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  • 08/25/2024 4:19 PM | Donna Saunders (Administrator)

    By Stina Sieg

    ·Aug. 23, 2024, 4:00 am

      Pam Friend, center, owner of the Star Drive In











      William Woody/For CPR News

      Pam Friend, center, owner of the Star Drive-In, makes public announcements before the start of a movie Saturday August 3, 2024 at the Star Drive In theater in Montrose, Colo.

      When Pamela Friend said she was born at Montrose’s Star Drive-In Theatre, she’s hardly exaggerating. 

      “My parents put me in a cradle in the back room,” she said, wearing one of the theater’s signature tie-dye shirts over her lean frame as she quickly went from task to task in the brightly lit concession stand.

      It was hours before the first show, but there was no time to waste. Friend knows in her bones how much effort it takes to keep this place going.

      “When I was five, I started running tickets out to the ticket office and stocking candy and popping corn and doing little things that I could do,” she said. “So I've been here forever.” 

      So has the theater. Friend’s parents opened it in 1950. They had Friend two years later. She started running it — herself — when she was still a teenager.

      The Star Drive-In isn’t just a beloved local hangout, it’s the country’s oldest continuously operating drive-in theater that’s still run by its founding family. Friend is its sole projectionist. At the height of summer, when the drive-in is open every night of the week, she sometimes doesn’t leave until the wee hours of the morning. During the day, she works her farm and produce stand. 

      “But just keep going, like the Energizer Bunny,” she said. 

      A troupe of tie-dyed teenagers work alongside her. The drive-in has been the first job for generations of Montrose kids, grilling burgers, selling candy and greeting the cars and trucks as they roll into the big gravel parking lot. That evening, folks had started lining up long before the gates opened for the double feature: “Deadpool & Wolverine” and “Twisters,” which had been going gangbusters for many nights already.

      The Covington family of Montrose at the Star Drive-In Movies

      William Woody/For CPR News

      The Covington family of Montrose, from left, father David, Wesley, 2, mother Maxine, Elizabeth, 5, and Bridger, 7, watch a movie from the back of the family pickup at the Star Drive-In theater in Montrose, Colo., Saturday, August 3, 2024.

      Bridger Covington, 7, watched both of the other “Deadpool" movies at home that day today to prepare, but he said he liked being at the drive-in more. What makes it better?

      “That it’s outside,” he said. “You get fresher air than inside.” 

      He was sitting alongside his older sister and 2-year-old brother, who was shouting happily and jumping up and down in their pickup truck bed before the show started. Their mom, Maxine, said if she brought them all to an indoor theater, they’d be running up and down the aisles and joked that probability gives her a lot of anxiety. 

      “So it's a lot easier to throw them in the bed of the truck and shut the tailgate and just tell 'em to hang out and play within this area.” 

      They were surrounded by acres of other families, many in camp chairs. At least one group was lounging on an inflatable bed as the screen ran local ads against the colorful desert sunset. 

      Samantha Peel says it all looks pretty similar to when she was growing up in the 1980s and 1990s. It feels the same, too.

      “It's bigger than a movie theater. It's huge. You're in the night sky. It just feels so much more real. It's bigger than you,” she said, sitting in a Deadpool shirt next to her husband Jason in their new convertible. 

      “I just kind of think of it as it's basically a slice of lost Americana,” he said. 

      Movie goers prepare for the new Dead Pool and Wolverine movie at the Star Drive In theater

      William Woody/For CPR NewsMoviegoers prepare for the start of the new Dead Pool and Wolverine movie at the Star Drive-In theater in Montrose, Colo., Saturday, August 3, 2024.

      The drive-ins he grew up going to near St. Louis have all closed — an increasingly common story. Once a staple of American summers, they’ve largely died out, though there are just over half a dozen still in operation in Colorado. 

      When the Peels moved back to Samantha’s hometown after years away, it felt important to make a trip to the drive-in. They were one of the first through the gate and scouted out a cherry spot right in the center of the screen. This is where Samantha Peel first saw “Bambi” and spent the night after prom watching movies until nearly dawn. 

