Category Archives: South Carolina

Video: Big Mo Zapped By Lightning

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The Monetta Drive In Theatre, typically called “The Big Mo,” in Monetta SC was hit by a lightning strike Sunday night, knocking out two of its three screens. WJBF, Augusta’s News Leader, ran a story last night talking about owner Richard Boaz’s work to get everything running again.

The power surge disabled the air conditioner and two projectors, and Boaz has been tracking down digital projector parts. He’s also waiting for a technician from Virginia to do a complete inspection of the equipment, hopeful that no more damages are discovered.

Insurance might cover some of the damage. In any event, the plan is to fix the air conditioner so at least the main screen will be available tonight. Although I wish the occasion was happier, it’s always nice to share some video to see what the drive-in looks like today.

Video: Highway 21 keeps tradition alive in SC

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A couple of weeks ago, The Beaufort (SC) Gazette ran a slice-of-life feature about a typical weekend at the Highway 21 Drive-In there. It’s a lengthy, well-written, gentle article about the day-to-day chores of keeping the place running right and a tribute to the Highway 21 making a Travel Channel list of 10 Classic drive-ins.

Since the Gazette waited a few weeks before running this story, I don’t feel as bad that I waited a few weeks to tell you about it. The good news is that it lets me embed just a bit of video from the Highway 21. But the article has plenty of fun details and several nice photos, so you really should go read it!

Meet the final (?) four winners of Project Drive-In

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Today, Honda announced four more winners of its Project Drive-In contest to award digital projection systems. The latest lucky drive-ins include:

Ocala Drive-In, Ocala FL, the only Florida entrant in the contest.

Starlite Drive-In, Cadet MO, which somehow escaped our seemingly exhaustive four-part list of news stories about the candidates.

Monetta Drive-In, Monetta SC, The Big MO.

StateLine Drive-In, Elizabethton TN, sorry that I misspelled StateLine as two words during the project round-up.

So far Honda hasn’t taken my forwarded suggestion to finance the 140+ other drive-ins that still need digital equipment, but it is extending its fundraiser through the end of 2013. I think that local fundraisers stand a lot better chance of success than this national effort, but what do I know?

Here’s one more way to help. Honda has donated a 2014 Odyssey Touring Elite as an incentive on the Project Drive-In fundraising page. (You’ll need to scroll way down to the bottom of the page to see it.) If you make a $50,000 donation, you get the brand new Odyssey minivan, and you get the warm feeling of knowing that you help fund an additional digital projector to save another drive-in from closing. Plus you get your name in Honda’s next drive-in video. If you were planning on buying one of these anyway, why not do it here?