Manitoba drive-ins raising money for conversion

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Big Island Drive-InThe Winnipeg Free Press ran an article over the weekend about two drive-ins in Manitoba that are struggling to find the cash to buy digital projection equipment. The Stardust (Morden) and Shamrock (Killarney) both face an uncertain future as they go into the off-season without the right stuff to reopen in the spring. And it suggests that the Big Island (Flin Flon) just isn’t coming back next year.

The article includes a couple of okay photos, but it excels in its quotes from the business people facing the odd situation of asking the community to donate so they can continue to make a profit. (Hey, it works all the time when pro sports teams need a new stadium. But I digress.)

“Meanwhile, the sign where movie titles normally go outside the Shamrock theatre now reads, ‘Closed Until Digital.'” Check it out.

photo by: noricum

Midway using Kickstarter to go digital

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Midway Drive-In movie screen, Palmyra, IllinoisThe Midway Drive-In (Palmyra IL) is facing the modern problem of needing to buy a digital projector. It’s attempting to solve it with a modern solution: a Kickstarter project. Folks who pledge the right amount of cash will receive rewards such as popcorn and pop (we call it “soda” around here), a t-shirt, admission passes, and semi-private weekday screenings. If you’re a business, you can also just sponsor the Midway’s new projector and get some advertising out of it, but that sounds very old-fashioned.

The horror-movie fans at Dread Central are on board with this project. You might also just swing by the Midway web site to learn more about the place. Stand-up comedy at a drive-in? That’s cool!

Carload expands to three more states

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demo delayAfter 15 years of serving up the weekly movie listings for Colorado drive-in theaters, this site is expanding. I just added the other three states of the Four Corners: Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. But if Colorado movie listings are what you want, you can still find them here.

Like all those theaters that have to adapt to the digital age, Carload needed to adapt to the mobile age. I figured that the best way to present more of the latest drive-in news was to convert this into a blog, mostly. The news will be right up front, below this post. And other fun drive-in stuff is still available if you click the Fun Stuff and other links in the navigation bar above this post.

Like those drive-ins who can invest in digital projectors, Carload is in it for the long haul. Let’s enjoy what we have together for as long as it lasts.