Video update: Starlite still has sound problems

Posted on by

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the Starlite Drive-In of Christiansburg VA and its problems with its neighbors. Or maybe it’s the neighbors who are having problems with the Starlite’s back-to-basics idea of providing movie sound using outdoor loudspeakers. Now there’s a new development that’s caught the attention of WSLS, Roanoke’s News Leader, and given me the opportunity to embed this video.

Starlite owner Peggy Beasley wants the Christiansburg town council to amend its noise ordinance to give the drive-in more leeway in turning up the volume outside. Neighbors oppose the idea, Starlite fans support the idea, and the town hopes that there will be some way to reach a compromise. The drive-in is closed for the season, so at least they have time to work something out.

Seriously, the Starlite just needs to keep its FM sound (shown in the news clip), then buy a few dozen cheap FM radios to rent at the concession stand. Anyone who can’t get their ignition key in the right position to watch a movie without running down their battery can just plunk down a couple bucks a show, or they’ll learn to buy and bring their own FM radio. The rental fees will pay for the radios, the neighbors will be happy again, and the drive-in could just get back to business. What do you think?

Coyote opens in Lewisville TX

Posted on by

Coyote Drive-In marqueeIn the latest of this fall’s drive-in openings, this weekend the Coyote Drive-In chain added its third location, in Lewisville TX. This one has five screens and the usual Coyote mixture of restaurant, bar, and a modern movie experience.

I had hoped to add some local TV video of the grand opening or at least some newspaper coverage, but I couldn’t find any. There are plenty of stories leading up to it, including articles in the Lewisville Leader, the Denton Record-Chronicle, D Magazine, and even the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Since there’s nothing since, that should mean that all went well.

According to the Record-Chronicle, which also has a couple of nice photos, the Coyote folks have learned from their first location in Fort Worth. There, the bar and concession area are outdoors, but they’re inside a 10,000 square foot building in Lewisville. “The indoor area of the canteen is mainly to have an area where people can be comfortable in the heat,” said Steve Winn, the Coyote’s chief operating officer. “We’ll often have 3,000 or 4,000 people here on a Friday night, … and we needed to have a facility that could handle that kind of crowd and feed them dinner.”

There’s more information in all of those pre-opening articles, so to immerse yourself in this good news, you should go read ’em!

Sokol Park jumps on football bandwagon

Posted on by

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.