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NEWS
12th Annual UDITOA Convention & Trade Show
February 6-9, 2012
You do not need to be a
member to attend the UDITOA Convention if you qualify for general membership. (This
does not apply to associate, corporate, or temporary membership.) To
see if you qualify click here. You may attend one time
only as a non-member.
Drive-in cinemas: Will they survive the digital age?
BBC News, Washington
Brian Wheeler
December 9, 2011
At their peak, there were more than 4,000 drive-in cinemas in the US. Now only a
few hundred have survived against the odds - but could the cost of converting to
digital be the final straw?
"I would hate to close America's oldest drive-in movie theatre, but it's a
matter of personal choice about whether we can afford to spend that kind of
money."
Shankweiler's, in Orefield, Pennsylvania, first opened its doors in 1934 but
current owners Paul and Susan Geisinger fear the 2012 season may be its last.
Like many small independent cinemas across America, it could be forced out of
business by the cost of converting to digital projection.
Mr Geisinger is coming up to retirement age and is not keen on the idea of
taking out $175,000 (£112,000) loan to pay for a digital projector and the
necessary building work to house it.
"It is a lot of money for a seasonal business. But we have been left with no
choice. Either the conversion has to be made or it's going to close," says Mr
Geisinger, who started working as a projectionist at Shankweiller's in 1971,
before buying the business in 1984.
The big Hollywood studios are eager to eliminate the cost of manufacturing and
shipping the 35mm film prints that have traditionally been the mainstay of the
industry.
By posting hard drives instead distributors could save hundreds of millions a
year, according to some estimates - a tempting prospect for an industry under
pressure from internet piracy and video games.
And with more than half the cinema screens in America already converted to
digital, experts believe 35mm prints could disappear altogether within two or
three years.
The industry says digital leads to a quicker turnover of movies, greater choice
for consumers, and the promise of 3D and other special features.
But hundreds of small independent cinemas, in the US and around the world, have
already decided they cannot afford to buy the equipment needed, say industry
sources.
The death of the drive-in - if that is what is happening - is likely to be felt
more keenly in the US than in a country like the UK, where the concept never
really got out of first gear.
A generation of Americans spent their formative years - and did their courting -
at the drive-in, in an era when the car was king.
At the height of their popularity, in the late 1950s, America had more drive-in
movie theatres than indoor screens - more than 4,000 of them. But they declined
in the 70s and 80s due to owners cashing in on high land values and the
competition of video rentals.
About 400 drive-ins have survived to the present day, most of which are small,
family-run concerns in rural areas.
'Passion pits'
Fred Heise took over the Melody Drive-In Theatre, in Knox, Indiana, from his
father in the early 1970s, and had hoped to hand the business on to his son,
until the digital spectre reared its head.
"We will probably end up doing it. It is one of those where you do it kicking
and screaming," the 64-year-old says. "One wonders if you would live long enough
to completely pay it off."
Today's drive-ins are a far cry from the so-called teenage "passion pits" of 50s
legend - you are more likely to be parked next to a pair of "baby boomers"
reliving their youth, or a young family enjoying a cheap night out, than a car
full of rowdy or amorous teenagers.
But despite the pervading air of nostalgia, the owners have tried to keep pace
with technology.
Patrons can now listen to the movie on their car stereos, on a special FM
frequency, rather than through the primitive "sound poles" that sit next to each
parking bay.
Drive-ins also try to offer better value than the local multiplex. You can
normally watch three or four of the latest Hollywood releases for less than $10
(£6.39) in total, as well as stocking up on popcorn and hot dogs for less than
you would pay in one of the major chains.
"For me it's mostly family value. Because I work so much my daughter and I don't
get to spend a lot of time together so we come here and we watch the shows,"
says Michael Ravenscroft, a truck salesman, from Sykesville, Maryland.
'Mesmerised'
He has been visiting Bengies, Maryland's only remaining drive-in, since he was
eight.
Diane Hain, an accountant from Baltimore, is possibly Bengies' number one fan,
having visited the theatre 70 times in the past year: "This place is special. I
wouldn't know what to do with myself if it was gone."
Fortunately for her, Bengies owner, D Edward Vogel, is among those who plan to
make the leap into digital. He is convinced the drive-in is more than just a
museum piece.
"Young people, who have the video games and all those fancy toys and those nice
phones, they are amazed.
"They come in here and they are mesmerised by this fine old antique I call the
Bengies drive-in and that does warm my heart like you would not believe."
Mr Vogel, who bought Bengies from his father more than 20 years ago, is still
using the same projection equipment his family installed when they opened the
theatre in 1956.
