rw2516

Saw a story on local tv news. Since studios are abandoning film for digital projection drive-ins are left out to dry. It appears, according to this story, drive-ins are still using 35mm projectors and it would cost them $300,000 per drive-in to convert. Most, if not all, won't be able to afford it and will call it day. One local drive-in is selling t-shirts to try and raise the money for conversion. Any one know of a drive-in with digital projection?
I assume they could specialize in older films where film prints exists. Don't know if that would be profitable business model. Anyone know of full time drive-in that survives solely on older films, never showing newer releases?

AdamGott

I was worried about this... but... We still have two local drive-ins. Both of them are in a pretty sad state of disrepair but I still try to go and patronize them from time to time just for the nostalgia of it all. Light 'polution' slowly has crept in and helped to nearly ruin this experience but it's still fun to take my 'kids' (ages 17 and 22) and sit back in our car and enjoy.

MrSmearkase

The Mendon Drive-In went digital in the past year. I didn't realize that it costs so much.

I like the idea of just showing older films, but I'm not confident that many people would support it.

tommyp007

That will suck tremendously. We go to a drive-in in Bristol all summer long. $16 for 3 people to see 2 movies. We take my wife's Element, pop the back, open a cooler of food and drinks and enjoy family time. I dread the day that comes to an end.

Crocker Jarmen

My local drive-in went digital this year. They also started including vegan options at the snack bar.

http://www.canviewdrivein.com/canviewplay.html

Obi-Wanma

I don't think this problem is generally just for drive in's, but any smaller theater that isn't part of a huge chain.

fitprod

There are only two drive-ins left in the SF Bay Area, and both have converted to digital.

fitprod

bluetoast

Yeah, there are drive ins with digital in my area as well. I haven't been but have checked out sites. And this problem, like said, doesn't just affect drive-ins, but small theaters. And on top of that, businesses that depend on customers that go to theaters. Luckily the one near my Grandparent's house has been saved, but it was closed for a few months for the first time in like 70 years while they worked out funding.

clemente

The single drive-in in the Chicago area (and calling it Chicago is generous) just went digital this year. I believe they even but up an Indie GoGo or Kickstarter to help fund it.

superdeluxe

Some drive ins are using KS to raise money for digital conversion. Not sure 300k is the right amount:

Here is a link to one I supported in Washington:

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thepudgere...line-drive-in/

Cost was about 80k per screen

resinrats

Maybe article is taking into consideration that many drive-ins have more then one screen. A local one here has 3-4 screens. So at 80K per screen it might be as high as $32K to update the whole drive-in.

Alan Smithee

The Sacramento 6 drive-in just went digital (and its 35mm projectors were already snapped up by someone else before I could get to them- grr!) While I sort of see the nostalgia aspect of drive-ins, I would never watch a movie there because you can't accurately reproduce modern sound tracks with a 2-channel sound system in your car, plus the front channels should be coming from the screen which is impossible for drive-ins to do.

fitprod

I believe that drive-in is owned by they same people that own the Bay Area drive-ins, and one more in Santa Barbara. (There's supposedly only 17 drive-ins left in California...)

fitprod

islandclaws

The Mission Tiki in Montclair just upgraded all four of their screens to digital this month. I was planning to go check it out this week.

Numanoid

It's West Chicago, baby! (I live about a mile from the Cascade.)

The Valeyard

Awesome! That's for that information.

Jackskeleton

I just need Mission Tiki to open up their gift shop already. Fucking shit has been closed all winter and whenever I ask they always say "Open during Summer time"

take my money, mission tiki!

arminius

There have been no drive ins on Long Island for decades. We used to have a ball, carloads of freinds, coolers, intermission. Feel bad that the kids here today can't exprience that.

Schloob1

Over in Wheaton myself, went there Saturday night. Have to say it sounded like my car speakers gained a bit on the LFE effects as well when watching FF6 there. Can I assume with the digital projection also brings with it digital sound as well perhaps? I've seen a couple of the Transformers films there before and don't recall the bass being as good with those for example.

TomOpus

There's a local drive-in that went digital last year but it's a little bit of a drive so I haven't checked it out yet.

COACH2369

The $300.000 price is a bit high... I have a good friend and several customers that are drive-in owners. You can convert a single screen for as low as 100K, sometimes cheaper if you can find some used projectors. Many theaters are converting from standard digital to 4K projectors(mostly Regal/AMC/Carmike)and selling their digital projectors.

One of my customers gobbled up two of those for his drive-in(he has two screens) and then all he needed was a larger lens to make the longer throw needed for a drive-in setup. I think they spent 150K total to convert two screens.

I still agree that it is a tough sell for a lot of these folks who struggle to make enough money as it is. You figure if it rains on a weekend, they are out all that business...

mrhan

The only one I know of is the old Capitol Drive-in in San Jose; which used to be part of the Century chain. Where is the other one located?

stvn1974

The only drive-in around here burned to the ground about a year ago and was rebuilt. I haven't been to it since the rebuild but now I want to.

fitprod

The Solano drive in off of Hwy 4 in Concord. Just east of Martinez.

fitprod

Deftones

There's a drive in up in Glendale, AZ that apparently is doing bonkers business now. Sort of a resurgence here in town.