This was expected for months, but it’s still sad. The Apache Drive-In, (Globe AZ) which had survived so many drive-in downturns, could not survive the shift to digital projection. It held its going-away party last weekend, as documented by public radio station KJZZ.

You can also see a video report from KSAZ, Phoenix’s news leader, about the Apache’s final celebration, but KSAZ uses Worldnow video, which I can’t embed here.

Stina Sieg of KJZZ provided a magnificent time capsule of the evening’s event, including a slideshow, a link to the audio report, and a well-edited transcript of that report, which mentioned an ironic touch. “Tonight’s movie was supposed to be that Charles Grodin/Robert De Niro flick, ‘Midnight Run,’” Sieg said. “It was partially filmed in Globe. However, 35 millimeter prints of it simply don’t exist anymore.”

Now the lights are out for good. Today that Do Not Enter photo I took in April of the Apache’s one-way exit applies to the entrance as well.

Update: On the Friday before that last party, NPR also ran a story and interview about the closing of the Apache. You can listen to it or read its transcript here.