'Scary' time
Maintaining the two vintage projectors, and splicing film together with classic
trailers to provide a continuous show for customers, are what he enjoys most
about the job and although he believes digital will rob the drive-in of some of
its magic, he is in no mood to throw in the towel.
"There is something so special about sunset to me. That moment before twilight.
That even when I am not operating, I will look at that screen and my heart pines
to put light up there."
Mr Vogel, who is also administrative secretary of the United Drive-In Theatre
Owners association, says it is a "scary" time for many of his members.
"You would think the distributors would take special care of the little guy and,
truthfully, I don't think they really care. I think they already figure the
screen count's going to go down."
Few drive-in owners will go hungry, even if they are forced to shut up shop.
Many are sitting on prime real estate and should be able to look forward to a
comfortable retirement.
'Retiring to Florida'
They are also reluctant to be seen as standing in the way of progress.
"I have seen digital and it is brilliant," says Steve Wilson, owner of the
Holiday Drive-In, in Mitchell, Indiana, but he believes the distributors have
pushed the technology on independent operators too quickly, before the price of
the hardware has a chance to come down.
And he believes that if drive-ins are allowed to die, the US will lose a little
piece of its soul.
"I think it is a big loss to the American people. Everywhere, you see theatres
winding down and people are just aghast at what is going on, but they cannot do
anything about it."
He will not be among the drive-in owners "retiring to Florida" after "selling
their land to Wal-Mart", he is quick to point out, and is currently looking for
a job after deciding to get out of the cinema business.
Fewer than 20 drive-in cinemas around the world have so far made the plunge into
digital, according to industry experts, and probably no more than four in the
US.
But the industry has proved remarkably resilient over the years.
Shankweiler's, which was the second drive-in theatre to open in the US, but may
well be the oldest one in the world to have stayed open continuously, even
bounced back from being destroyed by a hurricane in the 1950s.
It would be a shame, says Paul Geisinger, if it were to close now.
"I am going to toss a coin and decide what to do," he says. "By September 2012
we will either have converted to digital or will be packing our things into
boxes and closing it down."
You get the feeling this particular big screen story may yet have a sequel.
Article Link
DRIVE-IN THEATER
OWNERS FROM ACROSS THE NATION GATHER FOR THE 11TH
ANNUAL UDITOA CONVENTION AND TRADE SHOW
For Immediate Release:
Date: February 23, 2011
Kissimmee, FL. — “The
drive-in theatre not only remains a time honored American icon,
but in a down economy still offers the best value available for
family entertainment” said John Vincent, Jr., president of the
United Drive-in Theatre Owners Association (UDITOA).
Drive-in theatre owners
and operators from across the United States traveled to Florida
to learn the latest developments in theatre technology,
hospitality and operations and to share their perspective on
issues facing the industry.
Attendees were addressed
by National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) Executive
Director Kathy Conroy and senior NATO staff who updated the
group on industry issues as well as federal and state
legislative and regulatory initiatives. NATO solicited the
support of UDITOA members in working with decision makers to
pursue a legislative and regulatory agenda fair and favorable to
motion picture exhibitors.
Ongoing industry conversion to Digital
Projection was a major topic of interest. UDITOA wants to make
sure drive-in theatres are able to convert to the new technology
to ensure the ongoing success of this unique entertainment
option. Technical and financial challenges were reviewed.
Several Digital Projection manufacturers were present, some
providing hands on demonstrations.
Discussions included vigilance in preventing
movie theft, supporting the Motion Picture Association of
America (MPAA) voluntary rating system and ways in which UDITOA
members can play an even larger role in contributing to the Will
Rogers Institute.
Vincent was also pleased
to report the emergence of UDITOA as a valued participant in the
prestigious Intersociety for the Enhancement of Cinema
Presentation, Inc. Intersociety members are the driving forces
molding the direction of the industry and UDITOA is honored to
join these distinguished organizations.
UDITOA members have
delivered valuable insights and unique, creative solutions to
the challenges inherent to the drive-in theatre industry. “From
concession improvements to picking the right novelties to
training our workers, our members are fully invested in doing
everything they can to enhance our patrons’ experience when they
visit our theatres,” said Vincent.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Representing
Drive-in Theatres across the United States and internationally
since 1999, the United Drive-in Theatre Owners Association, Inc.
(UDITOA) is the premier association promoting the welfare of
owners and operators of drive-in motion picture theatres and the
interests of the movie-going public. UDITOA is a 501 [c] [6]
organization.
Visit
www.uditoa.org for more information or call 443-490-1250 to
leave a voicemail message.
Members in
attendance at the 11th annual UDITOA Convention & Trade Show
Projecting
Success:
Drive-In Owner
is the Reel Deal
Oswego
Michele Reed
April 22, 2011
Some people work a second job and call
it moonlighting.
