Category Archives: Video

Video: Construction May Begin Soon On Graham NC Drive-In

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The couple that owns the indoor theater in Graham NC says that they’ll soon be able to break ground on a new drive-in there. Sitting on a 34-acre lot just north of the interstate, the I-40 Drive-In will have room for about 1000 cars watching five screens, plus a restaurant, a playground, and mini golf.

Jennifer and Chuck Talley announced the project last March, as shown in the embedded video above from WFMY, Greensboro’s News Leader. (By the way, that’s a fine video if you were ever curious what a drive-in looks like before they break ground for it.) Back then, they had hoped it would be ready to open this spring. However, the Burlington Times-News reported this week that progress had been slowed by land preparation issues.

Chuck Talley told the News Leader that the drive-in had to have proper facilities to handle water drainage. “We’re making sure we have the retaining ponds and other things in place,” he said. Groundbreaking is now expected to take place this spring, followed by “six to eight months” of construction.

When the Triad Business Journal interviewed Jennifer Talley in March, she said the plan was inspired by Martin Murray, a co-owner of Graham’s indoor theater. She said Murray, a native of Alamance County NC, owns the four-screen Town and Country Drive-In Theatre in Abilene TX and the seven-screen Galaxy Drive-In Movie Theatre in Ennis.

“She said they’re optimistic the venture will succeed, and believes the Triad’s relatively mild climate makes conditions ideal for a drive-in theater,” wrote the Business Journal. Jennifer also said they hope to host car shows and music festivals at the I-40. Sounds like they’ve got a solid plan together, and I look forward to hearing more about it later this year.

 

Video: Goochland Gets A Logo On I-64

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Thanks to a friend in the Virginia state legislature, Goochland Drive-In Theater will have its logo placed on an “Attractions” sign on Interstate 64, according to a report yesterday by WTVR, Richmond’s News Leader.

Owner John Heidel had been trying for eight years to get on the official highway sign since out-of-state visitors “routinely drive past exit 152.” The Virginia Department of Transportation has a policy against movie theaters on interstate attraction signs.

This year, after a request from Heidel, state delegate John McGuire submitted a bill to exempt drive-ins from that policy. WTVR reported, “However, before the legislation went to a committee, McGuire set up a meeting with Heidel and state representatives who regulate the interstate signs. Following the meeting, VDOT said they would allow Goochland Drive-In to put their logo on the sign and McGuire withdrew the bill.”

Maybe that wouldn’t make sense for urban drive-ins, but many others are true tourist attractions. It would be great to see more mentions on the interstate, both to direct the rookies and to tell the unaware what a great opportunity they have to experience some live Americana.

Shankweiler’s Is For Sale

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The oldest active drive-in theater, probably the second commercial drive-in ever, is for sale. Owners Paul and Susan Geissinger say the asking price for Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theatre is $1.2 million. The Orefield PA landmark is in great shape by all accounts, but the Geissingers want to retire.

I was virtually there less than a month ago during the final week of my 2017 Drive-In-a-Day Odyssey, so its history is fresh on my mind. You can read more in that post, but the most relevant part is that the Geissingers bought the place around 1984 and have been running it ever since.

The Morning Call of Allentown wrote that the couple “actually put the property up for sale in 2015, but it was relisted last week after their real estate agent joined a new company, Paul Geissinger said Wednesday.” They want to clear enough to retire comfortably, and although they’d prefer that the drive-in would stay open, they’ll sell to the highest bidder. The current plan is for a normal operating season in 2018. I’ve embedded a YouTube video of an interview with Paul Geissinger posted just a few months ago.

The Morning Call wrote, “The Geissingers have received a few offers, Paul said, but not at the price he was looking for.” Whenever I read about any real estate that has taken longer to move than the sellers wanted, I hear the voice of the old radio financial advisor Bruce Williams in my head. Assuming that you have sufficiently publicized your listing, he would say, the market is telling you that your price is too high. You may think that you need to get X dollars from the sale, or insist that you’ve invested Y dollars into the property, but none of that matters to the buyer. Regardless of other factors, anything is worth only what a customer is willing and able to pay for it. I hope that all drive-in owners with current listings and future sales take that to heart so these great institutions can stay in operation.