Backyard Drive-in 

That gives new meaning to the term "movie trailer"

Thanks for doing your bit to keep this medium alive.

I wish I lived in your area - I love the old movies on the drive-in screen - I am planning on starting one n my backyard once it gets warm again

Quite the accomplishment to set up your own Drive-In movie theater in your backyard. Thank you for sharing this with us.

Anything that is Old is New again! Very Hip!!! You are THE MAN!

This is a great video John! I've had my own touring 16mm cinema since 1993. If I can't evolve to 35mm, at least I'll go to bigger 16mm xenon pedestal system in a trailer. I have a good anamorphic lens so I'll be trying to buy more scope films for the wide screen projection.

LOVED this and thanks for sharing, John! Not many drive-ins left in the USA now but I have VERY fond memories of all the ones I went to in the 60's and 70's in my hometown of San Jose, CA. 🤩🥰😎

Very nice presentation John. I remember the old drive-ins. It's a part of nostalgia that must never be forgotten. Things are going away, so the drive-in theater is only a memory now for most of us. Well done!

Been 43 yrs in the projection business - I started at a Drive-In in 1969 and was at this location for 6 yrs before I "graduated" to an indoor house.

Great! I also like the smell of the film sound of the projector everything. It's amazing.

I know this video is super old but I just found it because I was searching youtube for drive in movie theater intermission reels. So many people started projecting movies in their backyard in 2020 due to the pandemic and still wanting to see movies on the big screen with family and friends. I am one of those people. my son camps out on his playhouse with pillow and blanket and usually falls asleep during the movie. I was lucky enough to actually go to a drive in theater on Prince Edward Island Canada while I was there for a family reunion MANY years ago in fact the first movie they showed that night was War of the Worlds with Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning. Something about watching a movie outside in the open air just makes it so much more special. Also I remember going to the Hatch Shell in Boston they used to have "Friday Night Flicks" back in the late 80's early 90's my grandfather brought my sister and I to see ET and we sat on the ground on a spread out blanket or sheet. There aren't too many drive ins around there is one a couple hours away from us I hope someday I will get to give my son the true drive in experience but until then we are gonna keep watching movies in our backyard under the stars.

Great project and passion!

The Music Hall Theatre on the Steel Pier, in Atlantic City, had a pair of E-7's with Ashcraft Super High arc lamps. The spot lights were Hall & Conelly. I have an E-7 in my garage on a Western Electric sound head.

Great set up. I have an old Super Simplex myself. We love Drive-in movie night here in Ozark, MO

One of my 1st projectionist jobs, while I was still in high school, was at the Greenwood Theatre in Trenton,NJ, We had a pair of Super Simplex's, Peerless Magnarcs, & Stereo sound. There was a tiny booth in the front of the small balcony. The curtains even worked!

The very first movie I ever saw at the drive-in, was Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, in 1954 or 1955, when I was 4-5 years old. I was hooked on the driver-in from then on. Especially from the middle 60's thru to the mid 70's, when I did not make a lot of money. I got my 1st car in 1966, admission was 0.75 cents, taking a date to the drive in cost me under 5 bucks. Such great fun! This was in Orlando, FL, where all the old drive ins are long gone. I miss those days a lot. I've been in Jacksonville FL since 1981, and all of their drive ins are gone, too, save one that made it into the 90's, where I was able to my own kids to see Jurassic Park. That was the last drive in I ever visited. Kids today have no idea of the experience of visiting a drive in was.

Great video! I was born just a little too late to experience the drive-in, but as someone who grew up watching horror and exploitation films on video, the drive-in has long held a special fascination for me. I'd love to be able to watch a Hixploitation film like A Small Town in Texas or The Black Oak Conspiracy on film.

The first movies I seen as a kid was at the drive in. The folks back the truck into the slot and we laid there on a mattress with pillows and blankets. I guess that is why I still curl up on the couch with a pillow and blanket and watch TV. Those were the days.....