John
Nagelschmidt ’66 means it
literally.
Since 1961 — summers as a SUNY
Oswego student, and on the side throughout a
30-year career as a teacher — Nagelschmidt
has been screening stars while working under
the stars at the Midway Drive-In. In 1987,
he bought the outdoor theatre, halfway
between Oswego and Fulton, on Route 48 in
Minetto. This year marks his 50th
anniversary at Midway.
It’s one of only a handful of drive-in
theatres left. In their 1950s heyday, 4,063
dotted the American landscape. Today there
are 374 across the country, according to the
United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association.
At their peak,
nearly 200 drive-ins thrived in New York
state. Less than 30 remain, and Nagelschmidt
has a hand in two: as sole owner of Midway
and a partner in the Black River Drive-In in
Watertown.
The outdoor theatres evoke images of
mid-century nostalgia: mom, dad and kids in
pajamas, watching Lassie movies in the
station wagon; a bulky speaker affixed to
the door; soda cups and popcorn boxes
dancing across the screen; mosquito coils
for sale at the concession stand; teenage
couples intent on acting out love scenes
like the ones on film.
 It
was into this world that Nagelschmidt
stepped in 1961. He had just been accepted
to Oswego, having won a merit scholarship,
surprising everyone — including the guidance
counselor who told him to stop kidding
around and get back to class. The Oswego
High School senior trekked up the hill to
the college and applied.
Since the scholarship covered tuition but
not books, he set about to earn some money.
When a cross-country teammate who worked at
Midway told him about an opening,
Nagelschmidt took a chance. He started work
in the concession stand that summer and has
since done every job at the outdoor theatre.
Going with the flow
Nagelschmidt is an easy-going,
soft-spoken guy who takes things as they
come. An education major with certification
in earth science and physics at Oswego, he
did his student teaching at Fulton Junior
High.
 “They
were relatively pleased with me,” he says.
“When there was an opening at the high
school, they suggested I talk to the
principal and they found a spot for me over
there. I kind of went with the flow.”
He would go with that flow for nearly 30
years, working summers at the theatre and
teaching, first physical science and then
earth science, at G.Ray Bodley High School
until his retirement in 1995.
“Throughout college it was very
convenient, working in the summer, and
teaching was the same schedule,” he says of
his Midway job. “Sunday nights could be a
little interesting. We would run the first
two features, and then run the first one
over again if some people came in late. I
would be there until 3 a.m.” and get up
early to teach on Monday morning.
Admittedly a night owl, Nagelschmidt
still enjoys screening that late showing,
usually sending his staff home after the
second flick and running the projector
himself.
There are about 15 employees: a couple
doing maintenance, a projectionist, and a
ticket taker. The rest work the concession
stand. While Nagelschmidt was teaching, many
were his students. Now the second generation
is on board, some the children of those he
taught.
Midway's
opening night program from June 18,
1948.
Nagelschmidt himself wears a lot of
different hats at the drive-in and his weeks
are busy. He orders and picks up supplies,
chooses movies, does the advertising, keeps
the books and performs maintenance at the
theatre.
“But I never go to work,” he says. “When
it becomes work, I’m done!”
Nagelschmidt suspects that he would long
ago have tired of the routine if it were a
12-month operation, instead of the current
mid-April to early-November season. “So far
each year when spring rolls around I’m eager
to go another year,” he says. “The same can
be said for those 30 years of teaching and
the recharge that came with summers, but
that was more like work.”
On movie nights, he hangs out at the
concession stand and chats with customers.
And there are a healthy number of them.
Seasonal attendance averages 30,000, and in
the next couple of years, he expects the two
millionth customer to pass through the
gates.
Midway has a lot of regulars, many of
whom are Nagelschmidt’s former students and
their families. If they miss a weekend, they
will give him an excuse for their absence.
“All of them obviously love drive-ins,” he
says. “They go out on the road and come back
and report on the other theatres they go
to.”
Popcorn and pizza
The menu has changed quite a bit since
Nagelschmidt first tied on an apron at the
concession stand in 1961. Back then the food
was simple: hot dogs, popcorn, soda, ice
cream novelties and potato chips.
The scent of
mosquito repellant coils brings back
memories of movies under the stars.
Popcorn is still the biggest seller, but
Midway’s homemade pizza comes in a close
second. Cheese fries are big, and customers
love Midway’s own version of the Texas hot.
He’d like to expand the menu even more, but
space is limited. As it is, they use every
nook and cranny of the historic snack bar.
“We keep it simple and good,”
Nagelschmidt says. “We pride ourselves on
the fact that our food is cooked to order.
