Blue Starlite concept about to spead

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A few months ago, I had to admit that I wasn’t sure whether the Blue Starlite in Austin TX is a real drive-in. I’m still sure that “drive-in nights” in the park with temporary screens and no cars definitely aren’t drive-ins. The Blue Starlite’s screen still looks pretty temporary, but they play movies every week in season and folks really drive in to watch them, so I guess I’ll have to say that it qualifies.

Which is important, because now there’s a report that the Blue Starlite’s founder, Josh Frank, has moved to Miami and plans to start another “mini urban drive-in” there. The Miami New Times has the story of what Frank did in Austin and what he hopes to do in Miami. I hadn’t realized that he bought real drive-in speakers and restored them to use at the Blue Starlite. Cool!

This is a very intimate experience,” Frank explained to the New Times. “Having a drive-in that catered to so few people, where each car feels like it’s their night, that was a big lightbulb.”

There’s no opening date yet, but Frank said he wanted it ready by October. He’s hoping for a location in the Wynwood Art District, but hasn’t zeroed in on any one in particular. For more details if and when they arrive, check out the Blue Starlite Miami web site. For much more story about Frank’s reasons for spreading his vision to Miami, go read it!

Weirs’ projectionist keeps it running

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Weirs Drive-In TheaterIt’s a little unusual for a newspaper’s article about a drive-in to feature just one person. But that’s what happened this week when the Concord (NH) Monitor gave us a look at what it’s like to be a projectionist for a night. The place was Weirs Drive-In in nearby Laconia, and the projectionist is Paul Rouillard.

The article starts with Rouillard watching a particular light on a pole behind one of the Weirs’ four screens. “When that light gets wicked bright, I can reflect the picture,” he said, adding that he has to disregard patrons’ pleadings to start early. “I gotta wait, and as soon as that light goes on, I start the first movie.”

And then we’re off, following Rouillard as he managed the four projectors and huge platters of film. That’s not all he does; the article says that “He readies the concession stand area, performs maintenance on anything that breaks and assists with directing cars to the screen of their choice.” And besides all that, he’ll also jump-start your car after the show, according to the Weirs’ FAQ page.

For the rest of the story, we’re treated to a relaxing slice of life at the historic Weirs, one of the first drive-ins to open after World War II. Nobody said anything about digital projection, so let’s hope that it’s planned for the coming off-season. Till then, to see a few photos and experience what it’s like at the Weirs’ “dungeon,” go read it!

Five South Dakota drive-ins may close soon

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decrepit drive-in screen in South Dakota

The Starlite Drive-In near Aberdeen SD as it looked in 1987. photo by Earl Leatherberry, used by permission

The Daily Republic of Mitchell SD published a long, thoughtful, well-researched article about the state of drive-in theaters there, and the news is rather gloomy.

According to the article, “Of South Dakota’s seven drive-in theaters, only two confirmed they will be open next summer. Miller’s Midway Drive-In and Hermosa’s Roy’s Black Hills Drive-In are already using digital equipment”. The other five are the Starlite (which we discussed a few weeks ago) in Mitchell, the Hilltop in Gregory, the Pheasant in Mobridge, the Pheasant City in Redfield, and the Winner in Winner, all of which “either say their future is uncertain, or have already said they will close.”

I can’t do justice to the lengthy Daily Republic article, which is full of quotes from the people who own and operate these drive-ins. I’ll give you just one of them, from 70-year-old Tom Gallup, who bought the Pheasant City in 1972. “It’s more of a community service,” he said. “When you get to the end of the year, you hope you’ve paid the bills and you can supply your utilities over the winter. You hang in there and try to provide a community service because once it’s gone, it’s gone.” For the rest of it, including a photo of the old, dead Pix Drive-In in Winner, plus the perspectives of the owner of the drive-in that just opened last year, you really should go read it!