I really enjoy your tours of odd places and your desire to point out what we're looking at. Would be great to see some drone footage to get an idea of the scope of the place. However, your commentary makes the video worthwhile. Would be great to find some archive photos and edit those in; a bit of yesteryear -vs- today. Keep it up!
Yeah, at some point I'd like to, but most of what I find is by chance, and not planned, so I'm usually trying to travel light..... and with three kids in tow for this one! lol
Awesome. I have fond memories of sneaking into drive-in theaters in the trunks of cars. I was also fortunate enough to work in the large movie theater back in high school. It was during a epic period of fantastic movies that produced lines halfway around the block. Rocky, Star Wars, Apocalypse now, Rocky 2 many more. We could sometimes sneak up back behind the screen watch the movies backwards and drink beers.I would bring the movie posters home and hang them on my wall.
I agree it's sad. We have a nice drive in close to my home in California, but for how long is the question. I'm old so I remember the days long ago when it was a big deal to go to the drive in. Simple times, simple pleasures.
35mm movies were shipped on and shown from 2000 foot reels. These run approx 20 minutes each reel. A typicap two hour feature would have 6 reels shipped in two cannisters (3 reels per cannister). This necessitated having two projectors which the projectionist would alternate reels with ("changeover" ) between projectors. Say the first reel was ending on the left hand projector, the projectionist would have the right hand projector already threaded and cued up ready to show. When he sees the reel change cue marks on screen, he switches over to the incoming reel seemlessly. The audience doesn't even know a reel change happened. In the time period this theater was built, carbon arc lamphouses were the light source that got the picture on screen. The carbon rods typically only lasted about 25 minutes. So as the projectionist was putting a fresh reel of film on the left hand projector, he was also installing a fresh carbon arc rod in the lamphouse too. In the late 1970s, automation started taking over projection equipment operation along with long lasting xenon projection lamps to replace carbon arcs. With xenon lamps some theaters could splice 3 of the 2000 foot film reels onto a large 6000 foot film reel and only have one "changeover" per feature film. Also, in the late 70s speaker maintenance costs (as well as speaker theft) began to skyrocket. So radio sound came to drive-ins. A patron could simply listen to the movie sound on his car radio (AM and FM systems were available to suit the theater owners budget).
My good friend live pretty much next to it, and hes brought me here before. Hes fixed some of the lights there, and hung up the plastic pumpkin in the entrance with me
It's had a 'For Sale' sign on it for as long as I can remember, but the Mendon Drive-In was really popular while I was there (1999-2010). I hope it's still doing well! Thanks for doing this tour! I may have to visit the next time I'm in MA
@@laurelwelch6295 Mendon is the one we go to every summer. It's owned by the Phantom gourmet brothers I believe and they definitely have improved it. Love going there.
@Bill Williams I was born in 59 so I was sitting like a 6263 we went yeah I can't believe it it was that amazing you can make it to eat first and then go get a treat quit bugging you idfc quiet
Oh and we have one here (Ct) that has the screens still but the land has taken it over. It was for sale but now I guess because of the overgrowth it's protected land. Too bad cuz kids here need something besides pizza shacks and bars, have to go to Ma for anything entertainment other than theaters 😏 The screen is still in great shape, it's a shame. I'd be there often in the summer if it were up and running again. We do Mendon now, but there's Mansfield and I think Rustic still in RI?
NOTE: Back in 1996, Rte. 146S was nowhere near as busy as it is today. The theatre was NOT shuttered for safety reasons; it was because we refused to pay the mandatory, local police detail - open to close - (extortion fee). The State Troopers had offered to direct traffic for free. We caught the local yokels sleeping on the job! The screen has since burned to the ground (arson), and the box office was toppled in a windstorm. We plan to purchase, and reopen the Motor-In, as soon as funding can be raised. The property's sale price is $1.2 Million dollars.
