One Night Stand of the Week

S.B. DRIVE-IN

In this age of DVD players, hi-def cable TV, and multiplexes on
every corner, the drive-in movie theater should be little more than
a fading relic of our country’s past. But we Americans are a
sentimental lot, which accounts for the surprising fact that
drive-in theaters are actually a stable force and, in some of our
country’s corners, a growing trend. “We expected to find that they
were on their way out,” explained Adam Grossberg, a UCSB film/econ
student who’s making a documentary this summer on drive-ins. “But
there is this culture that is prospering.”

Grossberg, along with friend Ari Phillips plan to spend eight
weeks after this month’s graduation traversing the country and
filming drive-in enthusiasts, owners, and other folks who, like the
theaters, are clinging to what most figure is an antiquated
tradition. “It’s an interesting subculture,” said Grossberg. “It’s
not a money-making business. They keep it going because they love
it.” To help fund their trip, the duo is hosting a “One Night
Stand” at our town’s former drive-in, located next to the airport
in Goleta on Kellogg Way. By selling ads for both onscreen and a
program, the two will be able to offer a screening of American
Graffiti for free, along with some other short films. A DVD
projector will be mounted to a car to show the films, since the
theater got rid of its projection equipment years ago. There’s no
snack shop anymore either, but the Doghouse will be catering and
there may even be some popcorn in the mix.

It’ll be a free evening that’s sure to bring back tons of
childhood memories. And maybe, just maybe, it’ll kick-start someone
into refurbishing our big screen-by-the-sea. See irrelephantproduc
tions.com for more info.

— Matt Kettmann