More Drive-In Thrills
2/09/2005
Yes, it's only February and the Drive-In season is several months away. But I want to remind anyone reading about a super-important contest that will affect thousands of family moviegoers in my home town (especially myself, as going there is one of my favorite pastimes).
The only operational Drive-In theater in the Tulsa Metro area has a chance to be revitalized in a $25,000 contest. Again, I urge everybody to follow the above link to my previous post, then go to the web site and vote for Admiral Twin - every day. And spread the word!
The owners rebuilt and repainted the screen about 6-7 years ago, but apparently it was done on the cheap because it's looking a bit rough already. The grounds need some upkeep, the box offices are shabby and the fence surrounding the place is rusted and twisted in places. Some of the ramps really need to be touched up, and the concession stands look worse than old, abandoned mobile homes in the Arkansas countryside. So let's get to work and make it a winner, because I want this tradition to be around for my kids and grandkids.
I harbor a secret desire to own and operate a Drive-In. Of course, this dream may never come true, because it's simply too expensive for a dirt-poor fellow like myself to achieve (at least not this early in my life). But one of these days I hope to be at the helm of a successful Drive-In theater. Not for the money (what little there is), but to provide smiles and warm memories for generations of families to come.
As far back as I can remember, my parents would take me to Drive-In theaters. We used to go to the Admiral Twin quite a bit. The only time my sister and I were not at each other's throats was when we were equally enthralled by something, and the Drive-In is one of those places I can remember seeing my sister so happy. There was also a great drive-in around Fayetteville, Arkansas (or Springdale, one of the two) that would show triple-features. It was a single-screen theater, and they still had the window speakers back then. I remember one night's line up: a movie about the Donner Party (I think), followed by Swamp Thing and Where the Red Fern Grows. It was a strange combination, but it's still a warm, comfortable memory. My country cousins were there, and we all sat in the back of dad's pick-up truck with blankets and chairs. Staring up at the stars and the clouds, watching a movie, munching on popcorn and drowning ourselves in soda. And falling asleep with the window speaker gently sounding in the background, a warm summer breeze caressing my face...
Damn. I miss summertime already.
posted by novachild @ Wednesday, February 09, 2005,
