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Topic: Drive-In Construction

Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 01-18-2001 02:09 PM

Simple Barry, hire yourself waiters!

Seriously though, the "movie grill" theaters that are popping up rake in an incredible amount of cash. As I understand it, a per cap of $10 a person is common. Maybe I'm completely crazy here, but have you ever considerd a drive in grill?

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Adam Martin
I'm not even gonna point out the irony.

Posts: 3686
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 01-18-2001 03:03 PM

When I re-opened a small twin drive-in for the company I used to work for, I set up a cafeteria-style snack bar and also used car hops to run around both lots from the centralized building. The customers didn't have to walk a mile and the kids made tips.

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Chris Erwin
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 195
From: Olive Hill,KY
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 01-18-2001 04:21 PM

Barry,

Are you a member of the United Drive-In Theatere Owners Assn.?

If not, by all means join. The dues are reasonable, the info is priceless. You can join if you are in the process of planning or building. This organization can help save you time,money and headaches when it comes to planning and building a drive-in.

If you are interested, post back here and I'll e-mail to the address you have on file here at Film-Tech.

If you are a member, welcome to the group!
(I'm not listing in the member directory yet until my plans progress a little more-I looked for you in the directory and didn't see your name,but then I thought you might be doing the same)

Just let me know.
--Chris

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 01-18-2001 09:39 PM

There are pictures in the warehouse of the century drivein in lindsay ontario that started as a single and twinned by buildin a new booth over the old one to service the two screens

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Barry Floyd
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1079
From: Lebanon, Tennessee, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 01-18-2001 10:18 PM

Drive-In Grill??? Hmmm........
If you'll notice on the top drawing, there is a structure on the left nearest the highway. If money and budgets permitted within the second or third year, we have considered adding a diner. One of those stainless steel jobs. I found that I could order a 60 seat stainless steel diner complete with cooking & refrigeration equipment, tables & booths, all plumbing fixtures in place and even stocked with plates and silverware for around $160,000.00+/-. "Dinermite" (www.dinermite.com) builds them in a factory in Atlanta, ships them by truck to your site, and all you have to provide is the foundation pad, water, sewer and electricity.

It could give us "year-round" business when the drive-in season slacks off.

As far as the UDITOA, I've been invited to join as an "honarary member" once, and just recieved a packet of information from them last week. I wish I could make it to Florida in February for the conference, but unfortunately the day job prevents it for now.

------------------
Barry Floyd
Floyd Entertainment Group
Nashville, Tennessee
(Drive-In Theatre - Start-Up)

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System Notices
Forum Watchdog / Soup Nazi

Posts: 215

Registered: Apr 2004

posted 07-09-2004 12:47 PM

It has been 1267 days since the last post.

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George May
Film Handler

Posts: 60
From: Bath, United Kingdom
Registered: Nov 2001

posted 07-09-2004 12:47 PM

On a slightly different tack, I've been asked to screen some films in a large field just over one long weekend. It's to be a "drive-in party" for up to 200 cars. (It's a novelty - we in the UK don't do drive-ins).

I've fixed on the screen (40' wide in a frame to be hung from a crane), the sound and the projectors, but have no idea on how to set out the parking. No ramps obviously. But how many rows? How many cars wide? Does each row have the same number of cars? Distance between cars in a row, and between rows? How high should the screen be off the ground? etc

Have any of you any rules of thumb?

Thanks a lot.

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 07-09-2004 01:16 PM

Depending on the gain of the screen position the rows of cars in a fanning out pattern on a radius and allow the width of a standard laneway between each road

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Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays

Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 07-09-2004 04:32 PM

quote: System Notices
It has been 1267 days since the last post.

So? You're bringing it up just to bring it up?

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System Notices
Forum Watchdog / Soup Nazi

Posts: 215

Registered: Apr 2004

posted 07-09-2004 04:47 PM

People are stupid and cannot pay attention. It is my job to maintain order. No soup for you!

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 07-09-2004 05:39 PM

Soup Nazi's must die [Big Grin]

lets start a petition for a Joe to make us a flash animation of his execution [Big Grin]

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System Notices
Forum Watchdog / Soup Nazi

Posts: 215

Registered: Apr 2004

posted 07-09-2004 06:00 PM

NO SOUP FOR YOU EITHER!!! Come back 1 year.

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 07-09-2004 06:52 PM

We should get our new mod Phil to ban the soup nazi

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George May
Film Handler

Posts: 60
From: Bath, United Kingdom
Registered: Nov 2001

posted 07-10-2004 01:38 AM

So, should I have started a new thread?

I'm still interested in some more answers to the questions I posed!

Thanks

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David Kilderry
Master Film Handler

Posts: 355
From: Melbourne Australia
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 07-10-2004 07:34 AM

George, the old rule of thumb was a 90 degree fan shape from the screen centre with about 3 screen widths to the first row of cars. These rules have changed and many drive-in fields will rarely have cars spread as wide as 90 degrees.

At the Lunar Triple Drive-in here in Dandenong Australia we find that some cars like to get as close as they can i.e. about 1 1/2 screen widths, whilst others head for the back row (they do not necessarily watch the movie from there though!)

Given your small screen, park the cars as close together (side by side) as possible and allow about 4 car lengths between each row given the lack of ramps. Arrange them in a fan shape. 200 cars is pushing the good viewing limits of a 40 foot screen. We have a screen over double that width for a 200 car field.

Tall vehicles will need to park at the rear and you'll need get the screen height just right. It will be determined by the fall of the site.

Good luck

David Kilderry

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