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There are places, tucked away in various corners of America, where you can still pack a picnic, stuff the car with your favorite people and enjoy the splendor of a summer night while catching a movie.
Digg recently spotted the following documentary that features Roger Babcock who has been running Hi-Way Drive-in Theater in Coxsackie, New York.
The documentary was shot and uploaded to Vimeo by Adam Carboni, and it tells the story of Babcock and his beloved theater-a place that offers him such joy, time for reflection and one pressing problem that seems to face every drive-in owner.
History.com states the first drive-in theater was opened back in 1933, entertaining those in New Jersey who preferred to drive up to their screen, enjoying the peculiar comfort of their own automobile.
For some, things haven't changed all that much from those early days. Projection screens hover monolithically above cars stuffed with popcorn-eating audiences.
The pressing matter at hand, however, is a big one. As we learn in the video, studios are done pumping out film, opting instead to send out digital copies for movie theaters and drive-in businesses alike.
To that end, owners have to eat a substantial cost. In this case, there is a happy ending, as Babcock's beauty will remain open after throwing a reported $275,000 at the problem.
The drive-in's website and Facebook page offer that the theater is down but only for the winter months.
This, sadly, isn't the case for others. As The Awl reported back in 2013, less than 360 drive-in theaters exist in the nation, stamped out by demand and the rising cost of digital projection.
Babcock does offer that drive-ins remain a destination for many, lending a rare experience for those who are so inclined to find it. And to echo the thought, sitting in a drive-in theater truly is an event, something that just feels so far departed from the silence and solemnity of a regular movie theater.
Fortunately, this isn't a sentiment yet buried in the confines of yesteryear, because many drive-in theaters do still exist, welcoming a younger generation that can experience the unique occasion.
Our own Tom Bastek covered five drive-ins worth your time recently. Fodor's has a list of the best theaters still bumping around, as does Business Insider.
We might wager that there is one still standing within a drive of your house. If so, you may just remember one of the best reasons to ever park the car.
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