We go to our local drive-in all season long spring to fall, that's what's it's all about continued support! And what a great time we have.

This is PHENOMENAL, Drive-In John!!! Subscribed!!! - Dave Lounder

My local drive in was going to be shut down due to the 35mm to digital conversion issue, but after months of donations and fundraising we were fortunate enough to have it saved and the new digital projector has been just as bright as the older projector. Skyline stayed alive but the same can't be said for other drive ins.

I'm a 3rd generation retired projectionist in my family, with 37 years of experience before the digital takeover. Really enjoyed your video and glad to know I'm not the only one, yep, I'm a movie nut. I have a back yard drive in also, I use the two projector system 2000' reels, Brenkert, Photophone, and Peerless arc lamps. So I'm right there with ya' just not as modern, (yet) doing my best to keep the golden years of film and the drive-in alive. And having a good time with it. Best wishes to you.... David

I saw my 1st platter & xenon in 1973 (Christe AW1). I said to myself "This is the beginning of the end" I miss change overs, carbons, & cement splices!

John ‘ great work ‘ my friend keep it up 👍

Cool photo of the old 41 Twin Outdoor Theater in Franklin, Wis. That theater operated until about 2001 or 2002. Eventually part of the outer areas of the parking were regarded for two additional screens. The outermost screens used FM radio sound while the two original screens used speakers up until the end.

Loved the projector

i wish theses would make a come back all over the world

One thing neat about the 41 Twin was after you bought your tickets you drove under the screen tower to get to the drive way to the theater where the movie you wanted to see was playing. You can see this at 0:08 in the video.

John your heart is in the right spot times past Thank you for the upload we live in a small town and we are lucky we still have a drive in movie =)

Awesome me and my wife go to the starlight in atlanta several times a summer.wish they would do play old movies a couple days a year.

No platter. THANK GOD!! :)

I’m like you with the film. Film has a much warmer picture to it than the digital projectors do. Film is clearer, the colors are better, and the sound is better also. The film’s picture is a lot fuller also. I hope that people will realize that and maybe in time the film will come back.

Such a great setup you've got there. Thanks for keeping the passion alive!

A Simplex E7. Bless You!

That was very cool on many levels.

I am 22 and very fortunate that we have a drive in move theater an hour away. We go EVERY weekend when it's open. It's always a good time with the fiancée. Let's see what happens to it when all digital comes along. I have a projector and a screen at home and show movies every once and a while ( just a small led projector). My dream is to open up a drive in. Maybe when I hit the lottery!!!!

A TV picture on a drive-in screen. Imagine that! After decades of fighting between television and the film industry, TV finally won.

I leased it for 5 years @ 8K per year. ...It was hard to get the landlord to pay the taxes. I had to pay them, then deduct the balance. Most all of the conc. equipment, & some booth equipment was ours so we took it home with us.. It was fun while it lasted. I'm a retired rural letter carrier, but also worked in drive-in's & small theatres in the Atlantic City-Trenton NJ area since 1969. I got to burn a lot of carbons in my days! LOL

I have the entire interission reel from my dad's drive-in. It still has previews of upcoming movies.

God I'm so envious! I just bought a 35mm film projector from an antiques dealer for $40. Doesn't have reels or lamphouse or anything really. But I'd love to replicate your setup one day! We can't let this part of our culture/heritage die.

Great Work

I do this too, but 16mm.

John, Drive-Ins are converting to Digital. All hope is not lost. Barco has a DP2K-32B DLP projector that does screens up to 110 feet wide.

Congratulations for your effort. The Super Simplex had its days at our local Metro theater, later replaced by the Simplex E7 and later by the XL model. The latter two had Westrex magnetic readers fiited in the penthouse. It is a shame that 35 and 70 mm projections were replaced by digital projection, because film is standard quality whereas some digital models do not look good!

Best way to see "Fast and Furious 1". Why can't I have a friend as cool as you?

