thePULSEDrive-In Theatres
Still the Ultimate in Cool After All These Years
By Matthew Bonazzoli
Summer is here. OK, let’s try it again, only louder this time. Summer is here! Dairy Queen is open, the Red Sox have fielded another team of future NY Yankee drafts and the drive-in movie theatres are open. Drive-in movies? Yes, those vast hardtop meccas of entertainment that once were as common to the area as mosquitoes are open and ready for another season.
The first drive-in movie theatre opened in June of 1933 in Camden, NJ, and the fad quickly spread across the country ~ with Massachusetts becoming one of the states most populated by the outdoor theatres. In spite of our temperamental weather, Massachusetts in the 1950s hosted nearly 90 outdoor theatres. Even though now there are a mere handful remaining, the cool news is that since we live in Worcester, we have access to three of the best ~ and all within 45 minutes of the city.
The closest of these three is the Leicester Drive-In. Located at 1675 Main Street in Leicester, it’s a two screen theatre with space for 800 cars. For a mere $13 per carload, you and your friends can see a double feature under the stars.
Next up is the Tri-Town Drive-In located in Lunenberg (or, as some of the locals call it, “Whalom”). Tri-Town is little bit north of our city but well worth the drive. For $13 per carload you can see a double feature ~ and sometimes even a triple feature.
The third and last drive-in theatre in Worcester County is the Mendon Twin Drive-In. For $15 per carload you can see a double feature on one of two screens and sample something from the legendary (and very eclectic) snack bar.
Drive-in movies are something that you have to experience in order to fully understand their allure. There’s something very surreal about walking around under the stars in front of an 80’ motion picture with the echoes of a few hundred cars tuned to the soundtrack of the film. It’s nothing like the closed theatres with their 6-channel surround sound, booming speakers and tight schedules.
A night at the drive-ins is just that ~ a night out. Many couples and families arrive early and play Frisbee or stroll through the grounds while the sun sets. Some bring dinner with them and host tailgate dinner parties while others prefer to stick with the concession stands. Either way, you get a lot more variety than just overpriced theatre candy!
So what do you and your favorite guy or girl do if you only like one of the films being shown and have to wait through the first one? Well, make good use of your time ~ in the traditional way! Pull your sweetie close, ease the seat back and partake in one of the drive-ins most enjoyable rituals. If you’re an expert, move into the back seat for more room to move (this is also a great way to pass the time during intermission!)
Most importantly, don’t get fooled by the old stereotype that the drive-ins only play out-of-date or low-budget films. Modern outdoor theatres like we have in Worcester County play all current releases and premier them on the same schedule as do indoor theatres.
So hey, what have we all learned today? The drive-in is a hip, cool, fun, romantic, and affordable blast from the past that lasts through the decades and throughout the summer. See you there!
Outdoor Screenings
Catch a Flick on a Warm Summer Night
By Andrea Ajemian
Living in New England, sometimes it feels like we get endless months of winter and only a glimpse of summer. So if you’re like me and count movies and fresh air as two of your favorite things, take advantage of what good weather we do get and grab a blanket and some snacks and head to an outdoor film screening.
Located on the esplanade of the Charles River, Boston’s Hatch Memorial Shell offers free Friday films at sunset from June 23rd – September 1st (no screening on July 1st). So pack a picnic (or head out early to grab dinner at one of the nearby restaurants) and hit the city for a night under the stars. Check out www.hatchshell.com for directions and on Thursdays for the announcement of which film they’ll be screening that Friday.
Kicking off the festivities that will lead to the Mass Bay Film Festival this Fall, MBFF’s Creative Director Rob Newton will be screening a selection of great independent films on Monday nights at Ralph’s Diner, 148 Grove Street in Worcester. A $5.00 admission benefits the Mass Bay Film Project.
Three summers ago, Fallon Community Health Plan launched its Movies in the Park series, a free, open-to-the-public event designed to bring families and friends together to enjoy an evening of free popcorn and a great family movies under the stars. This year’s line-up (all shows are at Institute Park, Salisbury Street in Worcester) is amazing. The park opens for seating at 6pm and the movie starts as soon as it’s dark enough to show (approximately 7:15 pm). It’s BYOLC (Bring Your Own Lawn Chairs) and BYOPB (Bring Your Own Picnic Basket). Also plan to bring an FM radio. WXLO 104.5 FM will be on-site with fun stuff to do and neat giveaways – and additional pre-movie activities (listed below).
Saturday Aug. 5th (Rain Date: Sunday, August 6th)
STAR WARS Episode IV: A New Hope
Pre-show features the costumed characters from the 501st New England Garrison (storm troopers and other costumed characters from the movie!)
