Bring Back Movies to the Drive-In
The Southington Drive-in is one of the last of its kind, not only in Connecticut but the entire United States and there's a push to restore it to some of its former glory.
The Drive-in on Meriden-Waterbury Road went dark in 2003 and the town bought the property the next year for $1.6 million with the intention of using the land to expand the abutting Recreation Park.
The plan was to incorporate the theater's 39 acres into an adjoining park but the redevelopment stalled soon after the purchase. It was at that point that people started thinking about showing movies again.
Sure, the poles and window speakers are gone and the concession stand and projection booth have been torn down, along with one of the two screens but a few residents saw an opportunity in the remaining movie screen. They thought: why not turn the space into a town-owned drive-in?
Michael Riccio, a former town council member, is leading a group of volunteers organizing the project. He said the plan is to start showing family-friendly, second-run and classic movies by this summer and estimated that the spot could accommodate at least 200 cars.
"This is a great asset that no other community has," Riccio recently told the Hartford Courant.
Riccio said the group is still hammering out the details, for instance, operating costs. Studios charge a percentage of the proceeds for renting their movies, but they already have a projectionist. A resident who owns a projector has volunteered to show the movies and sound would be broadcast over the radio.
Riccio said the town will probably have to charge admission, but that remains to be determined as well.
Copyright Courant
Posted Thursday, Apr 1, 2010 - 12:26 PM EST
