Author Archives: mrdrivein

Sokol Park jumps on football bandwagon

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A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the Circle Drive-In (Dickson City PA) showing Monday Night Football and an annual Penn State game. Now the Omaha World-Herald lets us know that the new Sokol Park Drive-In of Bellevue NE is going to show the Nebraska football game this Saturday evening.

The World-Herald said the park will open at noon for tailgating and festivities up through game time at 6 pm. The first 150 cars get to park in front of the screen; later arrivals will need to park nearby and bring blankets or chairs to sit outside and watch.

“We are going to have an environment like being at the game,’’ said Sokol Park owner Brandon Miller. “You’ll be able to tailgate, hang out with your friends and actually watch the game from your tailgate party on a huge screen.”

Sokol Park will be showing movies through Halloween, then will close for the season. When it reopens next spring, it’ll probably have a new name, according to a note on the Sokol Park web site. “Having purchased Sokol Park this year, … (w)e originally intended to keep the name … . However, our family has no ties to the Sokol Organization and we want to take away any confusion that keeping the Sokol name may bring.” A new name, probably a new URL, it’ll all be something to watch out for.

 

Manitoba’s Stardust looks back on a great year

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Donated groceries on a drive-in concession stand counterWe have Pembina Valley Online to thank for the latest drive-in retrospective. Marlene Nelson, the part-owner of the Stardust Drive-In, near Morden MB, described her first year with a digital projector as “phenomenal.”

Although the new projector was installed just days before opening night, the Stardust Drive-In was open every weekend from May 21 to the close of the season. Nelson described some of her promotions, including outreach nights with local churches, and some “throwback Thursdays” for old movies. On one Thursday, patrons were encouraged to bring non-perishable food for the local food bank.

There’s a lot more to the article, including plenty of details, a touch of history, and a much better version of the photo I have thumbnailed here. You really should go read it!

Videos capture the end of Motor Vu’s season

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Was it the final weekend of 2016, or forever? Only time will tell the fate of the Motor Vu of Dallas OR. In any case, KATU, Portland’s News Leader, was there for a live report from the packed drive-in.

Jeff Mexico, co-owner of Motor Vu, said the landowner wants over $1 million. After announcing on Facebook that the drive-in might close for good, Mexico was surprised by the depth of support and calls for crowdfunding. (“We weren’t expecting this,” he wrote.) The decision on how to move forward should come in the next week or two.

Meanwhile, I’m always grateful for any video that conveys the drive-in experience, and KATU’s report is much better than most. Enjoy!

Update: Mexico announced that he’s turned to Indiegogo as his crowdfunding platform. As he wrote on Facebook, “If we get close to goal we will purchase the land and pay mortgage on the rest. If we don’t get close to the goal we will cancel and no funds will be collected.” Make your donation pledge here.

And as a bonus, here’s another very good drive-in experience video from KGW, Portland’s other News Leader.