Owners, Patrons Hope to Save Twin Falls Drive-in Theater

Source: The Times-News, Twin Falls, IdahoAug.存倉 21--TWIN FALLS -- When the sun sets behind the Motor-Vu's screen, Kellie Morano's ritual begins.Every Friday night, the 20-year-old Morano sees a drive-in movie at one of Twin Falls' two theaters -- the Grand-Vu or the Motor-Vu, where she saw her first drive-in at the age of 5."I've been hooked ever since," she said sitting in her car with Joshua Wienholz. "All of this talk of closing it is devastating."Morano's ritual is at the crossroads of two distinct American doctrines -- tradition and evolution.The growing wave of digital projection systems threatens old-style drive-ins now scrounging to find movies to play on 35 mm film. The cost to convert to digital projectors is high -- more than $80,000. Studios have been threatening to cease production of film forcing drive-in owners like Larry Roper into a tough spot.For the first time in 30 years, Roper pondered whether or not Interstate Amusements should close the two drive-ins he takes so much pride in."We've never questioned it," he said.The future is uncertain except for two things -- digital-only is coming and there is no way to save both drive-ins, he said.The vertical lines on the screen disappearing into the night, Chase Waldapfel pushes the green button bringing the Motor-Vu's turquoise Xenolite projector whirling to life. It throws to the screen a commercial that just might keep the theater from going dark.The commercial promotes Honda's "Project Drive-In," a contest to determine which five American drive-ins will receive a new digital projector donated from the motor company. Movie-goers can vote for the Motor-Vu at projectdrivein.com/vote_25 or text vote25 to 444999.Morano said she votes every day. She also invites as many of her friends to the movies with her as possible -- it may be their last chance to experience what many consider a truly American experience that has spanned decades, she said."It's where people went on dates," she said flashing a smile and gently bumping the back of her hand on Wienholz' shoulder.History of DeclineThe Motor-Vu was one of, if not the first drive-in built in the pacific west, said Roper, managing director of Interstate Amusement, which owns the drive-ins, the historic Orpheum Theater downtown and the Twin Cinema 12.Because of the war effort, the federal government initially withheld the metal needed to build the Motor-Vu, which was plotted out in 1947. It eventually opened in the fall of 1948."Do have a smile on your face and in your voice," an original handbook instructs the employees.There were as many as 4,000 drive-ins in 1958, according to the United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association (UDITOA). More than 1,000 closed from 1978 to 1988 and just 357 remain. Idaho is home to 10 drive-ins.Studios threatened that there would be no more 35 mm prints as of December 2012. That was pushed back to March 2013. That deadline never came, but drive-ins are seeing fewer movies on film, Roper said.This year, there have been 37 movies that didn't come out on film.At least 40 percent of the remaining drive-ins have converted to digital projection, said D. Edward Vogel, administrative secretary for UDITOA. There haven't been massive closures as some "naysayers" predicted, he said."I'm surprised and I'm glad," said Vogel, who operates Baltimore's Bengies Drive-In.The Interstate Amusement board met in February to discuss possibly closing the drive-ins in September because the company didn't have the money to bring them up to digital projection.The cheapest bid Roper has for a projector that would meet the Motor-Vu's screen and throw requirements is $88,000. A theater would have to gross much more than that to account for the between 60 and 80 percent studio take.For example, with an $88,000 expense, the Motor-Vu would have to gross $176,000 (taking into account a modest 50 percent studio take) to break even. At $6 a ticket, that's 30,000 people. At maximum, the Motor-Vu seats up to 400 cars a night and can run 120 to 150 showings a year.Over the years, Roper said the company has had between 10 and 15 offers for the Motor-Vu's land. The company doesn't make much money on the drive-ins and likely won't see back an investment in digital projection for some time.All they will have is the pride of owning an "immaculate, well-loved drive-in," he said."Where everyone in the industry was saying, 'Oh, god. Get rid of your drive-ins, you can make more by selling your drive-ins than what they are going to bring in 10 years,'" he said. "For us, why? Are we in real estate, or are we into movies?"When Roper heard about