The Montana Drive-In has converted to digital projection and sound. The address according to their website is 10251 Tullahoma Highway, Estill Springs, TN, 37330 the same as in the header.
From their website: If you think our new digital picture is great, wait until you hear our new digital sound on your car radio. The Midway opened in 1960 and is open seasonally from May thru October.
Until recently this drive-in was operated by Logan Luxury Theatres. They divested themselves of the drive-ins due to the cost of converting to digital. This is now independently operated. Facebook Page
An article from KDLT News: Mitchell Drive Inn Movie Theater’s Last Summer July 24, 2013 10:54 PM
One of the six remaining drive inn movie theaters in South Dakota is closing for good. The Starlite Drive Inn north of Mitchell will shut down at the end of this summer.
It’s not because of a lack of business.
In fact owner, Jeff Logan says he’s having a great summer.
And that makes the decision to close even tougher for Logan who has owned the drive inn since 1976, when he bought it from Rod and Fran Hanson. Back then it was called the Lake Vue Drive Inn.
“A lot of the memories are those great nights when you have a beautiful South Dakota evening stars in the sky, cool breeze, and there’s just nothing better than being out here watching a movie,” said Logan.
Movies began lighting up the big screen north of Mitchell in 1949. They have always been delivered in the form of 35 millimeter film. The projection booth at the Starlite features a modern automated film system.
“As film its actually fairly sophisticated,” said Logan.
Problem is, at the end of the year, the movie companies will stop the expensive process of shipping the heavy reels of film and switch to the more cost effective digital format. Movies will arrive on a small hard drive or simply be downloaded by satellite making the equipment in this room, obsolete.
“It’s the march of technology if we could stay with film we could go on forever”, said Logan.
A new digital projector would cost upwards of 70-thousand dollars. And try as he might Logan could not justify the cost. And his decision to close was…
“Long and painful, and sad, and we tried to put it off for a long time, we kept thinking we will figure a way to do it,” said Logan.
He has 3 indoor theaters with a dozen screens, and already knows what it takes to convert to digital. Other theater owners are facing the same decision
“Most are able to make it, or have the volume, unfortunately for drive inns especially in the northern part of the country and in rural areas without a big population base, just like us, it a very, very tough decision and tough math to try to make it work out, said Logan.
This isn’t the first time the math hasn’t worked out. The drive inn movie business bottomed out in the mid 80’s when HBO and VHS machines exploded onto the market.
Logan closed down, but was able to reopen 7 years later when drive inns began showing first run movies and the crowds came back.
However, this time Logan doesn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel.
The Starlite’s last night to shine is scheduled for mid-September.
“I don’t want to think about that, uh, you know when we closed in 1986, we never really announced it, we just closed up, you know you make that announcement on the last night, thanks for coming, see you next spring, knowing that there probably wouldn’t be another spring. This time we’re just facing it earlier and we’re saying no, there’s not going to be a next spring, and so you say goodnight for the last time”, said Logan.
The 10 acres the Starlite sits on north of Mitchell will be put up for sale. Logan says they will winterize and mothball the equipment in the off chance that something might allow him to re-open
The Sunset Drive In has been a part of Erie County for over 66 years. The first movie shown was “The Westerner” starring Gary Cooper on June 10th 1948. website
Screen 1 holds 450 cars and is 80' x 50' in size. Screen 2 holds 250 cars and is 66' x 33' in size. Each row is well trimmed with grass to help you relax and enjoy the double feature. Total of 700 cars.
The Reynolds Drive-In in Transfer was listed as open in 1950. They no longer have a website but do hav a Face Book Page After 70 years the 2014 season was their last.
From a history page: The Evergreen Drive-In originally opened on June 19, 1947 as the Ruthorn Drive-In. It was built by Donald J. Ruth, owner of Ruth Lumber and Builders Supplies of Scottdale, Pa.
The Drive-In was renamed the Evergreen Drive-In sometime in 1949.
In 1961 the theatre was sold to the Michael’s family of Pittsburgh, Pa. The Michael’s family owned and operated the theatre until 1998.
In 1999 the theatre was purchased by Warren Theatres. In the fall of 2001 two new screens were added and in 2002 the drive-in opened as a first run 3 screen theatre.
The Warren family has been in the drive in business since 1949
The Evergreen has made the conversion to digital projection.
From a history Page: The Pike Drive In Theatre opened in 1953 during the “golden age” of the drive in. Built as a single screen theatre, it was expanded to a 3 screen in the 1990’s. It is the last open ozoner in the county. Current ownership purchased the business in 2006, and over the past 8 years, they have made numerous improvements to this drive in theatre. Although the owner lives over a hundred and fifty miles away from the drive in, it is a labor of love, and he is on site every weekend to make sure that the patrons of the Pike enjoy a great night of movies under the stars.
There is a drive underway to convert to digital projection.
Mike, I agree, the drive-ins are a dying breed, and with the conversion to digital, more just can’t afford the transition. You hate to see them go but it is the same with the small town theatres and the neighborhood houses everything is all but gone.
From Rich Reding at the Lynnn Drive-In Movies: Yes the Lynn has converted to digital Projection. Both screen One and Two have Barco projectors with GDC servers. We converted last year 2013. Thank you
From their website: WE ARE ALL DIGITAL!!!! COME TO SEE AND HEAR THE DIFFERENCE!!!
The address on their website is the same as the header. Macon Drive-In, 3570 Scottsville Road, Lafayette, TN 37083
According to the Blue Moon Theatres website this is definately closed.
The Montana Drive-In has converted to digital projection and sound. The address according to their website is 10251 Tullahoma Highway, Estill Springs, TN, 37330 the same as in the header.