      Even though Montrose has grown a lot since then, “you feel like it's still home,” she said. “This makes it feel like you're still home.”

      The Star is a local institution, one that its owner has seen through decades of challenges, from a tornado blowing the screen down in 1974 to a corn popper catching fire and burning down part of the concession stand. In the 1980s when VCRs came to Montrose, Pamela Friend remembers playing movies to six cars in the desolate parking lot. Then there was that time she had to spend $100,000 on a new digital projection system, then the threat of streaming, then COVID.

      A young child watches a Kung Fu Panda movie

      William Woody/For CPR NewsA young child watches a Kung Fu Panda movie as it plays on the screen at the Star Drive-In in Montrose, Colo., April 13, 2024.

      The movie Deadpool and Wolverine plays at the Star Drive In theater

      William Woody/For CPR NewsThe movie Deadpool and Wolverine plays at the Star Drive-In theater in Montrose, Colo., on August 3, 2024.

      But all that was nothing compared to a few years ago when Friend lost both her daughter and her husband within months of each other. Coming back to the drive-in was both comforting and painful, with her regulars trying to offer support.

      “Cried a lot at first,” Friend said. 

      Before her death, her daughter April was going to take over. Now, Friend doesn’t have a plan for the drive-in’s future. She keeps it going for the community. Even though it’s so much effort — backbreaking work, she said — wintertime feels long, lonely and empty without it.

      “It is fun to see people step up and say, ‘I've never been to a drive-in!’ and that occurs every night,” she said, before rushing off to get the projection room set up.

      After the sky got dark, “Deadpool and Wolverine” blasted onto the screen. Movie-goers grabbed last-minute hot dogs and sodas at the concession stand and cozied up with their kids. For Friend, those moments make carrying on her family business worth it, for now at least. 

      “But that’s me. I don’t give up easy,” she said.

      The Star Drive-In runs weekends through September — two shows a night, just like it’s been for 75 years.

      The lighted sign at the Star Drive In theater in Montrose

      William Woody/CPR News

      The lighted sign at the Star Drive-In theater in Montrose, Colo., August 3, 2024.

      https://www.cpr.org/2024/08/23/montrose-star-drive-in-theatre-pamela-friend/


    • 08/25/2024 3:59 PM | Donna Saunders (Administrator)

      https://liteonline.com/teton-final-weekend-2024/

      When drive-in movie season kicked off this summer, Idaho was lucky enough to still have seven classic drive-in theaters operating around the state. Unfortunately, one of those theaters will not be back next year. 

      In mid-July, the Teton Vu Drive-In in Rexburg broke the news to movie lovers with a post on Facebook reading:

      "We are sad to announce the permanent closure of the Teton Vu-Drive In. The last day that we will be open to the public and then the last night that we will be showing movies will be on August 24, 2024. We are so grateful for all your love and support throughout the years that we have been open. Come Join us while you can!"



      The theater reduced their screenings to weekends only on August 2, which means you only have two more evenings to catch a movie. The very last movies to be show at the 75 year old drive-in will be Spider-man Across the Spiderverse (8:50 p.m) and the sequel to 1996’s Twister, Twisters (11:50 p.m.) starring Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones. The movies will screen both Friday and Saturday. 

      Why is Teton Vu Closing?

      Naturally, that was a question that movie goers in Eastern Idaho had after the announcement. The operators, which also run the Paramount 5, explained that the theater doesn’t actually own the land that it operates on. They’ve been leasing it well aware that one day the current owners planned to use it for development.

      The process to get construction approved and permitted can be lengthy, so the current owners have allowed the theater to continue operating until they can break ground on the project they’ve been working on. East Idaho News reports that the project will include the construction of new townhomes and apartments to keep pace with how quickly Rexburg has grown.

      Other Idaho Drive-Ins Get Some Upgrades

      While we’re sad to see one of Idaho’s nostalgic drive-ins hang it up, other drive-in managers are trying to take their facilities to the next level As we recently reported, Maya and her team at Tiki’s Shave Ice and Mobile Bar recently took over the management of Caldwell’s Terrace Drive-In. The theater has been part of her family for 34 years. 

