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Went to the Drive-In movie theater last night...
Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 6:07 pm
by Indy
First time in about 25 years that I had gone to a drive-in. Went and saw a double feature of Indiana Jones and Narnia: Prince Caspian. Weather was nice and cool, had some friends there with us, and had a really good time.
I think we'll hit the drive-in some more this summer now that I've re-discovered the fun in going

Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 6:16 pm
by Humboldt
Sounds like fun
What was your take on the Indiana Jones flick?
Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 6:31 pm
by Indy
Humboldt wrote:Sounds like fun
What was your take on the Indiana Jones flick?
It was good, but in some aspects a little disappointing; only insomuch as it was so hyped that no matter what there was no way it was going to live up to the hype. I like how they took actual real archaeological findings and wove it into the story, such as the skull, and the nazca lines in Peru, but the story itself got a little far fetched. And I understand that, because it was stated that George Lucas wanted to go with a 50's B-movie feel to this episode of Indiana Jones.
As far as movies go, it was a good, fun movie to watch, and I'd probably rate it above Temple of Doom, but not above Raiders or Last Crusade.
Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 9:40 pm
by Sava700
Love the drive in.. but haven't been to one in years, might have to make a trip very soon!

Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 9:41 pm
by Roody
That's awesome man. I miss going to those. How was Narnia?
Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 10:05 pm
by downhill
Did you get lucky?
Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 10:06 pm
by Roody
downhill wrote:Did you get lucky?

Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 10:14 pm
by Indy
Roody wrote:That's awesome man. I miss going to those. How was Narnia?
Narnia was good, but to be honest, I dozed for about 15 minutes towards the middle. Not because of the movie, but because I had been up since 5 am and it was around 1 am and I was pretty worn out from work. Overall, I think Narnia was really good, maybe a little better than the first Narnia.
Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 10:15 pm
by Roody
Indy wrote:Narnia was good, but to be honest, I dozed for about 15 minutes towards the middle. Not because of the movie, but because I had been up since 5 am and it was around 1 am and I was pretty worn out from work. Overall, I think Narnia was really good, maybe a little better than the first Narnia.
Hey that's cool. I really enjoyed the first one.

Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 10:17 pm
by Indy
Roody wrote:Hey that's cool. I really enjoyed the first one.
Yeah, if you liked the first, you'll definitely like the second. Especially the mice

Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 10:20 pm
by Indy
downhill wrote:Did you get lucky?
Kinda hard to get lucky with the daughter sitting right next to us

Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 10:20 pm
by Roody
Indy wrote:Yeah, if you liked the first, you'll definitely like the second. Especially the mice
That's cool.

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 3:21 am
by Gixxer
drive-ins are a dying breed. ashame. i think ohio and cali have the most of any states.
Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 3:23 am
by Gixxer
Indy wrote:Kinda hard to get lucky with the daughter sitting right next to us
depending on her age, you could send her to the concession stand and get a quicky in. although i am sure all of yours are quickies.

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 3:51 am
by Mad_Haggis
I saw the Indy movie last Thursday. I liked it. Had not been to the movies in a while. Note...Does the sound of a machine gun have to be that loud???Compared to the rest of the movie soundtrack?, almost annoying.
Don't get me wrong, sound is half the movie. But if your going to crank up those ten seconds of a 2 hour movie, why not crank up the music soundtrack as well???
Anyway, good movie.
Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 4:10 am
by YARDofSTUF
Drive-ins are awesome, good to hear the 2nd Narnia is a little better, the first one felt slow and in some parts rushed.
Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 7:31 am
by blebs
This is one pastime I do miss. Lots of fun at the Drive In. No more though..
Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 12:51 pm
by Gixxer
blebs99 wrote:This is one pastime I do miss. Lots of fun at the Drive In. No more though..
have all the ones around canton been closed? i am lucky and have one less than 5 miles from me. then there are about 2-3 within 30 mins.
Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:42 pm
by Immortal
I was thinking of going to a drive in with my lady friend. Now, I've never been to one so I need some advice to get the best action opportunities.
If we both sat in the front seat, it'd be hard to reach over but it'll be easier to watch the movie. If we both sat in the back seat, it'll be easy to reach over but can't really see the screen from there.
What do you folks recommend? Ohh.. now I see why people get a convertable....
Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:44 pm
by Indy
Immortal wrote:I was thinking of going to a drive in with my lady friend. Now, I've never been to one so I need some advice to get the best action opportunities.
If we both sat in the front seat, it'd be hard to reach over but it'll be easier to watch the movie. If we both sat in the back seat, it'll be easy to reach over but can't really see the screen from there.
What do you folks recommend? Ohh.. now I see why people get a convertable....
We just took some lawn chairs, popped open the hatchback (we backed in) and watched the movie that way. We even brought a little wicker table to set our drinks and bug candle on