News flash! There are theaters in Europe and Asia that are building new film theaters. It seems that film will be around longer than expected only it will not be available in America.

Awesome buddy.....a man after my own heart..:)

Love it brother. Wish I was in your area.

Thanks again John. (see my thanks under your other u tube on operating carbon arc projectors) After the Lyric Theatre went dark in '55, dad (Paul E. Stehman, Sr.) built and opened the Greene Drive-In near Roodhouse, IL. I worked there on all the jobs through 1964. You're so right about what a wonderful experience that was. Your mobile projection booth is great, Cheers and thanks again! Dave

It seems COVID-19 is bringing drive in theaters back. At least where I'm at, Aruba.

I'm impressed with how those film projectors could shine the film that far from the projector house at the theaters. They must have been really bright candle power projectors.

I am building a 35 mm projector in my apartment!!! is there any diagrams for wiring the Orcon 110 lamp house on film tech?

Great Video. The last Drive-In in my area closed 10 years ago and I drive 2 hrs to PA to go to one. There is digital projection for Drive-Ins and I know a couple have converted already. In the mobile circles I've seen screens up to about 100ft. But for Drive-Ins the price is high 100K- 180K for the equipment which might be much for the smaller Drive-Ins. It seems most are starting funding drives to raise money. Looks like it is going to be a interesting year to see how this all will play out.

Usually a good oiling will suffice. Check the intermittent to make sure it has oil. Maybe I need to make a video on how to repair Simplex projectors. Two companies come to mind for renting film. Swank Pictures and Criterion pictures. I collect films from 35mmforum (dot)com but you have to ask for membership. I have tons of test film you can have for free. They're all from India.

I used to book my own drive-in. I just called a rep from each studio, & say I wanted 35mm. We agreed to the terms by % for 1st run & off the break (2 or more weeks out) I called Universal & booked American Grafitti & Two Lane Blacktop for a flat fee ( I think 400.00). It rained the night I showed them & only 7 cars showed up. I'm now retired from the drive-in business. I still have several reels of intermission film, that I'd like to run in my garage. I have some old 35 mm Simplex machines.

As a kid whos parents took him and his brothers to the drive in every summer this is kinda sad

You presented this very professionally, well done, we don't have drive in cinemas here in the UK for obvious reasons but you did mention you occasionally run films on two 6,000ft spools with a break and I know of at least one , now closed, cinema that used to adopt that method of operation back in the 90s. There was no technical reason to do it as they had two machines with 6,000ft capacity but having the break, as you mentioned, was good for selling further popcorn and soft drinks.

The technology is here to fill a large screen, but the cost of converting to digital was too much for my mom & pop drive-n, near Williamsport, PA. The place is for lease, but hasn't ran since 2011, when we retired. ...very sad....I'm a film projectionist, That was the thrill for me! The magic is now gone.

you know I have been mighty curious why a giant screen like a drive in could not be used as an imax or converted to imax, oh it would be expensive to show the moives but they screens at many drive in theaters are over 20 feet tall and enough to show an imax sized picture though the projectors are another affair for such theaters and the sound is not like an indoor theater, but I can say some drive ins were lucky enough to get to go digital and have a large following so they will be alright if the cars keep up.

This was awesome John, thanks for posting!

Just an update, since I made this video they have developed drive-in digital projectors with a brighter light source. Still, the cost is outrageous! The costs have come down from $250,000 per screen to about $50,000.

Film is back and I am gainfully employed! The Cine Bistro has installed a 70mm projector and I am one of the few people who can run it. I was hired last night and I start at 10:00 in the morning 10/24/14! Film is back!

Good ol' SuperSimplex with a 4Star Sound head.

Um 😐 what Digital projectors can fill a drive in screen. I know this because my parents own the top Grossing drive-in in middle Tennessee. Drive-ins are still going and active, playing first run movies almost every weekend for the year. Please check out your local drive in.