It’s good quality food.”
He’s upgraded the viewing experience,
too, taking on new technology as it becomes
available, while retaining the nostalgic
look and feel of the operation. Films run on
the original 1948 Century projectors,
modified to accommodate updated sound
technology. Since the drive-in opened, about
5,000 films have been shown, totaling nearly
245 million feet of film. That’s 46,000
miles, or twice around the earth, the former
science teacher notes.
New xenon lamps give a brighter look to
the images on the original screen, which was
expanded once in the 1950s to accommodate
the wider Cinemascope.
And since Nagelschmidt has long done away
with the bulky speakers that hung on the
windows of the car doors and sound is
broadcast on an FM channel, viewers open
their car windows and sit on the grass,
hoods of cars and backs of pick up trucks,
adding to the party atmosphere. “It’s like
tailgating, but we don’t allow alcohol,” he
stresses. “We like to keep a nice, family
atmosphere.”
Family is important to Nagelschmidt. He
lives just six miles from where he grew up,
and SUNY Oswego is a family tradition. His
son, John Nagelschmidt ’02,
was a communications major and is on staff
at WRVO-FM on campus. Daughter Heidi
Nagelschmidt M ’04 earned her master’s
degree at Oswego and teaches at Fulton,
following in her father’s footsteps.
Tech revolution
Looking to the future, Nagelschmidt
foresees challenges that could spell the end
of drive-ins unless they are able to adapt.
Instead of 18-minute reels of film, movies
will be delivered in digital format. Some
theatres have already adapted.
John
Nagelschmidt '66 is celebrating half a
century at Midway Drive-In, one of two
outdoor theatres he owns.
An even bigger issue is 3-D — is it a
phenomenon worth investing thousands of
dollars to embrace, or a passing fad?
Nagelschmidt predicts his Watertown
operation — which he co-owns with former
student Loren Knapp — will adapt more
quickly to the digital revolution.
The two rebuilt the Black River Drive-In
from the bottom up, doing all the work
themselves.
It’s a DIY work ethic rooted in
Nagelschmidt’s background. His father ran
Johnny’s Fix-It Shop in Oswego. The business
card read, “We mend anything … but broken
hearts.”
John Jr. and his brother were Johnny’s
official dismantlers — but their father
insisted they had to know how to put
anything back together. Now Nagelschmidt
puts that knowledge to use at Midway.
“Very rarely will I call in a
contractor,” he says. “I like to do things
myself. That’s probably why I got into
physics at Oswego — it kind of makes the
world go round.”
Nagelschmidt’s influences at Oswego
included Norris Goldsmith, who taught
freshman physics and had worked on the
Manhattan Project; Richard Shineman in
chemistry (“a good man”), Raymond Schneider
of geology and Bob Sykes of meteorology
(“the father of lake effect snow around
here”).
But while reminiscing is fun,
Nagelschmidt doesn’t like to live in the
past. He’s always looking ahead, attending
yearly conventions of the United
Drive-In Theatre Owners Association to learn
better techniques for running the Midway. He
already had websites (MidwayDriveIn.com
and
BlackRiverDriveIn.com) and as a result
of last year’s convention, is
now on Facebook with just shy of 5,000
“fans.”
“The key is finding a way to get the word
out,” he says, and especially with the
soldiers at Fort Drum and other young
patrons, the Web and social media are the
way to go.
It’s an irony that’s not lost on
Nagelschmidt. “Even though you think of
drive-ins as old school,” he says, “modern
technology has helped to bring them back.”
Midway
Drive-In screens plenty of
family-friendly features each summer.
Article Link
New owners plan to open
drive-in on N SR 53 soon
The Advertise-Tribune
MaryAnn Kromer
April 25, 2011
In its heyday, the Tiffin Drive-In on North SR 53 was the
place for families to go on a Friday or Saturday night and
for couples to have an inexpensive date.
This week, Rod and Donna Saunders of Liberty Center are
expecting to become new owners of the drive-in.
In 2007, the Saunders' built the Field of Dreams Drive-In
in Liberty Center, and they have been running it as a
family. Rod is a teacher at Woodmore High School in Toledo,
so he wanted a business he could operate during the summer
months. Donna works at Owens Corning in Toledo. At the time
they got started, they worried about the decline in the
economy, but those concerns have turned out to be minor.
"We've found that, no matter how bad the economy gets,
people still need their escape from their own personal
reality. Movies are an inexpensive way for people to
escape," Donna said.
She said Rod had looked into buying a second site in
Gibsonburg but learned it would not be available. Then
earlier this year they heard the Tiffin Drive-In was not to
be re-opened for the season.