Honda's contest, he and st自存倉ff jumped to shoot, edit and submit the required one-minute video before the deadline. Voting continues through Sept. 9.Worth saving?The first drive in was the brainchild of Richard Hollingshead, Jr., who in the early 1930s hung a large sheet, placed a projector on top of his car and wired a radio behind the screen.Despite several upgrades in projection technology and changes in society, the viewing experience at drive-ins hasn't changed all that much, Roper said.The draw is inherent, Vogel said. He explained how the drive-in is a "destination," the "true roadside America," like this:Would you come to Baltimore to shop at Wal-Mart? Eat at Pizza Hut? Stay at a Hilton?Would you come to Baltimore to catch a flick at the Bengie's?"Yeah, there you go," he said. "You are talking about the diversity of America in a big way."Drive-ins have unique personalities.They are owned by "mom and pop."There's elbow room.You can stargaze.More choice."Freedom," Vogel said.For Roper, Drive-Ins are a throwback to a simpler time. When people heard of their demise, it scared them, he said."I guess as a society, 9/11 woke us up," he said. "And, I think people are holding on to stuff that's not serious. That's an enjoyment and that's why so many people are grasping on to these drive-ins."As a kid in Southern California, Christina Wilson would lay a blanket and pillow on top of her mom's Ford Gran Torino to watch. Now the Kimberly resident votes in Honda's competition everyday, she said sitting in a camp chair at the Motor-Vu."It's the ambiance," she said. "It is not how clear the picture is ... it's about being outside, being able to sit and you hear the sound from everybody's car.""The original surround sound," said her husband Richard.Richard and Christina said they remember the many drive-ins in the area where they grew up. Now they can only think of one that remains. That's motivation for them to attend the drive-in as much as possible, they said."It might be nostalgia pretty soon," Christina said.Viewing it differentlyNo drive-in owner was happy when the digital wave hit, Vogel said. But, change is inevitable."There's no point in being against it," he said. "Where is it going to get you?"The day Bengies became digital, Vogel said business jumped. The advantages are numerous -- a perfect experience every time, no blemishes that come with film and the option of alternative content, among others."The sky is the limit and you could get creative about what you do," he said.Karen Cornwell's father built the Parma Motor-Vu in 1953. The drive-in located 45 minutes west of Boise has converted to a digital projection system and Cornwell said the transition has been "wonderful" and the picture is "beautiful."The digital equipment cost $71,000, she said. Cornwell raised the price of admission a dollar to help offset other costs of the switch -- remodeling with new windows and doors and installing a cooling system in the projection booth.She said she expects to pay off the investment in a few years."I'm glad I did it and my business is booming," she said.Sometimes, when there's a switch in mediums -- such as vinyl to digital music -- some claim something is lost in the process, perhaps a bit of soul that made it what it was."That might be true," Vogel said, pausing quickly before listing a number of other digital benefits.Christina Wilson said she has no attachment to film."I'm a techie," she said, smart phone in hand. "The clearer it can be, the better it is. I'm not going to lose anything in the little clicks and little flicks of light."Waldapfel, 20, has worked the Motor-Vu's projector for four summers."When I was younger I always kind of wondered what it was like to be the person back in the booth running the projector and stuff," he said. "It is ancient technology, but it is amazing how it works."It would be nice to play film movies forever, he said."It's a history kind of a thing. I think once we go to digital it won't be as cool to go to the drive in."After pushing the green button, Waldapfel watches the giant wheel of film rotate, buzz through the autowind, across the glass window and into the projector. Kicked up dust glows in the light's path.The audience settles in, the house lights dimming by the minute. Venus shines between the left of the screen and a satellite tower in the distance. Tail lights glow.Sounds of insects in trees and of the highway are soon forgotten as the dialogue overtakes the audience.Showtime.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Times-News (Twin Falls, Idaho) Visit The Times-News (Twin Falls, Idaho) at magicvalley.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉新蒲崗