Category Archives: Illinois

Clark 54 Drive-In for sale, cheap

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Clark 54 drive-in signKHQA, the Tri-States’ News Leader, reports that the Clark 54 Drive-In of Summer Hill IL is for sale, and the official Clark 54 web site confirms it.

According to KHQA, owner Mike Glass isn’t selling because of the looming conversion to digital projection or a lack of business, but “for personal reasons.” Okay.

The Clark 54 opened in 1952. KHQA says that a real estate agent said it’s averaged over $61,000 in annual profit over the last six years. The 70-foot screen was recently refurbished “and the septic system has been given health department approval.” I’m all in favor of that! And I know that the Clark 54 already has a Facebook page, because that’s where I borrowed the thumbnail to illustrate this news note. For another couple of photos and a few more details, check out the KHQA article.

The listing price is reported to be $245,000. If you’re interested, contact Wade Real Estate at 217-285-2774.

Harvest Moon reaches its fundraising goal

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Harvest Moon Drive-In logoThe Paxton (IL) Record reports that the Harvest Moon Twin Drive-In (Gibson City) reached its fundraising goal of $165,000 and will reopen for a new season on March 29. We’ve been following this saga on Carload here and here.

Manager Ben Harroun said that he’s waiting to hear from his supplier to know when the new digital projection equipment will be installed. In addition, the money will be used to refurbish the marquee, snack bar, gift shop and restrooms, and the old-time carousel will be painted with a new canopy.

More than 800 individuals and companies donated to the fundraiser, and on Tuesday, a $10,000 donation from Neal Tire & Auto in Gibson City put them over the top. For more details, go check out that article.

Update: Pantagraph.com, apparently tied in with the Gibson City Courier, provides a few more details and a really nice photo of the Harvest Moon’s marquee.

LA Times profiles Rubidoux’s digital conversion

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Rubidoux Drive-in screenThe Los Angeles Times ran a great story last weekend about the digital projection conversion and the problems it is giving drive-ins in general and the Rubidoux Drive-In (Riverside CA) in particular.

I don’t want to bury the lead, so the good news is that the Rubidoux plans to make the conversion. We also learn that the Cascade (West Chicago IL) will also convert despite the failure of its Kickstarter campaign. Writer Laura J. Nelson sets this positive news in a grim setting, that the switch will be difficult for more drive-ins and fatal to some.

Nelson gives the best description of the economics of digital projection, including Hollywood’s plan and the special problems posed by the drive-in projection booth. That’s just another part of a great, sweeping article that touches on the history of drive-ins, its recent casualties, and the appeal of seeing movies under the stars.

If you’re a drive-in fan at all, you’ve got to check out the full article with its 19 accompanying photos. It’s also got two great graphs using United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association data showing the rise and decline of drive-ins by year and the current drive-in population by state. Go read it!