Why is it in 4:3 ? Different film gate and lens ? The theater I worked with had CinemaScope lenses (anamorphic) I believe. I remember showing Friday the 13th part 3 in 3-D that took a different lens. I didn’t cut the Individual smaller reels together - another guy did that and he spliced the previews in. I just ran the projector and watched for those infamous black circles in the upper right corner - the first one seen start the the second projector and the second markers (don’t blink or u will miss them) hit the switchover to project second projector.

There is one near Liberty Center Ohio That someone built on a farm from scratch.. Field of Dreams Drive in..

Thank you. Actually, that was done on the spur of the moment and I've been thinking about re-shooting it. I have a new screen which is permanently mounted in the ground. My summer film season is over for the year so I may have time to shoot a new video. I don't know what the "obvious reasons" there are no drive-ins in the UK other than the fog. Our problem here is rain. It's rained everyday this summer.

wouldn't it be fun converting an old drive in into your house?

LOVE IT

For lease, eh? I wonder how much? The drive-in here in Atlanta is now running older films. Could do the same there.

Wish you had shown us what the movie looks like projected on your backyard screen. By the way, I turned my bedroom into a mini drive-in theater.

I gotta get me one of those

Two extension cords on two different circuits. One cord runs the lamp and the other cord runs everything else. No room for a platter. I also have a new screen.

Hey John, is Films Inc. still in business? I remember them as a major renter of 16 mm film prints throughout the 80s into the early 90. The only problem with 16 mm is the prints are almost always in the 3:4 aspect ratio. That's fine for use on analog TV, but virtually all Hollywood movies since 1953 have been in wider aspect ratios which means 16 mm film prints need to be pan and scan. That is unless you equip the projector with the proper 16mm widescreen lenses for 35 mm flat or scope aspect ratios.

How do you power that projector, and is there any room in that trailer for a platter?

I to grew up in Louisville KY during the 60's 70s going to Drive-in's, we are very lucky in Northern Virginia to live very close to this one with 2 screens, digital projectors, concerts, flea markets,, etc. people come from all over the country visit to spend a weekend for the experience that we took for granted. www.thefamilydriveintheatre.com/

Orcon 1000 what a nightmare.

Drive ins are back

That's a real good thing your doing there. Where can a person buy this equipment used?

Super, I love 35mm

The notices went out months ago. Do an online search. Theaters are closing by the hundreds.

It closed in 1977 and was bulldozed in 2005.

So, all that's left of it is the intermission, right?

is the Edgewood Drive-in still open?

Have you updated you booth did you use a generator if so what size

How about buying old film? I enjoy 1930's 40's and 50's movies better anyway. I didn't think of this when I had a ranch out in Missouri but had a video store. lol

WOULDNT IT BE LESS TIME CONSUMING AND EASIER TO USE A MODERN DAY PROJECTOR???

Did you buy your speakers from roger wolf

how do you know that hollywood's going to quit making film prints after christmas?

Are you willing to sell this trailer now?

he said jammies.

How much is that please let me know

5:48 what park of that ad was from???

what do one of those type of projectos cost john

you there

john call me bud

John if u still monitor your youtube call me

ok

Why don't you call columbia pictures or warner bros. and see if you can purchase some of their old 35MM film prints? I'm pretty sure they have no more used for them. You probably can get some good older films from the 90's or whatever. I don't think they will sell you the classics like Citizen Kane but you may be able to get like New Jack City that came out in 91. Or like Drop Dead Fred, some corny movie like that. You never know. And they may even give it to you for free. You should see.

FILMSKO PLATNO SEM PRED LETI IZDELAL PO SVOJI ZAMISLI V VELIKOSTI 600X200 cmm vse kar spada zraven v kompletu so še 2x stojala,ki so prilagojena za vse prilike in prilagoditve višine 10 m kar nam omogoča postavitev tudi na terenu zunaj.l.p.Jože.