The Cape Breton Post reports that the Cape Breton Drive-In (Nova Scotia) will open for its final weekend of the season this season. It quotes the guy who operates it as saying that the drive-in has been losing money for 10 years, and might not reopen next spring. It faces the now-typical need for digital projection equipment and the less-typical need for a new screen. (Do digital projectors need different screens?)

A look at Google Maps suggests that this isn’t one of those drive-ins that’s in danger of surrendering to a Walmart or condo development, but I suppose you can’t just keep losing money. The article says the Cape Breton might hold some fundraisers to get enough to pay for the equipment and stuff. Here’s hoping.

The Hamilton Spectator reports on the Starlite Drive-In (Hamilton ON) and other Ontario drive-ins that are doing great after pouring lots of cash into digital projection equipment. Brian Allen, head of the company that owns the Starlite and more Ontario drive-ins, says that 2012 has been one of their best years ever, and that business keeps improving every year.

“The demand for drive-ins never disappeared,” Allen said recently, “but supply has fallen off because of the demands of real estate.” Sounds like a formula for increasing the value of any drive-ins that stay alive.

If you want to see what a digital movie hard drive and its shipping container look like, check out the photos in the article. And if you ever visit Hamilton, be sure to take in a Tiger-Cats game.

The Winnipeg Free Press ran an article over the weekend about two drive-ins in Manitoba that are struggling to find the cash to buy digital projection equipment. The Stardust (Morden) and Shamrock (Killarney) both face an uncertain future as they go into the off-season without the right stuff to reopen in the spring. And it suggests that the Big Island (Flin Flon) just isn’t coming back next year.

The article includes a couple of okay photos, but it excels in its quotes from the business people facing the odd situation of asking the community to donate so they can continue to make a profit. (Hey, it works all the time when pro sports teams need a new stadium. But I digress.)

“Meanwhile, the sign where movie titles normally go outside the Shamrock theatre now reads, ‘Closed Until Digital.'” Check it out.

photo by: noricum