      In addition to their traditional concession stand, they’re now serving shaved ice and have the ability to host food trucks. They’re also working on adding a seating area for families with picnic tables and chairs and a separate seating area where they can serve beer and wine. The theater has also added an option to pre-purchase tickets online. 

      Over in Driggs, the new owners of the Spud Drive-In have some big plans for rehabbing the theater after it was damaged by high winds a few years ago. 

      Local News 8 in Idaho Falls reports that MD Landscaping and Nursery now owns the theater, so it shouldn’t surprise you that the vision doesn’t just include a rebuild of the screen. They’re hoping to make it a real community gathering place and naturally, that includes a big change in the landscaping, adding new cabins to the property and building a new concessions building. The Spud Drive-In’s project is currently going through the permitting and zoning process.

      In addition to the Terrace and Spud, Parma Motor-Vu in Parma, Frontier Drive-In at the Mill in Emmett, Sun Set Auto Vue in Grangeville, Motor-Vu Drive-In in Idaho Falls and Idan-Ha Drive In in Soda Springs are all expected to return for another season.

      Michelle Heart  Published: August 22, 2024


    • 08/25/2024 3:55 PM | Donna Saunders (Administrator)

      https://www.eastidahonews.com/2024/08/local-drive-in-wrapping-up-season-with-free-movie-night/

      Click on the link above to see all the photos and text.

      IDAHO FALLS – Idaho’s oldest drive-in theater is holding a free movie night this weekend to celebrate the end of the season.

      Motor Vu Drive-in at 2095 North Yellowstone Highway in Idaho Falls will be showing “Jumanji” on Saturday, Aug. 24. The 1995 film stars Robin Williams and Bonnie Hunt and will start around 8:45 p.m.

      Co-director Jennifer Spalding tells EastIdahoNews.com she’s excited for people to see Robin Williams on the 10th anniversary of his death on the theater’s 4K RGB laser projector.

      “We’ve never shown it on our screen and we thought it would look epic on our huge screen,” Spalding says.

      At more than 6,400-square-feet, the screen at Motor Vu is the biggest operating outdoor movie screen in the country, according to a news release.

      RELATED | One of Idaho’s last drive-in theaters is closing. Its beginnings and why one woman says there’s a local resurgence

      This year marks 77 years of operation for the locally-owned theater. It dates back to 1947 and the original owners were Hugo Jorgensen and J.H. Moran, an old news clipping from the Rigby Star reported.

      Spalding says the first movie ever shown at Motor Vu was “The Homestretch,” a comedy starring Maureen O’Hara.

      Ticket prices at the time were 50 cents for adults and 9 cents for children.

      The theater has changed hands numerous times over the years. Ryan and Linda Rumsey bought it in 2019 after it had sat vacant for 11 years. The previous owner, Marcia Leonard, closed the business in 2008 because she couldn’t afford to upgrade from 35 mm film to a digital projector.

      The Rumseys own a furniture store right next door and have been involved in the classic car scene for years. They had their first date at a drive-in theater, Spalding says, and had fond memories of the Motor Vu.

      “Because they have this deep love of nostalgia and because the land is adjacent and they have so many great memories of the Motor Vu, they decided to purchase (Motor Vu),” says Spalding.

      The Rumseys have revitalized the property over the last five years, including buying a new 4K laser projector in 2021.

      Local high schools utilized the space for graduations during the pandemic in 2020 and it’s earned a lot of support from the community since then.

      In an age when many drive-in theaters are permanently closing — Saturday is Rexburg’s Teton Vu Drive-in’s last day of operation — the Rumseys are grateful for the overwhelming support for the Motor Vu.

      RELATED | Rexburg drive-in permanently closing after 75 years. Here’s what’s happening with the property

      “It is a miracle drive-ins are still around at all. It is thanks to the Idaho Falls community that we are still standing! They have supported the Motor Vu, cheered us on, and showed up!” Linda says in a news release.

      They’re planning to return in 2025 with additional options for concessions.

      Gates for Saturday’s free movie night will open at 7 p.m. There is a cost for concessions and there will be trivia contests and prizes for the winners. Bounce houses, face painting and other activities will be available as well.