The Pink Cadillac Drive-In is still open showing current first run movies.
The Birdson Drive-In parks 300 between the two screens.
This is the correct link to the Midway Drive-In website
From their website: If you think our new digital picture is great, wait until you hear our new digital sound on your car radio. The Midway opened in 1960 and is open seasonally from May thru October.
Reply to an email that I sent to the Riverside Drive-In: Yes, we installed a Christie CP2230 in January.
Until recently this drive-in was operated by Logan Luxury Theatres. They divested themselves of the drive-ins due to the cost of converting to digital. This is now independently operated. Facebook Page
An article from KDLT News: Mitchell Drive Inn Movie Theater’s Last Summer July 24, 2013 10:54 PM One of the six remaining drive inn movie theaters in South Dakota is closing for good. The Starlite Drive Inn north of Mitchell will shut down at the end of this summer. It’s not because of a lack of business. In fact owner, Jeff Logan says he’s having a great summer. And that makes the decision to close even tougher for Logan who has owned the drive inn since 1976, when he bought it from Rod and Fran Hanson. Back then it was called the Lake Vue Drive Inn. “A lot of the memories are those great nights when you have a beautiful South Dakota evening stars in the sky, cool breeze, and there’s just nothing better than being out here watching a movie,” said Logan. Movies began lighting up the big screen north of Mitchell in 1949. They have always been delivered in the form of 35 millimeter film. The projection booth at the Starlite features a modern automated film system.
“As film its actually fairly sophisticated,” said Logan. Problem is, at the end of the year, the movie companies will stop the expensive process of shipping the heavy reels of film and switch to the more cost effective digital format. Movies will arrive on a small hard drive or simply be downloaded by satellite making the equipment in this room, obsolete. “It’s the march of technology if we could stay with film we could go on forever”, said Logan. A new digital projector would cost upwards of 70-thousand dollars. And try as he might Logan could not justify the cost. And his decision to close was… “Long and painful, and sad, and we tried to put it off for a long time, we kept thinking we will figure a way to do it,” said Logan. He has 3 indoor theaters with a dozen screens, and already knows what it takes to convert to digital. Other theater owners are facing the same decision “Most are able to make it, or have the volume, unfortunately for drive inns especially in the northern part of the country and in rural areas without a big population base, just like us, it a very, very tough decision and tough math to try to make it work out, said Logan. This isn’t the first time the math hasn’t worked out. The drive inn movie business bottomed out in the mid 80’s when HBO and VHS machines exploded onto the market. Logan closed down, but was able to reopen 7 years later when drive inns began showing first run movies and the crowds came back. However, this time Logan doesn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel.
The Starlite’s last night to shine is scheduled for mid-September. “I don’t want to think about that, uh, you know when we closed in 1986, we never really announced it, we just closed up, you know you make that announcement on the last night, thanks for coming, see you next spring, knowing that there probably wouldn’t be another spring. This time we’re just facing it earlier and we’re saying no, there’s not going to be a next spring, and so you say goodnight for the last time”, said Logan. The 10 acres the Starlite sits on north of Mitchell will be put up for sale. Logan says they will winterize and mothball the equipment in the off chance that something might allow him to re-open
The Sunset Drive In has been a part of Erie County for over 66 years. The first movie shown was “The Westerner” starring Gary Cooper on June 10th 1948. website
Screen 1 holds 450 cars and is 80' x 50' in size. Screen 2 holds 250 cars and is 66' x 33' in size. Each row is well trimmed with grass to help you relax and enjoy the double feature. Total of 700 cars.
The Reynolds Drive-In in Transfer was listed as open in 1950. They no longer have a website but do hav a Face Book Page After 70 years the 2014 season was their last.
2013 Digital projection and sound equipment installed.
They have not made the conversion to digital projection as yet but plan to for the 2015 season.
The Cumberland Drive-In has made the conversion to digital projection.
Vitrolite comes out of St. Louis, Mo and I have never heard of such nonsense about it being a hazard and falling off.
From a history page: The Evergreen Drive-In originally opened on June 19, 1947 as the Ruthorn Drive-In. It was built by Donald J. Ruth, owner of Ruth Lumber and Builders Supplies of Scottdale, Pa.
The Drive-In was renamed the Evergreen Drive-In sometime in 1949.
In 1961 the theatre was sold to the Michael’s family of Pittsburgh, Pa. The Michael’s family owned and operated the theatre until 1998. In 1999 the theatre was purchased by Warren Theatres. In the fall of 2001 two new screens were added and in 2002 the drive-in opened as a first run 3 screen theatre. The Warren family has been in the drive in business since 1949 The Evergreen has made the conversion to digital projection.
From a history Page: The Pike Drive In Theatre opened in 1953 during the “golden age” of the drive in. Built as a single screen theatre, it was expanded to a 3 screen in the 1990’s. It is the last open ozoner in the county. Current ownership purchased the business in 2006, and over the past 8 years, they have made numerous improvements to this drive in theatre. Although the owner lives over a hundred and fifty miles away from the drive in, it is a labor of love, and he is on site every weekend to make sure that the patrons of the Pike enjoy a great night of movies under the stars. There is a drive underway to convert to digital projection.
The Silver Drive-In opened in 1957.
Telephone No: 724-465-9032
Mike, I agree, the drive-ins are a dying breed, and with the conversion to digital, more just can’t afford the transition. You hate to see them go but it is the same with the small town theatres and the neighborhood houses everything is all but gone.
From Rich Reding at the Lynnn Drive-In Movies: Yes the Lynn has converted to digital Projection. Both screen One and Two have Barco projectors with GDC servers. We converted last year 2013. Thank you
According to their website the drive-in was open for the 2014 season and they have converted to digital projection.