hometown!
THE ESKIN PROJECT
THE ESKIN PROJECT pays homage to the original owners, especially Mrs. Eskin, whose foresight led to the creation of the iconic Starlite 14 Drive In. Trielite Entertainment owes a debt of gratitude to her pioneering spirit.
The Eskin Project, an exciting initiative to revitalize their beloved indoor movie theater with much-needed upgrades, including a stunning new marquee. This endeavor is crucial for fostering a vibrant downtown atmosphere and bringing endless joy to the community.
But they need the community’s support to make this dream a reality. Generous donations from patrons will fuel the enhancements that will elevate their cinema to new heights.