I don't know if if such technology existed before this drive in theater closed. But, if it did, they could have put in a vehicle presence activated light, where it changes when someone coming out of the drive in pulls up to the light, it changes the opposing directions to red, and changes the light to green for that light. Though, I'm not too sure how well that would work for that location.
I'm the Grandson of the original owners. My family built an ran it. My father an mother took it over from them. As a baby I was brought to the drive inn during showings an kept in the concession stand in a rocker. To valid this my grand father was Wilfred Bernard an my Father was Thomas Bernard. I have original photos on my wall from the 10th anniversary.
Man, the first one I have come across where they mentioned the location. Damn strange that so many are on you tube BUT DONT TELL YOU WHERE ITS LOCATED.
@@dalemulholland4469 Well, yes and no- if this place is never rehabbed (its pretty far gone and the site just doesn't work anymore), all that stuff will go to waste (a landfill) if its torn down. I'd never use it for scrap though- would save it and reuse it somehow- especially since it has such a cool story behind it!
You were trespassing on the property.You should have gotten permission to be on the property.Have respect for other peoples property.Plus you admitted you stole from there too.
It was for sale- "I was considering buying it". Ended up not taking anything- it was all garbage- though I would have been doing a future owning a favor for hauling anything away.
I really enjoy your tours of odd places and your desire to point out what we're looking at. Would be great to see some drone footage to get an idea of the scope of the place. However, your commentary makes the video worthwhile. Would be great to find some archive photos and edit those in; a bit of yesteryear -vs- today. Keep it up!
Yeah, at some point I'd like to, but most of what I find is by chance, and not planned, so I'm usually trying to travel light..... and with three kids in tow for this one! lol
Awesome. I have fond memories of sneaking into drive-in theaters in the trunks of cars. I was also fortunate enough to work in the large movie theater back in high school. It was during a epic period of fantastic movies that produced lines halfway around the block. Rocky, Star Wars, Apocalypse now, Rocky 2 many more. We could sometimes sneak up back behind the screen watch the movies backwards and drink beers.I would bring the movie posters home and hang them on my wall.
I agree it's sad. We have a nice drive in close to my home in California, but for how long is the question. I'm old so I remember the days long ago when it was a big deal to go to the drive in. Simple times, simple pleasures.
I went to one a week ago (not this closed one)- we try to hit one at least once a summer....
35mm movies were shipped on and shown from 2000 foot reels. These run approx 20 minutes each reel. A typicap two hour feature would have 6 reels shipped in two cannisters (3 reels per cannister). This necessitated having two projectors which the projectionist would alternate reels with ("changeover" ) between projectors. Say the first reel was ending on the left hand projector, the projectionist would have the right hand projector already threaded and cued up ready to show. When he sees the reel change cue marks on screen, he switches over to the incoming reel seemlessly. The audience doesn't even know a reel change happened. In the time period this theater was built, carbon arc lamphouses were the light source that got the picture on screen. The carbon rods typically only lasted about 25 minutes. So as the projectionist was putting a fresh reel of film on the left hand projector, he was also installing a fresh carbon arc rod in the lamphouse too. In the late 1970s, automation started taking over projection equipment operation along with long lasting xenon projection lamps to replace carbon arcs. With xenon lamps some theaters could splice 3 of the 2000 foot film reels onto a large 6000 foot film reel and only have one "changeover" per feature film. Also, in the late 70s speaker maintenance costs (as well as speaker theft) began to skyrocket. So radio sound came to drive-ins. A patron could simply listen to the movie sound on his car radio (AM and FM systems were available to suit the theater owners budget).
Great info- thanks so much!
They made a huge comeback in Walnutport PA.
My good friend live pretty much next to it, and hes brought me here before. Hes fixed some of the lights there, and hung up the plastic pumpkin in the entrance with me
I grew up in Sutton! I always wanted to check this place out while I lived there
It's had a 'For Sale' sign on it for as long as I can remember, but the Mendon Drive-In was really popular while I was there (1999-2010). I hope it's still doing well! Thanks for doing this tour! I may have to visit the next time I'm in MA
Mendon has new owners- its doing better than ever- new beer garden, playground for kids, etc...