The Barrs, who live in the Cleveland area, said they were
retiring and selling their theater businesses around the
state, including the one in Tiffin. Rod said Norman was
making arrangements to put the Tiffin theater on the market.
Online, Rod found a short video of the property, but he had
not been there in person. Even so, he expressed interest in
its purchase.
"I knew where Tiffin was, but I had no idea how to get
here," Rod said.
Back in Ohio, the couple visited the site in person and
brought in other people to assess its condition. Rod said
trees were growing in front of the screen, and he saw the
need to modernize the restrooms. With enough time and money,
he felt it could be brought up to code.
The Saunders made an offer and the Barrs accepted.
In March, Rod received permission to start cleaning up
the grounds, even though the closing had not occurred.
"We've had people stop by because they've noticed people
out working. They pull in and say, "What are you doing?' ...
Once they find out we're going to keep it a drive-in and not
destroy it, they are really excited," Donna said.
Rod is working with commercial inspectors from Richland
County to make sure the wiring, plumbing and other systems
are adequate.
A contractor already has been secured to repair and paint
the large screen. The Saunders and family members plan to do
much of the work themselves.
"We'd love to be open by Memorial Day, at least with the
first screen. We're planning on adding a second screen, and
we're hoping to have that second screen up by June," Donna
said.
"Our plans are, first and foremost, to put a great
picture on the screen ... but we also want to make it look
appealing, a safe place for families to come and spend the
evening," Rod said.
If constructed, the second screen would measure about 45
feet wide by 20 feet high and serve 90-100 vehicles.
With two screens, the Saunders would be able to have a
different first-run movie every week. During the first week,
each film would run on the main screen and then move to the
secondary screen the second week. Rod said movies that
attract a large audience could run on the larger screen both
weeks. Patrons would have more options for viewing new
releases.
"When you have first-run movies, the distributors require
that you keep that movie for two weeks, sometimes three
weeks," Donna explained. "Every weekend, then, we will have
four movies showing, because we have double features."
The Tiffin theater is being renamed Field of Dreams
Drive-In-Tiffin. The new name is to let people know it is
under new management with ties to the Saunders' original
drive-in. Donna said the pricing and food menu will be
similar at both locations. Children under age 5 will be
admitted free, and food at the concessions stand will be
made from scratch.
The house on the Tiffin site is to be refurbished and
Denton Saunders, the couple's oldest child, is to live there
during the season to manage the theater. He is a junior at
Bowling Green State University, studying to be a teacher.
Experienced staff from the Liberty Center theater are to be
brought in to do quality control and train a few new hires
in Tiffin.
In doing informal surveys, the couple learned that area
residents had stopped coming to the Tiffin drive-in because
of its decrepit condition and poor service. The new owners
want to treat customers well to keep them coming back. The
tactic has worked so far.
"We have found that word-of-mouth advertising is our best
advertising. Once people find out about us and try us, they
just tell everybody they know about us. We have grown by
leaps and bounds," Donna said.
"One of us plans to be here every night," Rod said.
The Liberty Center Field of Dreams Drive-In opened Friday
night with "Ringo" and "Hop."
Article Link
Bro, Go Retro At These 7 Drive-In Theaters
AOL Travel
Alison Lowenstein
March 31, 2011
Long gone are the days of watching movies at a
drive-in or listening to films via portable radio.
Or are they? In a world of Netflix and multiplexes,
the drive-in movie theater is a major piece of
cinema history that thankfully didn't go the way of
CinemaScope. Located on country fields or parking
lots on the outskirts of cities, a handful of mostly
family-owned theaters still exist.
Maybe it's the allure of the 1950s, when life wasn't
filled with smart phones and social media, but folks
are flocking back to drive-in theaters. What's the
allure? Documentary filmmaker April Wright, working
to complete "Going Attractions: The Rise and Fall of
the American Drive-in Movie Theater," seeks to
answer that question. She traveled to every state
(except Alaska) to visit almost 500 open, abandoned,
and former sites of drive-ins to make the film.
"Drive-ins were originally a family experience, and
today it's returned to that idea," Wright told AOL
Travel. "Not to mention it's inexpensive."
From a Midwestern theater that's open year-round to
a drive-in movie theater sitting on the outskirts of
a major US city, these drive-ins are worth a visit.
Bengies Drive-In,
Baltimore
Open seasonally, this drive-in is just a short trip
from downtown Baltimore. Open since 1956, Bengies
has the biggest screen in the country, with up to
three films shown a night on their one screen. Like
most drive-ins, Bengies tries to show family films
during the first screening of the night.