      The event is jungle themed and Motor Vu staff are encouraging those who attend to dress up in something jungle-related.

      “We are grateful to everyone in Idaho Falls who have been champions of the Motor Vu!” theater co-director Brett Harris says. “We wanted to hold a community-wide event that celebrates our long history in this town we love. We hope people will enjoy our final movie of the season.”


    • 06/06/2024 10:42 PM | Donna Saunders

      https://www.toledoblade.com/local/community-events/2024/06/05/drive-in-celebrates-anniversary-of-munsters-with-celebrity-appearance/stories/20240603106

      LIBERTY CENTER, Ohio — The Field of Dreams Drive-In Theater near Liberty Center is having a special showing of the comedy classic Munster, Go Home on the night of June 12 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the zany 1960s television series The Munsters.

      The television show, a comedy about a family of benign monsters living in suburban America, aired on CBS for only two seasons but had 70 episodes produced. It has lived on for subsequent generations through syndicated reruns and DVD sales.

      Butch Patrick, a child star who played youngster Eddie Munster, will appear in person at the drive-in that night.

      He told The Blade in an interview that drive-ins have always been near and dear to his heart. He said he became a fan of them during their heyday when he traveled across rural America with his grandmother, an antique collector.

      “I was always a fan of the drive-in movie community,” Mr. Patrick said.

      Through a friend, he was introduced to Rod Saunders, Field of Dreams co-owner, and the two came up with an idea for the special promotion.

      “The idea is literally to help the owners of these drive-in theaters establish something of an interesting draw,” Mr. Patrick said, explaining that he’s hoping to work with other drive-in movie theater owners, too.

      Drive-ins were “a rite of passage” during Mr. Patrick’s youth, and he gets nostalgic about them. Those that remain “bring around some good feelings of yesteryear with a family-friendly situation,” he said.

      Mr. Patrick is so fond of drive-ins that he’s toying with the idea of renting a motor home next year and spending two years on the road visiting as many left as he can.

      “You know how some people go on the road and try to see every baseball stadium?” he asked. “Well, I would like to go on the road and do as many drive-in theaters as possible over two years.”

      He said he would like to park the motor home and stay overnight at many of those drive-ins.

      Now 70, Mr. Patrick was only 10 years old when he portrayed Eddie Munster.

      But he has fond memories.

      “It was a wonderful experience,” Mr. Patrick said. “There was a super amount of talent on the show.”

      Little-known fact: The Munsters had the same writers, Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher, as a popular sitcom that preceded it, Leave It to Beaver.

      That said, The Munsters didn’t hold up to competition from the action-comedy Batman after it premiered on the ABC network in 1966. The Batman television show continued until 1968.

      The Munster, Go Home movie was made in 1966. It chronicles the fictional family’s misadventures in England.

      Mr. Patrick will appear in person at Field of Dreams as a special guest for a two-hour meet-and-greet starting at 7:30 p.m. on the night of the event. There also will be two vehicles from The Munsters television series on site, and Munsters merchandise for sale.

      Mr. Patrick and Patricia Priest, the second woman to portray his sister, Marilyn Munster, are the only two cast members still living.

      Beverley Owen, who played Marilyn for the first 13 episodes, died in 2019. Fred Gwynne, who played their father, Herman Munster, died in 1993; Yvonne De Carlo, who played Herman’s wife, Lily Munster, died in 2007, and Al Lewis, who played Grandpa Munster, died in 2006.

      "We are excited to celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Munsters with our community and fans from afar," Rod Saunders, Field of Dreams Drive-In Theater’s co-owner, said. "Having Butch Patrick join us for this special screening of Munster, Go Home makes the event even more memorable. It's a fantastic opportunity for fans to relive the magic of the show and meet one of its beloved stars."

      Mr. Patrick added in the drive-in’s announcement Monday that he’s “thrilled to be part of this 60th-anniversary celebration.”

      The Munsters has had a lasting impact on so many people, and it's wonderful to see its legacy continue,” Mr. Patrick said.

      Tickets are $10 a carload. Gates open at 7:30 p.m., with the movie playing at dusk. 

