Motor Vu of Imperial CA won’t reopen

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Motor Vu drive-in sign and screenWhile it’s heartening to celebrate the continued existence of so many drive-in theaters, it’s also important to make note of those that pass away. Last week, the Imperial Valley Press of El Centro CA ran an article which said that the Motor Vu Twin Drive-In Theatre was closed indefinitely. The Motor Vu’s Facebook page hasn’t been updated since November 2010, another sign that this drive-in is gone.

The Imperial Valley Press quoted Bobby Gran, operations manager for Cal-Gran Theaters. Gran said, “It was partially because of the digital situation and getting the 35 millimeter prints. And based on the books, it wasn’t producing enough money. It was a business decision.”

The article also gathered lots of reaction quotes from former patrons of the Motor Vu, which had been open since at least 1952. (It’s included in the list of active drive-ins in my copy of the 1952 Theatre Catalog.) There’s also a nice photo, so go read it!

McHenry Outdoor Theater getting ready for 2013

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Aerial view of McHenry Outdoor TheaterA recent story in the Northwest Herald, which serves McHenry County IL, described how a few seasonal businesses there were preparing for the return of warm weather. After spending the first half talking about an ice cream parlor, the article began discussing something we care about, the McHenry Outdoor Theater of McHenry IL.

You may remember that the McHenry was one of a swarm of Illinois drive-ins that launched Kickstarter campaigns in the hope of getting enough cash to buy digital projectors. The Northwest Herald tells us that, for the McHenry, Kickstarter didn’t work, falling about $100,000 short of its $130,000 goal. When you don’t reach a Kickstarter goal, the folks who pledged don’t have to pay anything, so the McHenry got nothing out of it. This year, they plan to try Indiegogo, where they think they’ll have a better chance at a smaller amount.

The best news is that the McHenry will reopen for another season on May 3. Let’s hope it can stay alive!

Mendon Twin reopens Friday

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The Mendon (MA) Twin Drive-In is set to reopen this Friday, according to a report in the Milford Daily News. Susan Swanson, the owner or “co-owner” (what she calls herself in the video above) said her annual cleanup efforts have been relatively light this year. Spring usually brings strong sales because patrons are “itching” to go back for another season.

Swanson has (co-?)owned the Mendon Twin for 27 years. “I thought, my whole life, that drive-ins are a magical experience,” she said. “You’re coming in and seeing a movie under the stars. It doesn’t get better than that.”

The article doesn’t mention the Mendon Twin’s digital conversion status at all, but it’s a fine story with lots of smart quotes. Another Swanson remark, one that should be on a sign somewhere at every drive-in, was “If your dashboard lights are on, you’ve done something wrong.” There’s a lot of other great stuff, including a few photos, so go read it!