July 19, 2008
Starlite on the River Tonight and Later This Summer
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Where once neighborhood theatres such as the Beverly, Westmor, Park and Waco dotted Huntington, auto theatres surrounded the region from the East on to Ceredo, down to a Corral at Flatwoods and a Starlite (South Point) and the Tri-State in Chesapeake, Ohio.
The so-called neighborhood theatres seemed to close nearly overnight as the television tubes took over living rooms, diminishing the audience for double features, a serial, cartoon and newsreel. Outdoor theatres vanished slowly, like the warnings given by naturalist that a species is headed toward
extinction.
Unused flatlands, often on a slightly obscure road, heralded the prospect for a giant screen showing movies from dusk until almost dawn to viewers sitting comfortably by their steering wheel. Finding a carload of people for the drive ins which had reduced prices than the indoor theatres meant partying, movie watching and away with all kissing and petting inhibitions.
Drive ins played some popular films that had been shown at the hardtops, but they had a steady rotation of cheap horror films, chopping go go action, and trashy peeks (and sometimes more) of partially clad bodies romping at a beach, in the woodlands, or a house by an institution for higher learning.
Vacant land located just this side of obscurity proved the demise of the drive in, too. As suburbs expanded, interstates beckoned, and shopping centers located nearby, the large patch of formerly not so valuable land became just the right size for a big box discount store.
Slowly, the local drive ins met their sunrise. The Ceredo became then Hart’s/Big Bear Plaza, Burlington Auto was Jim Walter’s, the Trail succumbed to lumber and furniture, and the East, a Wal Mart. The Tri-State’s lease ran out, Mid-States Theatres rejected the higher terms, and, thought, its screen has been toppled, the Chesapeake Flea Market still contains relics of the only area that dared advertise, “open 365 days a year, warm in car heaters…”
Charleston’s last outdoor theatre, the Valley Drive In, St. Albans, which closed after the East, became a lumber company, but for a time (and perhaps still) the screen remained intact. As for the Corral (in Flatwoods), the lot which had been a unique predecessor to stadium tiering remained abandoned and mostly intact, until a housing development finally etched onto its soil.
Drive in theatre lore extends beyond the salty popcorn and films flickering on the screen. Each had particular nuances and fans.
For instance, the Corral was robbed by a bandit who took the money and escaped into the surrounding woods riding a bicycle. The Tri-State pushed the edge with nudity and the proximity of its screen to a four lane highway and houses prompted many a raid. I remember a former manager telling of a cashier speaking to him with a touch of blandness, “what’s going on… there’s a couple of television trucks across the road…and, uh, oh, here comes the sheriff.”
Junior Ross, now the operations manager at the beloved Keith Albee Performing Arts Center , spent a significant portion of his projection career under the stars of night and standing watch at the ticket booth just savvy enough to spot a nervous or otherwise indulged group who had one or more additional patrons hiding in the trunk or under a seat.
Those were the times when bookers continually brought back “Vanishing Point,” “Thunder Road,” “Gone in 60 Seconds” or “Valley of the Dolls,” as the weekend’s third feature that kept 50% of the patrons staying up late to watch it again (or fall asleep a sin which the bubble gum rock favorite vocal “Wake Up Little Suzie” sings).
Now, Huntington and other communities reap nostalgia by rigging a screen and occasionally showing films at parks and amphitheatres, where the people sit and watch on the ground rather than inside their hot rod.
For a journey back in time --- and a venture to the rejuvenating of Harris Riverfront Park --- you have an opportunity tonight at dusk to watch “21”, then, before fall breezes blow, another Starlite on the river free movie weekend will occur.
(Incidentally, one full fledged drive in theatre still rolls first run films nightly in the summer and on weekends in the Spring and Fall. The Scioto Breeze 1-2, a twin outdoor theatre with two screens, remains on U.S. 23 just a few miles north of Portsmouth, Ohio. Actually, their double features pair two first runs for less than the price of one. That will help offset the cost of gasoline to go and come back.