      The Field of Dreams drive-in is at V602 County Road 6.



    • 04/16/2024 1:13 PM | John Vincent Jr.

      https://variety.com/2024/film/news/cinemacon-winners-and-losers-wolverine-and-deadpool-gladiator-2-1235969051/#recipient_hashed=e3b6bfa5ea4ad19b3a4e83bc69b61be71c004951c83cb00c14c550dab7f2bc70&recipient_salt=bac6068b5f5307246de98ac2741cf05088e379c7c63a76d5d55757bbf1b71e77&utm_medium=email&utm_source=exacttarget&utm_campaign=newsalert&utm_content=514134_04-12-2024&utm_term=289978

      Hollywood decamped for Las Vegas this week for CinemaCon, looking to reassure movie theater owners and executives that they had what it takes to keep audiences flocking to cinemas through 2024 and beyond. And despite odes to the magic of the big screen experience, there was a whiff of desperation in the artificially-oxygenated, cigarette-perfumed air of Caesars Palace, where the annual exhibition trade show takes place.

      That’s because the box office hasn’t recaptured its pre-pandemic stride — studios estimate that roughly 15% to 20% of frequent moviegoers have yet to resume their old entertainment habits now that COVID has dissipated. Plus, the labor strikes that consumed the media industry for much of the previous year as actors and writers hit the picket lines resulted in production delays that left theaters with fewer movies to hawk on their marquees.

      Hannah Waddingham Tells Photographer ‘Don’t Be a D—’ After Red Carpet Comment: ‘You Would Never Say That to a Man’

      But it wasn’t all doom and gloom. Despite the challenges, studios are ready to offer up new installments in such long-running franchises as “Alien,” “Despicable Me” and “Mad Max,” along new offerings from distinctive filmmakers like Tim Burton, Ridley Scott, Barry Jenkins and Todd Phillips that could be crowdpleasers. After four days filled with hours-long pitches to tease blockbuster hopefuls and big gambles, Variety has assessed the studio presentations that may have missed the mark or could just salvage the struggling box office.

      DISNEY

      Notable films: “Deadpool and Wolverine,” “Moana 2,” “Mufasa: The Lion King,” “Inside Out 2” “Alien Romulus”

      What worked: For the first time in a long time, Disney actually put some effort into its CinemaCon presentation — and it showed. To be fair, in the past, the studio didn’t exactly need to sell its behemoths like “Avengers” or “Avatar” to theater owners, who would salivate at the chance to show anything from the Mouse House on its screens. Well, after a rocky 2023 at the box office with Tiffany franchises like “Indiana Jones” and The Marvels” losing their luster, Disney looks to restore its former glory over the next 12 months. “Inside Out 2” delighted the crowd and should become a needed win for Pixar (although we promise we could have gotten the gist of the sequel’s charm in less than 35 minutes). And, of course, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s not-so-family-friendly “Deadpool and Wolverine” should quell fears about superhero fatigue, with many predicting it could become the biggest release of the year.

      What didn’t: The studio’s 2019 photorealistic remake of “The Lion King” was a massive commercial winner, so it seems silly to suggest that a film set in The Pride Lands could be anything less than a slam dunk for Disney. But prequels are a tougher sell, and the upcoming “Mufasa” doesn’t come with the catchy tunes like “Hakuna Matata” that turned the original story into a cinematic classic. Although the next “Lion King” installment looks great, director Barry Jenkins has huge pawprints to fill in order to avoid seeming it like a cash-grab. And will “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” get audiences to care about prickly primates without the help of Andy Serkis, whose performance capture work as Caesar provided the heart and soul of the last trilogy?