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:49 pm
by Gixxer
Immortal wrote:I was thinking of going to a drive in with my lady friend. Now, I've never been to one so I need some advice to get the best action opportunities.
If we both sat in the front seat, it'd be hard to reach over but it'll be easier to watch the movie. If we both sat in the back seat, it'll be easy to reach over but can't really see the screen from there.
What do you folks recommend? Ohh.. now I see why people get a convertable....
action, as in hubba hubba action? if that is the case, if you both want it you will find a way, even if you took a bike.
Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 3:03 pm
by RoundEye
Drive-Ins are way cool. I had done quite a bit of research into opening one up around here, our last one closed about 15 years ago. Not only was the cost of the land needed outrageous, the price to license a movie was way up there too.
When I was in the IT field one of our largest clients was the
Grand Theaters. Just days after Katrina hit, he hired the main tech from our office that was sent out for most of his trouble calls. (for a astronomical salary too from what I hear) Anyway, the lady in charge of accounting had given me many leads in who to talk to, and what prices for movies would be. She gave me a huge amount of inside scoop on how things where run too.
Needless to say though, it was all just a big pipe dream for me. Without some serious financial backup, I’d never get one open. The way weather is around here, you could run it almost year round too.
Indy, did they have the old skool speakers on poles or did you tune in the sound through FM radio? About a year before the one closed down around here, they upgraded to FM radio. That had a nice sound. If you didn’t have a radio for some reason, you could leave your driver’s license at the concession stand and they would lend you a cheap little FM radio.
They also had a little “jumper wagon” they would roll over to your car and jump you off if you should run your battery dead.
Yep, I miss the drive-ins.

site
http://www.drive-ins.com/
Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 3:10 pm
by horsemen_
http://www.drive-ins.com/showing/catskyl
is the one i go to i might go tonight seeing how all the movies are good.

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 3:32 pm
by Ken
Drive In's are great! Cheap, and you can bring your own food/snacks, drinks, whatever. Call in and pick up a pizza on the way, or a bucket of chicken, whatever! Much cheaper than a theater, here anyways.
They supplement their income by having a flea market there during the day. Lots of open land, why not...
Fun Land has 4 screens, with each screen typically showing 2 different movies per night. 2 first run movies for ~$5 a person, like a sore wienee, you just can't beat it!
For us, winter is the time to go. Take out the lawn chairs and relax! Summer is too hot and the bug factor comes into play as well.
Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 3:48 pm
by Indy
RoundEye wrote:
Indy, did they have the old skool speakers on poles or did you tune in the sound through FM radio? About a year before the one closed down around here, they upgraded to FM radio. That had a nice sound. If you didn’t have a radio for some reason, you could leave your driver’s license at the concession stand and they would lend you a cheap little FM radio.
They also had a little “jumper wagon” they would roll over to your car and jump you off if you should run your battery dead.
They had the FM radio broadcast here. About the old school sound systems: What's interesting is that at work, we use a wiring harness test system on our aircraft created by DITMCO. Back before DITMCO got into aviation wiring testing, they developed drive in theater sound systems. Hence the name:
Drive
In
Theater
Manufacturing
Company. When the drive-in movie industry ebbed, they got into the aviation business...
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:15 am
by Jim
Ken wrote:For us, winter is the time to go. Take out the lawn chairs and relax! Summer is too hot and the bug factor comes into play as well.
Obviously that's a bit of a regional thing, since the Drive In theater in my area wouldn't get much business when there's six feet of snow on the ground.
For the record, the best one in the area rocks
both the FM and the old school crappy speakers.
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 4:30 am
by Joint Chiefs of Staff
First and last time I went was in Cape Breton Island. Saw Air Force One. I liked the atmosphere too. Had to buy the DVD when it came out since I missed parts during the original showing.

Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 1:26 am
by Mad_Haggis
Joint Chiefs of Staff wrote:First and last time I went was in Cape Breton Island. Saw Air Force One. I liked the atmosphere too. Had to buy the DVD when it came out since I missed parts during the original showing.
sO YOUR AYING sHAKESPERE
Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:33 am
by blebs
Gixxer wrote:have all the ones around canton been closed? i am lucky and have one less than 5 miles from me. then there are about 2-3 within 30 mins.
We used to have like 5 of them in the area. We have 0 now. Akron still has 1 or 2, but that's the closest to me.
http://www.driveintheater.com/drivlist.htm
Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:49 am
by YARDofSTUF
I think theres only 2 left in connecticut.
Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 10:05 am
by blebs
YARDofSTUF wrote:I think theres only 2 left in connecticut.
Operating Theatres
Mansfield Drive-In Theatre
228 Stafford Road, Mansfield Center, CT 06250 (860) 423-4441
Southington Drive-In
935 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike, Plantsville, CT 06479 (860) 628-2205
Pleasant Valley Drive-In
Pleasant Valley, CT 06063 (860) 379-6102
Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 10:18 am
by YARDofSTUF
blebs99 wrote:Operating Theatres
Mansfield Drive-In Theatre
228 Stafford Road, Mansfield Center, CT 06250 (860) 423-4441
Southington Drive-In
935 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike, Plantsville, CT 06479 (860) 628-2205
Pleasant Valley Drive-In
Pleasant Valley, CT 06063 (860) 379-6102
Southington drive-in is no longer open.
Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:02 pm
by blebs
YARDofSTUF wrote:Southington drive-in is no longer open.
Well then your correct. Only 2 left.
Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:04 pm
by YARDofSTUF
blebs99 wrote:Well then your correct. Only 2 left.
Sweet!!! What do I win!?