@@laurelwelch6295 Mendon is the one we go to every summer. It's owned by the Phantom gourmet brothers I believe and they definitely have improved it. Love going there.
I went to the drive-in once when I was 6 years old I was born in 59 so that was a long time ago and that's the last time we went it's fun though
@Bill Williams I was born in 59 so I was sitting like a 6263 we went yeah I can't believe it it was that amazing you can make it to eat first and then go get a treat quit bugging you idfc quiet
Last movie I saw at this place was dances with wolves. 1990 or 1991.
Oh and we have one here (Ct) that has the screens still but the land has taken it over. It was for sale but now I guess because of the overgrowth it's protected land. Too bad cuz kids here need something besides pizza shacks and bars, have to go to Ma for anything entertainment other than theaters 😏 The screen is still in great shape, it's a shame. I'd be there often in the summer if it were up and running again. We do Mendon now, but there's Mansfield and I think Rustic still in RI?
Very very cool! Glad I found your channel.it looks great!
NOTE: Back in 1996, Rte. 146S was nowhere near as busy as it is today. The theatre was NOT shuttered for safety reasons; it was because we refused to pay the mandatory, local police detail - open to close - (extortion fee). The State Troopers had offered to direct traffic for free. We caught the local yokels sleeping on the job! The screen has since burned to the ground (arson), and the box office was toppled in a windstorm. We plan to purchase, and reopen the Motor-In, as soon as funding can be raised. The property's sale price is $1.2 Million dollars.
Awesome exploration
I don't know if if such technology existed before this drive in theater closed. But, if it did, they could have put in a vehicle presence activated light, where it changes when someone coming out of the drive in pulls up to the light, it changes the opposing directions to red, and changes the light to green for that light. Though, I'm not too sure how well that would work for that location.
Very cool!
The projection room has two portals so that the projectionist can switch reels. There were probably 2 projectors.
Amazing video.
love it will subscribe
Damned i hate those frigging noisy freeways..
There must have been some substantial structure there before unless using rock chunks and blocks were their building materials of choice in the 40's.
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Glad u suggested your other channel here. I love stuff like this! Now subbed to both. I have to catch up here now!
Huh weird I just went there and I guess I got the terrifying micky mouse graffiti
NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT TRESPASS HERE. IT IS UNLAWFUL, and we'd rather you didn't. Thank you. - Dave Lounder
Hey buddy! Where did you go?
very interesting place :) like !
I'm the Grandson of the original owners. My family built an ran it. My father an mother took it over from them. As a baby I was brought to the drive inn during showings an kept in the concession stand in a rocker. To valid this my grand father was Wilfred Bernard an my Father was Thomas Bernard. I have original photos on my wall from the 10th anniversary.
Man, the first one I have come across where they mentioned the location. Damn strange that so many are on you tube BUT DONT TELL YOU WHERE ITS LOCATED.
The intro song is the oh shiitake mushrooms intro
they should reopen because right now is the best time of business for drive ins
Try to find the owners and see if you sign a libility wavier if they will let you salvage some of it or as much as possible!!!
Tear it up and sale it for scrap? Figures.everyone is money mad anymore..
@@dalemulholland4469 Well, yes and no- if this place is never rehabbed (its pretty far gone and the site just doesn't work anymore), all that stuff will go to waste (a landfill) if its torn down. I'd never use it for scrap though- would save it and reuse it somehow- especially since it has such a cool story behind it!
You were trespassing on the property.You should have gotten permission to be on the property.Have respect for other peoples property.Plus you admitted you stole from there too.
Shut up
Narc.
It was for sale- "I was considering buying it". Ended up not taking anything- it was all garbage- though I would have been doing a future owning a favor for hauling anything away.