      Verdict: A-

      LIONSGATE

      Notable films: “Michael,” “Ballerina,” “The Crow,” “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”

      What worked: “Ballerina,” the “John Wick” spinoff that the studio delayed by a year, will likely be worth the wait. It’s filled with the kinetic action that made those hitman adventures such delicious fun over their four chapters and Ana de Armas positively smolders as she makes short work of assorted baddies. In a much different vein, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” an adaptation of the beloved book about a family from the wrong side of the tracks that takes leading roles in their church’s Nativity play has all the makings of a family-friendly, faith-based hit. And “Michael,” the company’s Michael Jackson biopic was greeted with the kind of deafening applause that greeted the Gloved One’s concerts. If it can avoid becoming mired in controversy (a big if given the child sexual abuse allegations that marred Jackson’s legacy), “Michael” should be a “Bohemian Rhapsody”-style sensation. Plus, theater owners, who are starved for movies to show on their screens after COVID and the strikes led to a stream of production headaches and pushed release dates, were impressed that Lionsgate plans to offer up a dozen or so movies over the coming months.

      What didn’t: …but all that volume doesn’t necessarily carry the promise of originality. Many of the movies that Lionsgate will debut — “Flight Risk,” featuring a balding Mark Wahlberg as a psycho mob enforcer, or “The Killer’s Game” with Dave Bautista as an assassin — seemed like violent “John Wick” retreads. Even “The Crow,” the long-gestating reboot of the dark comic book about an unlikely avenging angel, had a gritty, blood-splattered palette that seemed to have been lifted from those movies. It added up to an unrelenting barrage of violence and gunplay that left one attendee wondering if Lionsgate’s slate had been sponsored by the NRA. Oh, and while “Borderlands,” Lionsgate’s gonzo adaptation of the popular video game, showcased a dramatically different aesthetic, its quippy action sequences were a little like a “Guardians of the Galaxy” knock-off.

      Verdict: B

      PARAMOUNT

      Notable films: “Gladiator II,” “IF,” “A Quiet Place: Day One,” “Transformers One”

      What worked: Ridley Scott may have pulled off the impossible, making a worthy follow-up to his Oscar-winning “Gladiator” (a film that had a body count so high, it almost defied the idea of a sequel). The footage from the action epic was, to put it simply, stunning. It overflowed with political intrigue, naval bombardments and, of course, the kind of savage arena clashes that made the first movie a box office victor. Plus, Paul Mescal, playing a secretive warrior, seems poised to reach an even higher level of stardom — his trajectory, from indie artist to A-list leading man, mirrors that of Russell Crowe, who anchored 2000’s “Gladiator.” Also, “Transformer One,” the studio’s science-fiction animated film benefitted from immersive 3D and a vocal cast that includes Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry and Scarlett Johansson. It looks to be a decent-sized family hit for the company, in the vein of Paramount’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.” And prequel “A Quiet Place: Day One” was genuinely terrifying and should scare up big grosses when it debuts in June.

      What didn’t: Let’s be honest, the future looks murky for Paramount. The studio is for sale (CEO Brian Robbins joked about starting a GoFundMe to buy the place), so a cloud hung over the presentation. Paramount compensated by announcing a long line of upcoming projects in various stages of production and development — from a Bee Gees’ biopic to a new Damien Chazelle movie to a remake of “The Running Man” with “Top Gun: Maverick” standout Glen Powell. Some seemed promising, but others may never see the light of day depending on what happens on the M&A front. Aside from all that corporate drama, John Krasinski’s “IF,” an imaginary friend comedy aimed at younger audiences, seems like a high-priced gamble on an original idea at a time when moviegoers prefer their IP to be overly familiar.

      Verdict: B-

      UNIVERSAL

      Notable films: “Wicked,” “Despicable Me 4,” “Twisters”

      What worked: Something magical is happening in Oz, and Universal is working in overdrive to sell the masses on the pink and green wizardry. A stunt for “Wicked” had all the cinema owners in the Colosseum waving glowing tulips as stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo took the stage and charmed the room. Illumination introduced “Despicable Me 4,” which will surely be another family cash cow and “Twisters,” an update of the 1996 classic that featured sequences of horrifying tornado destruction, looked legit.

