Guess what my father’s day request was? Hint: I love cars, and I love movies. With a 1969 Ford Torino in the garage, you can guess how we get there. Yes..me, my wife and 6-year old son all sitting in front on the bench seat with the sound playing through the AM radio at the drive-in movie theater.
Drive in theaters: Many of us can remember going with our parents to drive-in theaters(remember pajamas with feet?), getting there early, eating the food you brought, playing, throwing footballs and frisbees, just hanging out. About 4000 theaters were operating at one time in the US, although most of them closed in the 1970-1990′s time period. Many of the remaining ones have fallen into disrepair. The largest reason of this demise resulted from high real estate values and the advent of cable TV and VCR’s. Well guess what? They’re coming back with a bang, especially in the Midwest and South. A lot of the popularity is due to the nostalgic feel and economics. It’s a sort of anything goes feel..bring your own food, dog (on a leash), lawn chairs, etc..yeah…freedom! In Washington state, we had a high of 71 theaters in 1972, down to 7 presently. I feel blessed we have one of the remaining and probably the largest(6 screens) theaters in my home town of Auburn.
Do-it yourself outdoor movies: Check this out: mobmov.org This is a club of several local chapters, who project movies on outdoor vacant warehouse walls with high-powered projectors. They communicate movie times and titles by e-mail.
If you haven’t been to an outdoor theater, or haven’t been in a long time, try it. It’s a blast and a return to simplicity.
And, please Mr. Sun, come back and visit a little more often..we really do miss you.
