A MEMORABLE SCENE — A cannon was fired on Monday morning to mark the demolition of the movie screen that remained from the Blue Moon Drive-In Theater, though it was actually heavy equipment that brought down the remnant of long-ago movie-going days. The site has been occupied by American Muscle Docks and Fabrication since 2012. -- Contributed

WELLSBURG — Its concession stand, lights and speakers were removed years ago, and on Monday, the last remnant of the Blue Moon Drive-In Theater fell to the ground.

Located on Sunset Avenue, off state Route 27, the drive-in was the setting of many good times for area residents who visited it for decades after it opened in 1950.

Paul Diserio, who established American Muscle Docks and Fabrication with his father, Paul, at the site in 2012, said his father often would refer to the drive-in when giving directions to their business.

“Every time he did, they would light up and talk about the good times they had here,” he said.

Standing at least 90 feet tall and about 85 feet wide, the wall was deteriorating, and more space was needed for the business, which manufactures dock systems and related parts.

But because it was part of a fondly remembered time, Diserio didn’t want it to come down without some recognition, so he organized a farewell for the landmark.

He told employees and others on hand for its demolition, “Today, we’re not tearing something down. We’re rolling the final credits.”

“In 1950, the Blue Moon Drive-In lit up the field and somehow lit up a whole town with it. Families piled into cars, kids fell asleep in the back seat, teenagers fell in love and yeah, half of you snuck in through the fence. Yeah, don’t lie, the Blue Moon saw everything,” said Diserio.

“It wasn’t just a movie screen. It was in the paper, on the radio, on commercials and burned into memory. If you grew up around here, the Blue Moon was always in your face and always in your mind,” he said, alluding to the advertisements used to lure hundreds of vehicles to the establishment.

Diserio continued, “But before this screen comes down, we owe it respect. And we owe respect to Domnic Cionni, a 16-year-old who lost his life during the construction of this screen in 1950.”

He explained later that Cionni’s niece shared that information with him.

“His work and his sacrifice became part of what stood here for 76 years. We do not forget that,” said Diserio.

At Diserio’s direction, a cannon built some years ago by his father and Jeremy Cercone, an employee there, was used to fire a symbolic shot at the screen, disbursing a short burst of fire and smoke.

But it was actually the heavy equipment of a local contractor that did the job later.

Diserio said by a strange coincidence, the wall’s removal occurred on the 14th anniversary of American Muscle Docks’ opening.

(Staff writer Warren Scott contributed to this story.)