      What didn’t: A thinner slate. Can the studio’s indie label, Focus Features, and partnership with Blumhouse fill the void? Some of the movies the labels are making such as Christopher Abbot’s “Wolfman” and Robert Eggers’ artsy vampire flick “Nosferatu” could find receptive audiences. Let’s hope the Dracula-esque yarn has a smaller budget than Eggers’ last film, lavish Viking misfire “The Northman.” Others, like the papal drama, “The Conclave,” will need great reviews to move from the arthouse into the mainstream. In fairness, Universal has already trotted out a few titles this year: Dev Patel’s “Monkey Man” and the long-awaited “Kung Fu Panda” sequel. There’s also the splashy Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt film “The Fall Guy” and vampire ballerina film “Abigail” which were not included in the presentation but will release imminently. The biggest problem for Universal is that aside from “Despicable Me 4,” the studio isn’t fielding new installments in some of its longest-running franchises like “Fast and Furious” and “Jurassic World” until 2025. In other words, it needs “Wicked” to hit all the right notes.

      Verdict: B+

      WARNER BROS.

      Notable films: “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” “Joker: Folie a Deux,” “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”

      What worked: “Joker: Folie a Deux” was the undeniable star of Warner Bros. presentation, and there’s little doubt that Joaquin Phoenix (reprising his Oscar-winning role of Arthur Fleck) and Lady Gaga (joining the chaos as Harley Quinn) will follow it up with a press tour for the ages. But it’s not the only would-be blockbuster on the horizon. “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” will be a visual spectable in Imax, while “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” should deliver on the nostalgia. On the other end of the superhero spectrum, “Super/Man,” a tear-jerker about the life of Christopher Reeve, will be the kind of riveting crowd-pleaser that propelled other non-fiction films, such as the Mister Rogers-inspired “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” “RBG” and “Three Identical Strangers” to rarified box office heights (for a documentary).

      What didn’t: “Mickey 17,” a dysopian thriller that unites Bong Joon Ho and Robert Pattinson, should be the stuff that indie dreams are made of. But there’s a chance the $150 million-budgeted literary adaptation could be a tonal mess — especially of Pattinson’s character’s unplaceable accent is any indication. And though the studio didn’t showcase footage from James Gunn’s “Superman: Legacy,” which is filming in Atlanta, it’s unclear if the “Guardians of the Galaxy” filmmaker can bring some of that offbeat fervor to DC after last year’s epic string of comic book misfires. “The Flash” and “Aquaman 2,” we’re looking at you.

      Verdict: A



    • 01/23/2024 8:32 AM | Donna Saunders (Administrator)

      By Anthony D'Alessandro

      https://deadline.com/2024/01/sony-cinemacon-2024-1235800431/

      EXCLUSIVE: Sony, which kicked off CinemaCon last year, is skipping this year’s exhibitor-studio conference in Las Vegas that runs April 8-11 at Caesars Palace.

      This happens from time to time when a major studio will sit out, and it’s not a diss to theater owners. The last time Sony didn’t attend CinemaCon was in 2019. Quite often this is a cost-savings thing for studios when they skip CinemaCon. To get ready for the April confab, there’s a big rush to ready a year’s worth of trailers and clips, solidify VFX and sound effects, and plan stars’ travel within the next three months. Complicating all of that, however, is the impact of the dual strikes’ on Q3 and Q4 theatrical releases which caused a delay in production, and thus an ultimate post-production logjam. Sony, I understand, is focusing on getting back to max theatrical feature outpost now that the strikes are over.

      Footage from Sony’s Marvel title Kraven the Hunter (August 30) was shown at last year’s CinemaCon.

      The Culver City lot has plenty of titles opening after CinemaCon, i.e., Horrorscope (May 10), The Garfield Move (May 24), Bad Boys 4 (June 14), Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us (June 21), Apple Original Films’ untitled Greg Berlanti-directed space race movie with Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum (July 12), Harold and the Purple Crayon (August 2), The Forge (August 23), Apple’s Wolfs (September 20), Venom 3 (November 8), and Karate Kid (December 13).

      First title out of the gate for Sony this year is Marvel’s Madame Web on February 14, followed by Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire on March 22.


    • 07/31/2023 11:21 PM | Donna Saunders

      By: Nadeen Abusada

      Posted at 11:00 PM, Jul 31, 2023 and last updated 11:21 PM, Jul 31, 2023

      https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/barbie-movie-brings-big-boom-to-drive-in-movie-theaters

      As movie theatres continue to close across the US, one drive-in movie theatre in North Ridgeville has been holding on, and Barbie has only brought in more business.

