Published: April 22, 2008 03:16 pm            

ROOT: Explaining the WNY Drive-in Movie Society

Before we get started I wanted to update you on something I was complaining about last week. If you go to www.lockportpalacetheater.com you can fill out an application to volunteer at the Palace Theater. Everyone should offer their services to this very worthwhile Lockport institution.

I want to set the record straight before any more words get printed about my Western New York Drive-in Movie Society otherwise known as WNYDIMS. First of all I appreciate all of the attention from the print and television media the last couple of weeks and I fully expect to be dealing with the media a lot this summer. This summer is WNYDIMS’ first full season and the 75th anniversary of the creation of the Drive-in. The day we celebrate the Drive-in’s creation is June 6 and it is called Hollingshead Day. I am very certain you will be hearing a lot more about it in the coming weeks. My task today deals with a couple of misconceptions.

Inevitably in every story done about WNYDIMS to this point there is half a story about the complete collapse of the Drive-in industry in the 1980s and half a story about a few starry eyed dreamers that are clinging to the cliff by their fingernails to keep the Drive-ins alive. The collapse of the Drive-ins is old news, very old news, and the perception that the current owners are clinging to something they should have let go years ago is completely false. On the flip side there is also no great resurgence of the Drive-in theater. It is more of a straight ahead story than that.

The story of the Drive-in theater in America is one of a really good idea that got all of the wrong parts glamorized for too long. The Drive-in was the place for that first date and the media really made this out to be more than it was. The Drive-ins got nailed with monikers such as “passion pit” and the family element was lost.

Unable to get first run movies, the Drive-ins showed what were called B-movies and Z-movies. The Drive-in then got nailed as the place to go see really bad movies. I actually do not find any problem with that as some of those lousy movies are kind of fun to watch and I can only imagine how much fun they were to watch on the big screen. But by the 1980’s the Drive-in was left for dead and misconceptions grew. Some Drive-ins closed down and others decided to fight back and keep their pieces of Americana alive. Some made it, many did not.

The Drive-in industry, and the movie industry in general, got too big. It was destined to contract and in the 1980s and 1990’s it did. What we have left now are successful businesses run by good business people that believe in what they do and intend to do it for a long time. They show first run movies and are still the only place you can see two movies for the price of one. You can bring the little ones without fear of arguing with people sitting around you. It is the perfect family night out and it is completely customizable to your personal tastes and needs. There is nothing like a night at the Drive-in for anyone of any age.

The WNYDIMS is a group of people that want to help introduce people to the Drive-in that either have never been to one or have not gone in years. We want to increase attendance so we can keep our Drive-ins around for generations to come. We want everyone to get involved so that we don’t lose our Drive-ins out of apathy and then wonder years from now why we didn’t try and support them to keep them going.

We are not shinning white knights trying to save the Drive-in industry. It doesn’t need to be saved. It just needs to be supported. We are not crazed movie fanatics that drool when the Ironman trailer is on television. We are Drive-in fans that understand the historic significance of the Drive-in and their practical importance as well. In a time when “family values” is one of the biggest catch phrases in our language here is something that the whole family can enjoy on a regular basis. We feel that the Drive-in is too important to let go so we are gathering together to show our support. Check us out at www.freewebs.com/wnydims. Send me an e-mail if you want more information or if you want to join. It is totally free to join. We promise that not only will you learn something but you will have a great deal of fun as well. That is what WNYDIMS is and we will see you at the Drive-in.

George N. Root III is a Lockport resident. His column runs every Wednesday. Send comments to georgeroot@verizon.net.

        

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