Author Archives: mrdrivein

Town and Country raises enough cash to survive

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Town & Country Drive-In (click to visit)The Town and Country Drive-In, which we profiled here in December, announced that it has raised enough money to continue operating. In a press release, quoted in the Abilene Reporter News, owner Glenda Thornton said that the “Go Digital or Go Dark” campaign had succeeded. “Thanks to this support we were able to obtain financing and make a down payment to get the project going,” Thornton said in the release. KTXS, Abilene’s News Leader, also has a story and a nice video segment about this good news.

Since the amount raised was just a down payment, fundraisers will continue this year to pay off the new digital projectors. The drive-in is also looking for volunteers. If you’re interested, you can sign up at the Town and County’s Facebook page.

Kanopolis set to reopen in March

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Kanopolis KS drive-in projectorThe Hutchinson (KS) News published an opinion piece with the uncontroversial assertion that “This summer you should drive up to Kanopolis to see a movie.” Sheila Lismon’s article was a celebration of the Kanopolis Drive-In, which announced on Facebook that it will reopen for another season March 8.

Any drive-in that continues showing movies in 2013 is a cause for celebration, but the Kanopolis is a special case. As documented in a 2011 Hutchinson News article, the Kanopolis had been closed for five years when a nearby family purchased and restored it to life. “It was a lot more work than I thought it would be,” said Amanda Webb, one of the owners.

That 2011 article mentions that the Kanopolis was using its original reel projectors, but that there were hopeful plans to go digital. Those plans must have come to fruition, because a December post on its Facebook page read: Still looking for that perfect Christmas present? Or do you need to get a gift for that person that seemingly has EVERYTHING? The Kanopolis Drive in is upgrading to digital and we need to clear out the vintage 35 mm equipment! All the equipment would make great additions to your home theater!

Such great news to keep our spirits high as we head into reopening (or not) season. Go read those articles and put a smile on your face!

Watch this great short about Colorado Drive-Ins

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I just realized that I haven’t shared this great short film with you. It’s called Projector: The Last Outdoor Cinemas of Colorado, and it looks like a labor of love for director Mike Liguori and his Thousand Foot Pictures.

Liguori hopes to expand the short into a feature-length documentary, which would be a great thing, of course. For the latest information, you can sign up for his email list or check his Facebook page.

Projector was filmed in 2010, before the digital conversion crisis reached its peak. Although it doesn’t point it out, the short interviews the two owners of the two unrelated Colorado theaters named Star Drive-In, one in Monte Vista and one in Montrose. Keep watching for glimpses of the playground still available in Monte Vista, the abandoned Frontier sign near Center CO, and the neon signs of the 88 of Commerce City. Check it out!