JUBILEE DRIVE-IN WITHSTANDS THE TEST OF TIME
When the residents of Manitou Beach realized that they risked losing their beloved Jubilee Drivein theatre — which had entertained locals and tourists since 1955 — they rallied to save it.
Due to the advent of the digital age, films were no longer being made for projectors like the one at the Jubilee, so a digital projector had to be purchased in order for the theatre to continue to operate. But the show must go on, and, by 2017, the community had raised enough money through donations and fundraising events to equip the drive-in theatre with a refurbished digital projector.
“It works great, and the technology – when you see it up on the big screen – it’s phenomenal,” says Tara Hayden, who now leases the drive-in from its current owner, the Village of Manitou Beach.
The Jubilee is one of four Saskatchewan drive-ins that remain open despite having to make the costly switch to digital technology, but it is the only one that has the added convenience of 24 seats available indoors. “It’s right inside our concession building, and there are big glass windows, so you can sit in there and watch the movie,” says Hayden. That allows campers at the nearby Manitou and District Regional Park to walk along a short path and enjoy a movie without even having to move their vehicles.
For well over half of a century, drive-in movie theatres were popular destinations for date nights and family entertainment but, with increasingly convenient ways to watch movies at home, the demise of drive-ins theatres seemed imminent. Recent social developments, however, might ensure that drive-ins continue to thrive. Smoking is no longer allowed in many public places, and cell phone use is not permitted in theatres, but, in one’s own vehicle at a drive-in, almost anything goes.
“You can do whatever you want in your car,” says Hayden. “You can put your pyjamas on, you can put your flip flops on, put your hair up, you can bring your cell phone, your dog, and whatever you need to keep yourself comfortable. I think that’s part of the appeal: you’re still getting out and grabbing your popcorn, but you can stay connected with the rest of the world because you can keep your cell phone on if you need to. And the reality is that’s who we are now. We are very connected, and I think people appreciate that.”
Recently, the Jubilee Drive-in celebrated with Manitou Beach when the village received some national recognition. In 2017, the theatre was able to air an episode of CBC’S “Still Standing” comedy show featuring the community. “We added some shots of our Canada Day parade and had about 32 minutes of show time. We had 105 cars show up and it was a fantastic evening. There was clapping and horn-honking – it was just great,” says Hayden. “That was sort of a once-in-a-lifetime thing for us, and it couldn’t have been any better.”