Drive-In Movies are pretty much a thing of the past. The only one still operating in the Greater Houston area is the Showboat Drive-In on FM2920 in Hockley. If you grew up going to the drive-in – or were just conceived in one – this summer may be your last chance to revisit this great American tradition.
Those few that haven’t fallen prey to lifestyle changes brought about by the economy, new technology, and (some might claim) Global Warming, are hearing their death knell peeling this summer. The Hollywood powers-that-be have announced that beginning early next year they will no longer distribute films in the traditional 35mm format, which means that all theaters will have to convert to digital projectors – projectors that can cost upwards of $75,ooo! That figure often represents several years of profits, particularly for seasonal drive-ins that close in winter.
Now Honda is coming to the rescue. “Cars and drive-in theaters go hand-in-hand, and it’s our mission to save this decades-old slice of Americana that holds such nostalgia for so many of us,” said Alicia Jones, manager of Honda & Acura social marketing at American Honda Motor Co. “We’re committed to helping the remaining drive-in theaters flourish with the move to digital projection.”
Even Honda can only save five theaters nation-wide. For one month, people are invited to visit www.projectdrivein.com to determine which five drive-in theaters will get a new digital projector on Honda’s dime.
The winning theaters will be revealed in September, and each will host a movie celebration that includes a screening of “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2,” which hits theaters late next month.
No comments:
Post a Comment