The O-town Scene

Showtime with the stars Unadilla Drive-in lets moviegoers enjoy open-air viewing Story by Emily Greenberg, Photos by Elizabeth Reyes When you pull into the Unadilla Drive-In and park your car under the stars, prop up onto your roof with blankets or sit in a row of folding camping chairs with your family, it’s a wonder why anyone would chose to go to the movies any other way in the summertime. Showcasing current blockbusters and a double feature every Friday and Saturday night for $6 a person, it’s the best deal in town for summer blockbusters. Moviegoers can opt for a reasonably priced snack bar with more than just popcorn and candy (fried zucchini sticks, pizza, chicken fingers and hamburgers are just a few menu items) or bring their own nosh, maybe even some beer or wine to sip on tamely. That’s the appeal about the place _ the open sky, affordability and relaxed and respectful atmosphere that’s suitable for all demographics. Drive-ins became popular in the 1950s and ’60s, when free time became less of a luxury and more leisurely. Because of the freedom of drive-ins, which allowed parents to take care of a baby while still going out to see a new release and young lovers an opportunity for a cheap and fun date, drive-ins quickly be- came an American staple. The number of drive-ins in the United States, since their height of approximately 4,000 in the ’50s, has decreased dramatically, according to www.drive-ins.com. Although the price and experi- ence is better than almost any indoor cinema, drive-ins are often labeled a dying breed. This form of outdoor cinema is hardly a lucrative business today, 16 O-Town Scene June 9, 2011 I’m guessing that’s partly because of an increase of property tax over the years. Indoor cinemas boast more options when it comes to choice of time and movie, whereas drive-ins only have one or two showings that cannot begin until twilight and operate only seasonally. Throw weather disturbances in such as rain or “the f- word” (fog) as Unadilla Drive-In owner Marcia Wilson puts it, and indoor movie theaters had the power to drive a lot of the drive-ins right out of business. Profit, however, is not the purpose of keeping the Unadilla Drive-In open. Wilson, along with her husband, Eric, and Jack Georges say they did not buy the Drive-In in 1997 to turn a profit. Eric Wilson and Georges grew up in nearby Guilford, where they say there was nothing to do, except go to the drive-in. Sum- mers were spent going there in their PJs, when the drive-in was still owned and operated by the original proprietors from 1950, Mike and Beatrice Chonka. The Chonkas kept the drive-in alive through the decades, but when Mike passed away, Beatrice sold the drive-in to a young man who owned it just short of two years. Continued on Page 17

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