![]() “The babysitting component is definitely there,” Huttinger acknowledges. ![]() Families are attracted by the inexpensive concessions and the option to bring their own food. Patrons use their vehicle’s FM radio for audio, and some seasoned customers bring their own portable radios or boom boxes. Suspense, adventure, and horror flicks have been especially popular among newcomers, and some venues are planning Halloween horrorfests to attract younger crowds.ĭrive-ins offer double features, cheaper general admission tickets than traditional movie theaters, and often free entry for children under 5. Due to shuttered studios and delays in summer blockbuster release dates, drive-ins instead have featured recent releases that were still attracting audiences, such as Knives Out and Onward, nostalgic favorites like Grease, and independent releases that were fast-tracked to digital around the time safer-at-home orders went into effect.Īt Mission Tiki, The Invisible Man ran for 16 weeks. The movie lineup, however, is not typical for this time of year. “People tell me: ‘I didn’t know there were any drive-ins left,’” Huttinger says. He calls the burst in popularity an “anomaly” and a “phenomenon,” but duly notes that his theaters have always enjoyed a stable of regulars. In the early weeks, some people-particularly drive-in newbies-had to be turned away because they didn’t know to arrive early or because shows were sold out. Huttinger says his theaters have seen an influx of first-time customers since the onset of the pandemic. These theaters have multiple screens and can hold between 800 and 1,800 cars, but are currently operating at half capacity due to COVID-19. ![]() Today, only about 300 remain, many of them family owned or independently operated, according to Frank Huttinger is chairman and CEO of DeAnza Land and Leisure, a drive-in theater company with four locations, including three in Southern California (Mission Tiki Drive-In in Montclair, South Bay Drive-In in San Diego, and Van Buren Drive-In in Riverside). With many traditional theaters closed, these outdoor venues allow movie fans to catch a flick on the big screen without having to rub elbows with or squeeze by other patrons.ĭrive-ins have waned in popularity since their 1950s and ’60s heyday, when more than 4,000 drive-ins dotted the American landscape. Now that the pandemic has changed how Americans spend their leisure time, one physical-distancing outcome is renewed interest in drive-in movies. Experience the nostalgia of outdoor cinema at these throwbacks to another era. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |