Elm Road celebrates Wicked Weekend

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Long-time readers of this blog know that I love to have the opportunity to embed some drive-in video. Today’s video is courtesy of WKBN, Youngstown’s News Leader, which recorded Elm Road Drive-In‘s annual Wicked Weekend celebration last weekend in Warren OH.

Sheri Hocevar, granddaughter of the guy who opened the Elm Road in 1950, now manages the place with her husband Mark. The theater has grown from one screen to three, but like all drive-ins, it’s dependent on good weather. An early end to winter got 2016 off to a good start, and they plan to continue the season until it gets too cold.

That’s about all there is to it, but I always enjoy spreading the word about an old drive-in that’s still doing well. And the video makes me feel like I’m there.

Another new Texas drive-in about to open

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Drive-in view from inside a restaurant

Artist’s rendering from the Coyote web site

Is the Coyote model the future of drive-in theaters? After successful openings in Fort Worth TX and Leeds AL, another Coyote Drive-In is scheduled to open in Lewisville TX before the end of October. The Lewisville Texan Journal ran a story with plenty of the details.

The newest Coyote will open with five screens, and the Texan Journal says it’ll expand to six next year. It will include the Coyote signature touches of an indoor/outdoor restaurant and kids play area. The Lewisville drive-in has been under construction for months, and was originally scheduled to open in July.

Coyote Chief Operating Officer Steve Winn said the special reflective material on the screen will make the movies as easy to watch as indoors. “I think people will find it’s the brightest image they’ve seen on a drive-in ever,” he said.

In February, Lewisville granted over $300,000 in incentives to the Coyote in exchange for allowing the city to use it for special event parking and for hosting an annual city event. “We are thrilled (Coyote) chose Lewisville and think they have a lot to bring to our community,” city spokesman James Kunke said, “and we want to support their success.”

It’s great to see another city recognize the value of a good drive-in. The Lewisville Texan Journal has a lot more on the story, including a fine photo, so go read it!

Ohio documentary debuts at drive-in

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Here’s a great example of community support. Local business leaders bankrolled a local documentary highlighting just how great it is to be in Shelby County OH. And the World Premiere of that documentary will be October 15-16 at the Auto Vue Drive-In in Sidney OH.

The Gateway Arts Council of Sidney is the driving force behind Moving A Nation: Made in Shelby County, produced and directed by Columbus documentary filmmaker John Ondo. According to the Sidney Daily News, the film is inspired by “the courtsquare sculpture by George Danhires that commemorates industry.”

In the story announcing the premiere date, the Daily News wrote that the finished product “is a tribute to the rich and inspiring story of Shelby County industry and its essential role in the county’s past, present and future.” Even the Sidney Civic Band was enlisted to provide some of the music for the film.

It’s great to see an intersection of civic pride and the local drive-in, considering that a lot of the appeal of the first drive-ins was to blue-collar workers who didn’t want to dress up for an indoor movie. I hope that lots of locals turn out to see themselves on the really big screen.