      Since the 1960's families have been packing in cars, grabbing the essential buttery popcorn and other snacks, all to watch movies on the big screen at the drive-in movie theatre.

      “It brings back a lot of memories from when I was little, and my parents would take me,” said one attendee.

      Tim Sherman and his brother provide that nostalgic experience at the Aut-O-Rama movie theatre every night during the summer.

      “In 1965, it was built by my grandfather. My father ran it pretty much from day one, and my brother and I run it today,” said Tim Sherman the president of Aut-O-Rama Twin Drive-in Theatre.

      But sadly, over the years, the tradition the Shermans love to host has slowly lost its popularity due to movie streaming.

      “So now you are getting a lot of the new movies going to home really fast or same day release and that's hurting theatres,” said Tim.

      And because of the economy, their monthly bills have also skyrocketed.

      “Electricity bills have gone through the roof. My payroll has gone through the roof, of course,” said Tim.

      But what’s brought a glimpse of hope is crowds dressed in pink all to see the movie about a doll that goes by the name Barbie.

      “Barbie was kind of unexpected,” Tim continued. “We sold out the first two nights we had it.”

      Sherman says during the summer they try to get about 100 cars each show, while some nights they weren’t able to get that; Barbie brought about 400 cars every night since it premiered being the biggest movie of the summer for them.

      Though the future of the business is still undetermined. Tim doesn’t let that discourage him.

      “We hope to be here for a long time. We're not planning on going anywhere. So, we're going to fight it till the end if that's what it comes to,” said Tim.

      Because for him and his family, being able to provide experiences and memories that people won’t forget through a simple movie ticket, is priceless.


    • 07/23/2023 9:06 AM | Donna Saunders

      BY SHEENA ELZIE CINCINNATI

      PUBLISHED 10:45 AM ET JUL. 08, 2023

      https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2023/06/30/drive-in-movie-theaters-making-a-come-back

      HAMILTON, Ohio — New movie releases are not just driving people back to indoor theaters but they're also helping give outdoor theaters a comeback.

      What You Need To Know

      • Local drive-in theater owners said movie-goers started coming back during the pandemic, and new movie releases are keeping the crowds coming 
      • Owners of the Holiday Drive-in Theater said they plan to continue to upgrade equipment to play high-quality shows but are planning to keep the long-time feel 

      • Statistics show there are 24 drive-in theaters left in Ohio 

      For the Blue family, the lawn chairs, blankets, candy and the big screen are traditions.

      “I went to the drive-in growing up,” said Robert Blue. 

      It’s a tradition he said they’re passing down to their kids. 

      “When I first started coming they were two, maybe,” said mother Kristen Blue.

      They’re not alone. Cars packed with families still line up to watch a movie at the Holiday Drive-in Theater in Hamilton.

      “I pass that tradition down to my friends. Now we go here just to like hang out and talk and watch the movie,” said Holiday Drive-in employee Meagan Sams. 

      Sams works concessions at the theater and wanted to make it her job after growing up going to the drive-in. 

      “Being able to see people walk in and have that kind of like, ‘oh my god, it still looks like this’…it’s kind of a rare find,” said Sams. 

      Numbers show there were about 4,000 drive-ins across the country in the late ‘50s. Now, there’s a about 300 left in the U.S. and 24 of those are in Ohio.

      Todd Chancey, co-owner of the Holiday Drive-in, said while the film industry took a hit and indoor movie theaters closed up shop, the pandemic might have been what helped the drive-in business. 

      “When COVID happened, all new movies stopped and their releases were delayed or their productions were delayed. However, we were fortunate to be given the clearance to open in May of 2020, and we were the only theater open. So we were playing older movies, the ‘Jurassic Park’ movies, ‘Beetlejuice’, some Disney movies, and we were selling out,” said Chancey. 

      He said they haven’t slowed down since, with newer movies hitting the big screen and families consistently stopping through. It’s now become an almost 90-year-old tradition. 


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