Ford Drive-In,
Dearborn, Michigan
Also known as the Ford Wyoming, the five-screen
theater has been open since the 1950s and continues
to show first run flicks. Unlike most drive-in movie
theaters, which operate on a seasonal basis, this
drive-in is open year-round and it's located in the
heart of the Midwest, known for extreme winters.
During the winter, the theater only operates on
weekends.
Shankweilers,
Orefield, Pennsylvania
Open since 1934, Shankweilers is the oldest drive-in
in America. Roughly an hour's drive from
Philadelphia, the drive-in has one screen that shows
double feature. Check out nearby
Becky's Drive-In
, which has 2 screens and also offers pony
rides.
Corral Drive In
Corral
Drive-In,
Guymon, Oklahoma
This 200-car drive-in, closed in the 1980s, sat
vacant until it was restored and reopened in 2009.
Kids will love the arcade, playground and assortment
of inflatable bouncers (including an 18 foot dump
truck slide). For overnighters, the theater recently
opened an adjacent RV park.
Warwick Drive-In,
Warwick, NY
Located only ninety minutes from New York City,
Warwick is known more for its apple orchards and
charming main street. But the town also offers a
three-screen, double-feature drive-in that was
opened in 1950. The theater is open seasonally from
March through October.
Wellfleet Drive-In,
Wellfleet, Massachusetts
The only drive-in on Cape Cod, the theater is
consistently filled with visitors all summer. Built
in 1957, the theater runs double features of first
run films on their one screen. The drive-in has an
ice cream parlor, a mini-golf course and playground
(it also doubles as a flea market on select days).
Delsea, Vineland, New Jersey
Even though the state was home to the first
drive-in, the Delsea, built in the 1940s, is New
Jersey's sole reminder of times gone by. In 2003, it
was restored and now has two screens that show
current films seasonally. The Delsea also offers
something others don't: a snackbar with an extensive
menu of Atkins-friendly choices.
Article Link
Courtesy photos
A modified pole barn is being used by
the Huntington Drive-In to set up a
second screen.
Until temps hit the mid-50s last week,
this was shaping up to be one of the
most discontented winters of all the
winters of our discontent. Should
temps dip back down to subzero levels,
we will have some gloriously summery
news to sustain us: The owners of the
Huntington Drive-In theater, John and
Nellie Detzler, are putting the
finishing touches on a second screen.
This development comes a year after
those same owners indicated that they
would be retiring soon.
It’s not as contradictory as it might
seem. John Detzler says it was his plan
all along to install a second screen.
But fate kept intervening.
“Life happens,” as he puts it.
Playground and concession stand
renovations were a priority after the
Detzlers bought the property a decade
ago.
And then in 2005, a windstorm knocked
down the newly refurbished main screen
and that set things back even more.
As Detzler tried to secure financing
for the second screen, he looked for
ways to do it more cheaply than the
standard steel model.
His initial idea was to attach the
screen to a tower of stacked cargo
containers but the city put the kibosh
on that.
Then he heard tell of a new trend in
the drive-in movie biz (such as the biz
and new trends in it are these days):
pole barns.
Some theater operators who wanted to
add an economical second screen were
attaching them to modified pole barns.
Detzler says he was able to add a
barn, screen and second projection booth
to his property for what it would have
cost to build a traditional steel
screen.
The Detzlers bought no new land for
the project.
They are merely splitting up the
existing space: patrons will just point
their cars at whatever screen is showing
the movie they came to see.
“A lot of (theaters) do this because
it is very rare to have a sellout,”
Detzler says. “We usually don’t come
close to selling out.”
This is far from a risky venture. In
fact, it will ease some of the
frustrations that are unique to the
drive-in movie business.
In the Huntington Drive-In’s
single-screen days, Detzler could not
show all of the movies he wanted to
show.
Each new summer blockbuster comes
with a two- or three-week guarantee,
Detzler says, meaning that he is
prohibited from swapping that film out
for another during the agreed-upon
period. Neither can he pair it with a
film from another studio, he says.
With big films opening every weekend
in the summer, Detzler used to have to
pick and choose.
“Last year we had to pass on ‘Karate
Kid,’ ” he says. “We never did end up
playing it, and it was a shame. It was a
good PG-rated family movie.”
Now, Detzler can shift a movie in its
second week of release to his second
screen and open a new movie on the main
one. “Cars 2” and “Transformers 3” open
within a week of each other this summer,
Detzler says, and in the past he would
have had to pass on “Transformers 3” or
show it at a much later date. Now he can
bring both films to the theater.
The new scheme of things will make
the Huntington Drive-In theater much
more profitable and, therefore, more
attractive to potential buyers.
Yes, the Detzlers are still thinking
about retirement. But Detzler says he
would never consider just closing the
theater to achieve it.
