Big Mo is “squirreling away” for conversion

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Big Mo marqueeThe Aiken (SC) Standard ran a nice story this weekend about The Big Mo Drive-In in Monetta. Richard and Lisa Boaz, co-owners of The Big Mo are taking a standard, optimistic approach to the movie industry’s transition to digital projection – they’re hanging on to their film projectors for a long as they can while they’re “squirreling away” money to pay for the necessary new equipment.

The Big Mo has been open since 1951, and the current owners bought the place in 1999. Richard has a day job, yet he still finds the time to knit the film from each movie’s reels onto one huge reel, then take them back apart to return them. According to the Standard, the movie trailers come separately, and Richard often keeps them. “Maybe (I’ll) throw up a trailer festival,” he said. That sounds like fun!

So go check out the story with its small gallery of nice photos. Then visit The Big Mo’s Facebook page, where there’s a lot more information, history, and photos, including the photo I grabbed for this note.

Skyline Theater also turns to Kickstarter

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Skyline theater screenThe Skyline Drive-In Theater (aha! someone else who spells it -ter) in Shelton WA is the latest drive-in to turn to Kickstarter to raise funds for its conversion to digital projection. As that page describes it:

“Small theaters all over the country are left to fight over the few 35mm prints that are currently being made.The drive-in theater, seen by many as little more than a fossil of movie-going history, is last in line for new movies.The only way to change that is to convert to digital projectors.”

As of this writing, the Skyline has raised less than $9,000 of its $40,000 goal, with a deadline of May 12. If they get enough cash, they also say that they’ll restore its neon sign to its “original 1964 glory”. If you’ve ever been to the Skyline, this would be a good time to show your support.

Update: The Olympian of Olympia WA ran a story about the Skyline’s Kickstarter project. It includes a little more information and a pair of nice photos. Check it out!

Twin Falls drive-ins’ future looks bleak

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The Twin Falls (ID) Times-News ran a fairly pessimistic piece this week about the drive-ins in that town. The Motor-Vu and Grand-Vu will open this spring, but they have no plans to make the switch to digital projection. When Hollywood stops sending film, they’ll just shut down.

Both drive-ins are owned by Interstate Amusement, which has a web site that mentions the other theaters in town but not the drive-ins. Maybe they’ll add something once they reopen? The Times-News article quotes Larry Roper, which it says is Interstate Amusement’s managing director, although last summer’s Times-News video, embedded above, says he’s the owner. Anyway, Roper sounds pretty glum about the future of drive-ins in general. “If we cannot get some kind of solution to the end of the 35-mm film or a way to put digital into the drive-ins, they all will be closing,” he said.

Wow! I hope that Roper is just so busy running all those theaters so that he hasn’t noticed that several drive-ins have already converted to digital, and many more have indicated that they’ll convert this season. For just one example, the Star Drive-In of Montrose CO recently announced on its Facebook page that it will convert even as its fundraising efforts continue.

At least the Motor-Vu’s Facebook page is more optimistic, posting “We have to upgrade to Digital which will cost upwards of $100,000.” And the Motor-Vu’s fans have already chimed in, talking about raising the money. (Strangely, I can’t find any web site for the Grand-Vu. If you know of one, post a comment here and I’ll add the link.) So let’s hope the Times-News just caught Roper on a bad day, and the good folks of Twin Falls find a way to keep their drive-in(s) for decades to come.