The Pike was 1/8 mile South of McDonald’s back behind DQ. I think it’s a Shaw’s now.
It was owned by Bernie and Sy Menschel, who also owned Vernon Cine ½, Manchester Drive In and Berlin Cine ½.
The Berlin Drive In was where Home Depot is in Berlin on Rt 160. The Berlin became adult movies and took heat from the neighbors, because in the end they installed a sound system that broadcast over the car radio…They had to install very high fences to keep people from stopping on the road nearby to watch – and listen.
Worked there Sunday nights as projectionist. I relieved the long time projectionist, Bill Martus (Hartford) so he could go to Showcase at night for his 2nd shift.
Bill trained me (300 hours) at the Elm. I worked there 1975~1981. Long time manager’s name was Murray Lipson, who left in a scanndal over ticket revenue.
The projection booth originally had two CENTURY projectors with Peerless Magnarc Carbon Arc Lamps, and a water cooling system for the “jaws” that held the carbon rods in the lamps because they got so hot. At the time, “Sound of Music was the longest running movie, (296 days I think) followed by "The Sting”. Theater has a working curtain with a working motorized masking system for regular(Flat) or Wide Screen features.
Wood paneling in the lobby, a coat room, a large room (phone booth) with a windowed door with smoking fan. Ushers in uniform. Large Altec Lansing speakers behind the screen and RCA tube amps. I also worked there when we installed “Sensurround” ..large woofers that shook the seats… “Earthquake” or one of those movies.We miss her.
The Drive In was managed for years by a guy named Fred Buzzel(sp), who always reported for work in a sport jacket and kept the place spotless. Likewise, he made sure that the landmark sign was painted and in working order each year, since it was such a highlight of the turnpike. I believe the ticket guys even wore red jackets. I was projectionist at the Pike Drive In, and we used to socialize with the staff of the HDI, even have after-movie parties where we would select a few reels (movies are on 20 minute reels) of the best flicks and re-run them after the crowds left. Sometimes the Newington PD would stop in to watch along too. I knew the projectionist, David Graham. We had a friendly rivalry with them and after intermission, the managers would compare car-counts and “PC” (How much each person spent on average) They always booked better movies and it was a challenge to outdo them.
I worked at the “Pike Drive In”, as the projectionist from 1975 to 1981.
“It’s Intermission.. Rise and Stretch Time! Time to refresh yourself and visit our snack bar, where the finest in quality goodies are waiting for your selections and enjoyment .. Got a yen for popcorn? It’s there a-poppin'! The juicy franks are sizzling hot!” Or, “Please remember to replace your speaker, before proceeding carefully FORward over the ramp.”
The kids running back to their cars from the playground when the movie began. Station Wagons backed in.
In 1976 – The Bi-Centennial (July 4th), we had a massive firework display from the roof of the booth toward the blackened screen, and I played one of those National Anthem clips the TV stations used to sign off … I got on the mike and asked everyone to lean on the horn for 15-seconds to wish us a Happy Birthday, and a few minutes later got a call from the nearby “Hartford Drive In” asking Me if we went “off the screen” and if everything was ok.
I had a red cloth fold-down theater seat that I bought from a closed theater, mounted to a sheet of plywood, so I could sit outside the booth and people-watch or watch the movie, and I made myself a special speaker with a 25 ft cord that I could keep next to me…
Even in the Winter, we had the in-car heaters, which didn’t do much but convince a girl it was ok to go the the Drive In in January .. … and sold “Rain Shields”, which clippped on the car’s gutters in case it rained. We sold PIC mosquito coils that burned like incense in the car.
The Pike was 1/8 mile South of McDonald’s back behind DQ. I think it’s a Shaw’s now.
It was owned by Bernie and Sy Menschel, who also owned Vernon Cine ½, Manchester Drive In and Berlin Cine ½.
The Berlin Drive In was where Home Depot is in Berlin on Rt 160. The Berlin became adult movies and took heat from the neighbors, because in the end they installed a sound system that broadcast over the car radio…They had to install very high fences to keep people from stopping on the road nearby to watch – and listen.
Worked there Sunday nights as projectionist. I relieved the long time projectionist, Bill Martus (Hartford) so he could go to Showcase at night for his 2nd shift.
Bill trained me (300 hours) at the Elm. I worked there 1975~1981. Long time manager’s name was Murray Lipson, who left in a scanndal over ticket revenue.
The projection booth originally had two CENTURY projectors with Peerless Magnarc Carbon Arc Lamps, and a water cooling system for the “jaws” that held the carbon rods in the lamps because they got so hot. At the time, “Sound of Music was the longest running movie, (296 days I think) followed by "The Sting”. Theater has a working curtain with a working motorized masking system for regular(Flat) or Wide Screen features.
Wood paneling in the lobby, a coat room, a large room (phone booth) with a windowed door with smoking fan. Ushers in uniform. Large Altec Lansing speakers behind the screen and RCA tube amps. I also worked there when we installed “Sensurround” ..large woofers that shook the seats… “Earthquake” or one of those movies.We miss her.
The Drive In was managed for years by a guy named Fred Buzzel(sp), who always reported for work in a sport jacket and kept the place spotless. Likewise, he made sure that the landmark sign was painted and in working order each year, since it was such a highlight of the turnpike. I believe the ticket guys even wore red jackets. I was projectionist at the Pike Drive In, and we used to socialize with the staff of the HDI, even have after-movie parties where we would select a few reels (movies are on 20 minute reels) of the best flicks and re-run them after the crowds left. Sometimes the Newington PD would stop in to watch along too. I knew the projectionist, David Graham. We had a friendly rivalry with them and after intermission, the managers would compare car-counts and “PC” (How much each person spent on average) They always booked better movies and it was a challenge to outdo them.
I worked at the “Pike Drive In”, as the projectionist from 1975 to 1981.
“It’s Intermission.. Rise and Stretch Time! Time to refresh yourself and visit our snack bar, where the finest in quality goodies are waiting for your selections and enjoyment .. Got a yen for popcorn? It’s there a-poppin'! The juicy franks are sizzling hot!” Or, “Please remember to replace your speaker, before proceeding carefully FORward over the ramp.”
The kids running back to their cars from the playground when the movie began. Station Wagons backed in.
In 1976 – The Bi-Centennial (July 4th), we had a massive firework display from the roof of the booth toward the blackened screen, and I played one of those National Anthem clips the TV stations used to sign off … I got on the mike and asked everyone to lean on the horn for 15-seconds to wish us a Happy Birthday, and a few minutes later got a call from the nearby “Hartford Drive In” asking Me if we went “off the screen” and if everything was ok.
I had a red cloth fold-down theater seat that I bought from a closed theater, mounted to a sheet of plywood, so I could sit outside the booth and people-watch or watch the movie, and I made myself a special speaker with a 25 ft cord that I could keep next to me…
Even in the Winter, we had the in-car heaters, which didn’t do much but convince a girl it was ok to go the the Drive In in January .. … and sold “Rain Shields”, which clippped on the car’s gutters in case it rained. We sold PIC mosquito coils that burned like incense in the car.