“No, I certainly wouldn’t do that,”
he says.
Detzler has spent his entire adult
life as an owner and projectionist in
the movie exhibition biz, mostly in Lake
County.
He says he started to consider the
purchase of a drive-in when projectors
became more automated and the job of
projectionist was handed over to
untrained concessions workers and
ushers.
In this age of digital movies, it is
easy to forget what a brouhaha this
caused among union projectionists, not
to mention cinephiles who quickly grew
tried of unfocused and badly framed
movies.
The Huntington Drive-In is still all
celluloid and there will always be a man
on site who knows his way around a
projector – the way Itzhak Perlman knows
his way around a fiddle.
Detzler says that whoever buys the
Huntington theater has to be a special
kind of person, perhaps someone who
fully appreciates the enduring
specialness of drive-ins.
“The buyer has to be someone who
doesn’t mind giving up every weekend all
summer long,” he says. “It is something
that they really have to enjoy doing,
especially on holiday weekends. That’s
what the job is, because that’s what
people are coming here for, to enjoy
themselves.”
As hard and exhausting as the job can
be sometimes, Detzler says he still gets
a thrill walking the perimeter at dusk.
“Yeah, I get the show started … and
walk by the cars up front. Kids are
there playing and families have blankets
spread out. Moms and dads are sitting on
lawn chairs and you just know you are
doing something different. It can be
very satisfying and rewarding.
“Just not necessarily monetarily,” he
says with a laugh. “But sometimes
monetarily!”
Article Link
Drive-Ins Enter the Digital Age
Digital Cinema Report
Nick Dager
August 13, 2010
For more than half a century, the Spud Drive-In has been
a local landmark in Diggs, Idaho. Last month, with
screenings of Despicable Me and Robin Hood, it became
America’s first true digital drive-in. While other
outdoor theatres have used digital projectors to show
DVDs to large outdoor audiences, Spud is the only
drive-in to date to actually employ digital cinema
projection and surround sound audio. They plan to
install 3D technology this month.
When Spud made the decision to go digital, timing was of
the essence. Since the drive-in movie season is
relatively short in Idaho, it was important to get a
projector online quickly for the July opening. Barco was
able to provide a projector within a few weeks.
“We looked at a lot of options, but the Barco projector
was the ideal fit for the drive-in movie environment
because of its low power requirements, liquid cooling,
and of course, incredible image quality and reputation
for reliability,” says Spud's chief operating officer,
Keith Zednik. “It's just amazing – like nothing I've
ever seen before. With the Barco projector, we'll be
able to continue for another 50 years, not only as a
movie exhibitor, but as a total entertainment provider.”
Spud plans to offer alternative content packages to
customers, including wedding receptions, non-profit,
club and community functions, and even live simulcast
sports events and concerts.
John Fithian, president of the National Association of
Theatre Owners, says, “Drive-ins are an important part
of the theatre business. At NATO, we are pleased to see
Barco providing a digital projector solution capable of
illuminating drive-in screens. We are confident that
drive-ins will continue to flourish in the digital age
and congratulate the Spud on being the first of many
drive-ins to offer their customers the digital
experience.”
United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association president
Paul F. Geissinger says, “We congratulate the Spud Drive
In and their digital partner Barco in providing their
patrons and the motion picture industry with the first
digital projection system at a traditional drive-in
theatre. This is an historic event for drive-in
theatres, a true icon of Americana, which we view as
only the beginning of what will be a huge transition to
the digital age by drive-in motion picture theatres.”
 Spud
Drive-In Theater is one of the last American drive-in
theaters, and one heck of a roadside attraction. It is
most famous for Old Murphy, a 1946 Chevy cab-over truck
that carries a two-ton potato. Old Murphy sits in front
of the screen and has been photographed by travelers
from all over the world.
The Spud was built in the spring of 1953 by Ace Wood and
opened its doors that July. It was a state-of-the-art
facility back then, using mono-speakers that hung in the
windows to broadcast the audio and twin carbon ark real
to real projectors. Today, the audio is transmitted
through FM stereo. Some things have been updated at the
drive-in, but the spirit remains the same.
The exhibitor launched its digital premiere with a
double feature on Friday, July 9th, showing Despicable
Me and Robin Hood. Attracting hundreds of moviegoers
from around the county, Spud enjoyed its largest crowd
of the season, breaking records for its Monday night
“$15 Per Car” promotion.
“The image quality was picture perfect, and it was so
easy to use – no technical problems at all. The Barco
has made my life a million times easier,” says Zednik.
Roger Bockert, owner of Heartland Theatre Services who
installed the new system, says, “If anyone out there is
still uncertain about putting digital in a drive-in,
Spud's experience will put their mind at ease. The
results have been even better than expected as far as
picture quality, light output, and reliable image.”