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Starlite on the River Tonight and Later This Summer
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Where once neighborhood theatres such as the Beverly, Westmor, Park and Waco dotted Huntington, auto theatres surrounded the region from the East on to Ceredo, down to a Corral at Flatwoods and a Starlite (South Point) and the Tri-State in Chesapeake, Ohio.
The so-called neighborhood theatres seemed to close nearly overnight as the television tubes took over living rooms, diminishing the audience for double features, a serial, cartoon and newsreel. Outdoor theatres vanished slowly, like the warnings given by naturalist that a species is headed toward
extinction.
Unused flatlands, often on a slightly obscure road, heralded the prospect for a giant screen showing movies from dusk until almost dawn to viewers sitting comfortably by their steering wheel. Finding a carload of people for the drive ins which had reduced prices than the indoor theatres meant partying, movie watching and away with all kissing and petting inhibitions.
Drive ins played some popular films that had been shown at the hardtops, but they had a steady rotation of cheap horror films, chopping go go action, and trashy peeks (and sometimes more) of partially clad bodies romping at a beach, in the woodlands, or a house by an institution for higher learning.
Vacant land located just this side of obscurity proved the demise of the drive in, too. As suburbs expanded, interstates beckoned, and shopping centers located nearby, the large patch of formerly not so valuable land became just the right size for a big box discount store.
Slowly, the local drive ins met their sunrise. The Ceredo became then Hart’s/Big Bear Plaza, Burlington Auto was Jim Walter’s, the Trail succumbed to lumber and furniture, and the East, a Wal Mart. The Tri-State’s lease ran out, Mid-States Theatres rejected the higher terms, and, thought, its screen has been toppled, the Chesapeake Flea Market still contains relics of the only area that dared advertise, “open 365 days a year, warm in car heaters…”
Charleston’s last outdoor theatre, the Valley Drive In, St. Albans, which closed after the East, became a lumber company, but for a time (and perhaps still) the screen remained intact. As for the Corral (in Flatwoods), the lot which had been a unique predecessor to stadium tiering remained abandoned and mostly intact, until a housing development finally etched onto its soil.
Drive in theatre lore extends beyond the salty popcorn and films flickering on the screen. Each had particular nuances and fans.
For instance, the Corral was robbed by a bandit who took the money and escaped into the surrounding woods riding a bicycle. The Tri-State pushed the edge with nudity and the proximity of its screen to a four lane highway and houses prompted many a raid. I remember a former manager telling of a cashier speaking to him with a touch of blandness, “what’s going on… there’s a couple of television trucks across the road…and, uh, oh, here comes the sheriff.”
Junior Ross, now the operations manager at the beloved Keith Albee Performing Arts Center , spent a significant portion of his projection career under the stars of night and standing watch at the ticket booth just savvy enough to spot a nervous or otherwise indulged group who had one or more additional patrons hiding in the trunk or under a seat.
Those were the times when bookers continually brought back “Vanishing Point,” “Thunder Road,” “Gone in 60 Seconds” or “Valley of the Dolls,” as the weekend’s third feature that kept 50% of the patrons staying up late to watch it again (or fall asleep a sin which the bubble gum rock favorite vocal “Wake Up Little Suzie” sings).
Now, Huntington and other communities reap nostalgia by rigging a screen and occasionally showing films at parks and amphitheatres, where the people sit and watch on the ground rather than inside their hot rod.
For a journey back in time --- and a venture to the rejuvenating of Harris Riverfront Park --- you have an opportunity tonight at dusk to watch “21”, then, before fall breezes blow, another Starlite on the river free movie weekend will occur.
(Incidentally, one full fledged drive in theatre still rolls first run films nightly in the summer and on weekends in the Spring and Fall. The Scioto Breeze 1-2, a twin outdoor theatre with two screens, remains on U.S. 23 just a few miles north of Portsmouth, Ohio. Actually, their double features pair two first runs for less than the price of one. That will help offset the cost of gasoline to go and come back.
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