Another historic drive-in facing closure

MOUNT ZION, W.Va. — Advancement in film technology could spell the last gasp for a throwback piece of Americana. The last remaining drive-in movies screens in West Virginia face a difficult decision: Invest in significant equipment upgrades or fade to black.

“We need to upgrade our equipment from 35 mm film to digital equipment,” said Bonnie Sands at the Mt. Zion Drive-In, which requires at least $75,000 to re-open this summer. “The equipment is a little more pricey for outdoor theaters because of so many factors like the moon, the lights from houses nearby, the elements, and the distance from the projector house to the screen.”

The cost is more than most drive-in operators say they can afford. Operating only during three summer months, the profit margins are already thin, and a rainy June cut deeper into 2014’s bottom line. Drive-ins also are at the mercy of Hollywood distributors to provide first-run movies people actually want to see. (Sands said last year’s offerings weren’t very popular.)

However, there’s more to it than money. The Calhoun County drive-in, which opened in 1950, maintains nostalgic value for area residents.

“If we were in this business to make a profit, we wouldn’t be in business,” Sands said. “The memories that are made are a big part of it. We went out and turned the lights on at the end when ‘Scooby Doo’ was on. You couldn’t hear the movie for the sound of everybody singing. It’s things like that.”

Sands hopes others will be a nostalgic as she is about saving one of the few drive-ins left in West Virginia. She has a number of fundraising efforts underway in hopes of financing the upgrade. Along with applying for small business grants, she’s considering selling old speakers that hang from the poles at the drive-in. Merchandise such as T-shirts could bring in revenue, and there’s a plan to create on-screen commercials in hopes businesses will advertise on movie nights. There’s also an online account accepting straight donations at the website www.mtziondrivein.com

Whether the Mt. Zion Drive-in opens this summer remains unclear.

“My plan, my goal, and my ambition is that it will be open,” Sands said. “If we can’t get the equipment, my booking agent said they might be able to get me a movie a month, but there’s no guarantee because they just aren’t making the film anymore.”





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