Saturday Aug.12th (Rain Date: Sunday, Aug. 13th)
HARRY POTTER and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Pre-show includes fun activities from special guest Higgins Armory Museum
Saturday Aug. 19th (Rain Date: Sunday, Aug. 20th)
MADAGASCAR
Pre-show activities TBA
Check out Andrea’s reviews of classic summer flicks only at www.thepulsemag.com!
Summer – A Season So Good, They Put it in the Title!
Goofy, jiggly, heart-wrenching, nostalgic, even downright dark…these films are perfect to get you in the mood for summer!
By Andrea Ajemian
1. Wet Hot American Summer (2001) This movie is one of my absolute favorite comedies. It’s the last day of summer camp in the ‘80s and Janeane Garofalo, Amy Poehler, and Paul Rudd are the counselors. The humor is absolutely ridiculous ~ if you haven’t yet seen this film, RENT IT! NOW!!
2. Indian Summer (1993) Mike Binder delivers with this nostalgic film about a group of childhood friends who attend a reunion at their former summer camp, which is now in danger of closing. With a cast including Diane Lane and Bill Paxton, this is a sappy chick flick that even some of my guy friends love. Beware – it may make you want to make out with an old crush and go skinny-dipping (hey, maybe THAT’S why the guys love it!).
3. One Crazy Summer (1986) Demi Moore plays a rocker chick and John Cusack plays cartoonist Hoops (who is, ironically, horrible at basketball) in Savage Steve Holland’s oddball romantic comedy. This is a classic for any of us who came of age in the 80s.
4. Stolen Summer (2002) In the first Project Greenlight (that’s Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s pet project) film, Aidan Quinn and Bonnie Hunt star as a couple raising a large family in Chicago. At the center of the story is their youngest son Pete’s (an absolutely adorable kid) attempt to convert a dying Jewish boy named Danny to Catholicism so that he can get into heaven. The side-story about the relationship that develops between Pete and Danny’s father (Kevin Pollak) is both engaging and sincere Ladies, I cried.
5. Summer School (1987) Mark Harmon plays a gym teacher who must cancel his summer plans in order to teach an English class made up of wacky underachievers. Despite Harmon’s disgusting habit of allowing his dog to lick peanut butter off of him, this film is just way too much fun to miss ~ check out a much younger and thinner Kirstie Alley and some 80s fashions that will make you giggle. Oh, and I totally have a crush on Chainsaw.
6. Summer Rental (1985) John Candy (we miss you, John!) is a well-intentioned, if somewhat goofy, family man (with, like in some of today’s network sitcoms, an unrealistically hot wife!) who takes the gang on a summer vacation ~ where everything that possibly can go wrong does. Not quite down for the count, he sets out to prove to his family that he’s not a total loser ~ and hijinks ensue!
7. Summer Lovers (1982) I must admit, I had no idea what to expect from this film starring a pre-Splash Daryl Hannah and an oh-so-delish Peter Gallagher (the dad on the O.C.). And what I got was a bunch of gorgeous naked people hanging out in the Greek Islands, climbing through caves, and having sweaty threesomes. Gallagher’s tiny…and I mean tiny!.. shorts, worn for the very few scenes when he’s not naked, are cause for many laughs as well.Ah…escapism at its best!
8. Summer Fling (1996) Strangely enough, this film is now called The Last of the High Kings. But since I was able to find it on VHS at Dollar Video in Tatnuck Square, to me it will always be Summer Fling. Starring Christina Ricci and Jared Leto, the film is set in 1977 Dublin and tells the tale of a teenager planning a beach party and dreaming about girls he thinks are unobtainable.
9. Summer of ’42 (1971) Starring a very young Jennifer O’Neill and nominated for 4 Oscars, this coming-of-age film is set against the backdrop of Nantucket Island in 1942, where a youth eagerly awaits his first sexual encounter. Along the way, he finds himself developing a relatively innocent love for a young woman who is in turn awaiting news on her soldier husband’s fate in WWII.
10. Summer of Sam (1999) Spike Lee takes his turn at the famous 1977 South Bronx murders. The film is not your typical serial killer movie, focusing more on character than on violence. Running time is two hours and twenty minutes, so it’s a pretty long movie, but the character study does give an interesting perspective on the serial killer’s mindset.
So while the burgers cook on the barbecue and the beers chill in the fridge, make sure to take some time this summer to catch up on the best summer films. While it’s always fun to go to the movie theater, there’s something great about throwing on some sweats, grabbing an iced coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts, and heading straight for the couch to watch a bunch of DVDs with your friends. Good times, good times!