In business for more than 20 years, Bockert has
installed hundreds of digital projectors throughout the
Midwest in traditional theatres, and looks forward to
additional business in the drive-in market based on the
success of Spud's deployment.
“We're honored to work with Spud Drive In to pioneer
the first true digital cinema drive-in theatre. This
opportunity demonstrates the power and versatility of
Barco's products. We applaud Spud's entrepreneurial
spirit and desire to extend their entertainment options
with alternative content, which will showcase the Barco
projector's features and delight patrons for years to
come,” says Todd Hoddick, vice president, digital cinema
North America.
Article Link
First digital cinema
drive-in in U.S. selects Barco
Film Journal International
July 27, 2010
Barco deployed its digital-cinema projectors at Spud Drive
In in Driggs, Idaho, making the venue the first “true”
digital drive-in in America.
While other outdoor theatres have utilized digital
projectors to show DVDs to large outdoor audiences, Spud is
the only drive-in to date to actually employ digital-cinema
projection and surround sound, with 3D technology planned
for August showings.
John Fithian, president of the National Association of
Theatre Owners, commented, “Drive-ins are an important part
of the theatre business. At NATO, we are pleased to see
Barco providing a digital projector solution capable of
illuminating drive-in screens. We are confident that
drive-ins will continue to flourish in the digital age and
congratulate the Spud on being the first of many drive-ins
to offer their customers the digital experience.”
United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association (UDITOA)
president Paul F. Geissinger stated, “We congratulate the
Spud Drive In and their digital partner Barco in providing
their patrons and the motion picture industry with the first
digital projection system at a traditional drive-in theatre.
This is an historic event for drive-in theatres, a true icon
of Americana, which we view as only the beginning of what
will be a huge transition to the digital age by drive-in
motion picture theatres.”
“We looked at a lot of options, but the Barco projector was
the ideal fit for the drive-in movie environment because of
its low power requirements, liquid cooling, and of course,
incredible image quality and reputation for reliability,”
commented Spud’s chief operating officer, Keith Zednik. Spud
plans to offer alternative-content packages to customers,
including wedding receptions, nonprofit, club and community
functions, and even live simulcast sports events and
concerts.
The exhibitor launched its digital premiere with a double
feature on July 9, showing Despicable Me and Robin Hood.
Roger Bockert, owner of Heartland Theatre Services who
installed the new system, commented, “If anyone out there is
still uncertain about putting digital in a drive-in, Spud’s
experience will put their mind at ease. The results have
been even better than expected as far as picture quality,
light output and reliable image.”
Article Link
The
United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association (UDITOA)
Announces its 13th Annual
“UNOFFICIAL” Fall Gathering. November 11, 12 &
13, 2011
Fun for ALL Fellow Drive-In Owners, Operators and Managers, this
is a traditional, mainly social event for our organization and
allows non member drive in theatres to participate and meet
other drive-in owners, operators, managers and their guests.
INVITATIONS are being sent out the week of October 17, via US
Mail to all known drive-in theatres, members or not. If you
do not receive an invitation in the mail by October 24,
please email us through this website choosing Administrative
Secretary as the option in the drop down box. If you are a
drive-in theatre owner and have never received mail form our
organization and wish to be on our US Mailing List, please
contact us through this website as per the instructions above.
You DO NOT need to be a member to attend the Fall Gathering IF
you qualify for membership. To see if you qualify click here.
Some details of this event:
We will meet at the theatre on Friday night, November 11th
at 6pm for dinner and social time. Saturday’s events are local,
and mostly social, however there will be a CBG (Cinema Buying
Group) member to member discussion with the latest updates
specific to Drive-in Theatres lead by UDITOA President John
Vincent. John will also speak to the whole group on the Digital
rollout in general plus other industry issues. All persons
interested in making this conversion by the deadline, which has
been extended to September, 2012 are encouraged to attend this
gathering! On Sunday, November 13th at 10am
until about 2pm, GDC Technology (server manufacturer) will offer
a one session certification (training) course on GDC servers
(Free) in the Hotel conference room. PLEASE follow the
instructions on the invitation for RSVP to be included in these
events.
Archived
News
Copyright © - United
Drive-in Theatre Owners Association, Inc.
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“The
drive-in theatre not
only remains a time
honored American icon,
but in a down economy
still offers the best
value available for
family entertainment,”
said John Vincent, Jr.,
president of the UDITOA.
Technical
and financial challenges
were reviewed, according
to Vincent, who added
that several digital
projection manufacturers
were present, some
providing hands on
demonstrations.