Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Wednesday, October 15, 2014
(MITCHELL) - The Holiday Drive-In Theater in Mitchell is hosting a digital fundraiser this weekend.
Owner Steve Wilson and his crew are planning a fright-filled weekend to raise money to purchase a new or used digital projector - that's because all the movies now being developed are distributed digitally.
The cost of new digital technology is putting a strain on drive-in theaters around the country including The Holiday Drive-In. A new digital projector costs $80,000; a price Wilson and other theater owners can't afford. A used one is in the $30,000 range.
Wilson, with the support of loyal fans, hopes this fundraiser will get him closer to purchasing the projector so he can stay open.
"But, I warn you, coming up with $80,000 will not be easy and some will scoff at our attempts to try," Wilson added. "There are some theaters that have been able to pull off the fundraisers and I have seen other theaters that only raised a disappointing $2,000 total."
Wilson has been taking up donations along with pledges to help raise the needed funds.
"Only about 7 percent of the theaters in the USA are still running 35mm film and the Holiday is one of those due to the lack of having enough income to support a digital machine purchase of any type due to its limited 4 month operating season," Wilson added.
This weekend's movies will be a blast from the past, from about 1983.
The first movie will be The Final Terror, rated R and the second The Shining, rated R, starring Jack Nicholson in one of his most famous roles.
"All funds other than a few employee wages will go into the drive in theatres accumulating digital projector fund," Wilson says.
Wilson is asking supporters to come out this weekend to support his efforts in keeping the drive-in which has been a Mitchell icon since the summer of 1962.
A carload can enter for $22 both Friday and Saturday.
You can find out more about the Holiday Drive In Theater at its web site www.HolidayDriveIn.biz
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