Drive-in theatres find ready audience with moviegoers eager to get outside
SASKATOON Drive-in theatres took on extra special meaning this past May long weekend.
While they commonly open around this time, this year it looked different thanks to COVID-19.
“It was the perfect storm. They had announced Friday, May 8 that drive-in theatres were allowed. We were excited but cautious. We talked to venues all that weekend,” says Trystan Meyers, who opened Cinema Under the Stars drive-in theatre with business partner, Chris Lawrie.
Cinema Under the Stars — created through a partnership between Meyers’ business Armed With Harmony and Lawrie’s business Saskatoon Audio Visual — has long been providing their movie setup for community organizations.
“We had purchased an FM transmitter as a backup. It gave us the ability to morph from sitting on blankets to a drive-in.”
Meyers and Lawrie then partnered with Agar’s Corner for a drive-in experience.
“All three of our businesses rely on events of more than 15 people. We’ve seen 100 per cent of our income vanish,” notes Meyers.
The feedback on opening weekend was “overwhelmingly supportive.” He says it didn’t take long for the event to sell out, and says between the three businesses, they knew almost everyone personally.
“It was really cool to see cars pull up, and as you were scanning the tickets, you look up and say, ‘Oh hey, I know you!’ ”
The May long weekend showings were sold out, with a few tickets remaining for screenings this week.
Twilite Drive-in Theatre in Wolseley, one of the province’s four drive-ins, also opened up this weekend to near sellout, socially distancing crowds.
“My whole lifetime, I never thought there’d be something like this where the whole world is dealing with a pandemic,” says owner Don Zaba.
He says people thought the experience was great, and the majority adhered to social distance rules.
“They were very happy to see the drive-in open up. They were just dying to do something with their kids.”
Zaba says his drive-in usually runs seven days a week during summer months, but that will depend on movies are available. With only one new release set for July, he will have to show old content.
Ray Boutin, who co-owns Prairie Dog drive-in with his wife in Carlyle, agrees that people were ecstatic to have an outing. And, he says this summer could be good business for drive-ins.
Boutin says he has lots of ideas for his drive-in this summer, including a memorial evening where guests submit photos of loved ones and as they show up on the big screen, a Chinese lantern is lit in their honour.
Meyers says there have been numerous calls about graduations they would like to be able to accommodate, as well as small towns and community associations that would like to plan events.