Longtime readers of this here blog are well aware of our love affair with the local drive-in. It has been how we’ve seen movies for years now. We even went before we “had” to, back when we just had Harry and could have easier procured a babysitter or taken him to a standard theater. Then Liam was born and standard theaters were out. Evie came along and I forgot what seeing a movie at a standard theater was like.
We COULD have been like a lot of families and seen movies primarily on DVD and just left it at that. But to know Kile and I is to know our fondness for movies. Our first “date” was to the $1.50 movie theater to see “Hunchback of Notre Dame”. When we were first married, we would often catch an early fast food dinner on Friday nights and then head to the last matinee of whatever had just come out that day. When Harry was an infant, we took him to movies with us all the time. It was a sad day indeed when we learned taking him to movies wasn’t going to work anymore (around 18 months of age, when we went to see “Shrek” in the theater). I also remember with great joy the day we tried him in a theater again (he was 3 and it was “Finding Nemo”). Sure, we watch a lot of DVDs too, but we also love to see movies in the theater. There isn’t any experience quite like it.
The drive-in is definitely different than seeing a movie in a theater, but it still beats waiting six months (or more) to see the latest blockbuster. Winters are long and dreary around here while the drive-in is closed. It’s not always EASY to go to the drive in, especially with the two little ones. Both of them are about the age that they’re itchy and crabby and whiny and generally annoying. But we make it work and it’s pretty much always worth it.
But… I don’t think I can go back. Not after this.
Last Wednesday night we went to see “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince”. 30 minutes in or so, a transformer blew and we were issued passes to come back again. BIG BUMMER. I was so anxious to see this movie, the movie I was most looking forward to all summer! The BIG one! We couldn’t go back on Friday because Kile had to work and we figured Saturday would be swamped. Sunday night would be perfect… still the weekend techinically, but smaller crowds.
We packed up the kids after dinner, got money out at the ATM to buy popcorn with, got drinks at 7-11 and waited in line outside the gates for about a half hour before they let us in. We got a great spot, got all set up and everyone situated. The movie started late. It was supposed to come on at 8:55… it was more like 9:15. But, that’s about par for the course at the drive-in.
Maybe two previews in, the screen went black. Eventually, the sound cut off too. We waited. We figured it was a busted bulb in the projector, which we later learned was true. But it was a while before we learned that there was no one at the theater who knew how to replace the bulb. Second verse, same as the first.
This time, however, we asked for money back instead of passes. I don’t think I can go back there. It’s just ridiculous. And now I’m devastated that I don’t know if I’ll be able to see Harry Potter until it comes out on DVD. That’s just AWFUL. A crime against humanity.
So I’m frustrated. And annoyed. And sad. And peeved. And downhearted.
Dangit. NOW where am I going to see my movies at??
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3 Responses to “And then the drive-in lost our business”
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We have a drive-in here as well that we used to go to all the time. Our 3 kids are 5 and under and I can’t imagine trying to contain them in a car for the duration of a movie. Well, yes I can and it isn’t pretty. Hence, we have not been to a movie for a long time.
I’ve heard rumors that bigger cities have mom-friendly showings of movies where you can bring kids and no one will give you the stink-eye if they cry. Do you guys have those? Huntsville doesn’t, but I think its’ b/c we’re too small.
I second zoot. One of my local (midwest) chains has a bring the baby matinee. They start at like 10:00 or 11:00 in the morning.