“ Watching a movie is a community experience ...” April Wright
It ’ s been more than 80 years since Richard M . Hollingshead hung a sheet in his New Jersey backyard , mounted a projector on the hood of his car and hollered , “ Eureka !” ( we ’ re assuming .) The first drive-in movie opened in June 1933 ; in 80 years the number of drive-in screens has climbed as high as 5000 and then fallen as low as 500 . And the number ’ s still not stable – since the year 2000 , more than 60 screens have opened or reopened , and the number is climbing .
“ It ’ s a really strange year ,” says Wright , director of the documentary Going Attractions . “ The drive-ins that are open are doing well .”
While it may seem that we can ’ t make up our mind about the drive-in – is it a relic from the past or a refound treasure ? – the jury ’ s in on outdoor movies in general . In the absence of a permanent screen in our area – Stevie Ray ’ s Drive-In in Tilbury opened last summer , then closed with no public explanation – temporary versions are popping up like mushrooms . “ We have at least two bookings per week between here and Sarnia ,” says Redline Inflatables owner Dan Gates of their inflatable screens . “ Church groups , corporate events , community gatherings . We ’ re busy .”
Movies in the park , movies at the marina , even movies in your own backyard : Walmart USA offers a 12-foot screen for sale for less than $ 200 . With thousands being spent on home theatre systems and larger-than-life TV screens , what ’ s driving this return to the great outdoors to watch our favourite flicks ?
“ Part of it ’ s nostalgia ,” says Gates . “ And it ’ s a different atmosphere , to watch a movie outdoors with 200 other people .”
Wright agrees . “ Watching a movie is a community experience we obviously crave . There are rooftop gatherings in New York City , and a cemetery in Los Angeles where they run movies all summer . People are trying to recapture what they lost .”
“ People ’ s memories of the drive-in are very visceral and very vivid . They remember what kind of car they drove , what movies they saw , what they ate .”
Remember those cheesy intermission commercials ? Watch them on YouTube right here !
August 2013 - The HUB 11