Fort Worth’s Coyote won’t open till 2013

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According to a story in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Tarrant Regional Water District owns the land and in February granted a 10-year lease for the drive-in. Wood had hoped to open this summer, but decided to hold off till spring when the Coyote will have completed “a pavilion, beer garden(!) and a large playground”.

KXAS, Dallas-Fort Worth’s news leader, added a two-minute video report on the Coyote’s status. It quotes J.D. Granger, the executive director of the Trinity River Vision Project, which KXAS says own the land. (Hmm, they can’t both own that land, can they?) Anyway, Granger said of the Coyote’s owners, “They decided, based on the site, this will be the best drive-in in the entire country. Because of that, they’re truly making this their flagship operation.” Definitely something to look forward to!

Memphis remembers the Bellevue

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Vance Lauderdale, a columnist for Memphis magazine, gave us a tease to whet our appetite for an article about the old Summer Drive-In (Memphis TN) in its November issue. (Not Memphis’s current Summer, which is still open, as shown by the Flickr pool photo at the right. Confusing!)

Anyway, this online memory isn’t about any Summer; it’s about the Bellevue, another closed drive-in that was in Memphis. Its centerpiece is the author’s 40-year-old photo of the back of the screen tower, which shows the theater manager’s living quarters at its base. “The Bellevue’s sign was especially nice because that cursive script and the floral decorations were all in neon, and the wide vertical bands are a nice touch.” You really ought to check out the article just for that. And I’ll keep watching for the full article about the Summer. Sounds great!

Starlight Six is in worshipful spotlight

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Starlight Drive-In, AtlantaThe Film Screen Rejects site devoted a recent installment of its Movie House of Worship series on the Starlight Six Drive-In (Atlanta GA). The article presented a thorough rundown of all elements of the Starlight Six, including its history, a few nice old photos, and some personal memories.

“I used to go to the drive-in all the time as a kid,” wrote Christopher Campbell. “My first movie experience was as an infant during the summer of 1977, when my family went to see Star Wars. So, this kind of cinema is very special to me. … Now that I have an infant son, it’s also a great way to get to the movies with my wife … Last night, the kid had his first movie experience. Now, for all his life, Looper will be his Star Wars.”

Campbell writes that the Starlight Six allows patrons to bring their own food, then encourages them to buy from the refreshment stand. That’s the American Way, let that great concession stand food stand or fall on its own quality and price. But when you go to a drive-in, be sure to buy at least a big popcorn and a soda. That’s how to make sure the drive-in stays in business.