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Author Topic: Debating on buying Drive-In Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 01-19-2010 10:44 AM                        quote: Louis Bornwasser Check with the tech at the Transit; ran a 6k bulb at almost 8k to "meet the 35mm." Louis Yah... that's kind of where I was trying to go with that, Louis... though you said it better! Don't know if they had a lower model of machine (I thought it was their biggest at the time), or if they didn't bring a 7kW bulb with them. In any case, it took balls to do that. I'd have to go back into my notes to recall what fL results they got from that move. It was pretty good though. They got uniform results across the entire screen. The 35mm machine had been severely hotspotted to get the same numbers just in the center.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-19-2010 11:57 AM                     The screen at the Spud is smallish so if it were kept well maintained digital should be no problem with a 6kw lamp. I don't remember if the spud has three phase or not... The property value is what it is because of it's close location to Jackson Hole, WY. Mark  |  IP: Logged Paul Geissinger Film Handler Posts: 2 From: Whitehall PA USA Registered: Oct 2009 posted 01-19-2010 01:12 PM                     I have to agree with all of the above. It is a very tough decission to invest money in anything today. Let me add my 2 cents. From over 40 years experience... Your statement concerning that you used to go there until... leads me to think there are issues to be dealt with and how many other customers felt the same way. You obviously have an immediate image to clean up. I can tell you that upon buying my Drive-In I made no profit from an established and successful operation, for 20 years. Everything went into paying for and bringing up to my standards a reasonable presentation both on and off the screen. Yes, now we are making money. 10 acres is a reasonable lot size for this endeavor. Be sure of the surrounding issues mentioned above and check for any ghosts that are liable to pop up. Best of luck and success. Paul Geissinger Managing Member Shankweiler's -America's Oldest- Drive-In Theatre President United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 01-19-2010 01:57 PM                     Welcome to Film-Tech, Paul.  |  IP: Logged Robert Madara Film Handler Posts: 18 From: Millville, NJ. USA Registered: Sep 2006 posted 01-19-2010 03:17 PM                        Glad to see you on here, Paul. I look forward to talking to you about drive-ins again!  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 01-19-2010 05:52 PM                        Hey, Paul, glad to see you here. Jack  |  IP: Logged Philip Wittlief Film Handler Posts: 57 From: Chicago, IL Registered: May 2003 posted 01-22-2010 08:26 AM                        quote: Louis Bornwasser Indiana went on "double savings time" (Central to Eastern, then daylight for the first time) means that drive ins start 2 hours later than before. The majority of Indiana was already on Eastern, the change was just to using daylight savings.  |  IP: Logged Marty Carr Film Handler Posts: 8 From: Greenfield, IN, USA Registered: May 2009 posted 01-22-2010 05:16 PM                     I have seviced this drive inn booth and it could use an upgrade in booth equipment.  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 01-22-2010 05:54 PM                     That's not too much of an issue.  |  IP: Logged Steve Greeno Film Handler Posts: 15 From: Frankfort, In. USA Registered: May 2008 posted 01-22-2010 09:55 PM                     We have an appointment tomorrow (Saturday Jan 23) to meet with the owners and realtor. I have a list of questions to ask them along with some gathered here on Film Tech. Everyone's input is very much appreciated. I hope things will work out for the better but it all depends on what it looks like on the inside. I was out there last week and took some photos of the grounds. It has been neglected as far as up keep. Most of which is just painting, cutting down overgrowth, etc. I am anxious to see what the booth and concession look like. I will be sure to get back on here with an update. It has been 20 years since I have been in the business (my last movie was "Ghost") but I still have it in my blood and a real desire to do it again. I have a full time job so I don't have to worry about making a living off of it.  |  IP: Logged Marty Carr Film Handler Posts: 8 From: Greenfield, IN, USA Registered: May 2009 posted 01-22-2010 10:24 PM                     A lot of tlc, a good plan for business and with all the 35mm equipment that is available will improve the drive inn greatly.  |  IP: Logged Steve Greeno Film Handler Posts: 15 From: Frankfort, In. USA Registered: May 2008 posted 01-25-2010 10:33 PM                     Here is an update on the drive-in venture. We took a look at the place over the weekend and I was disappointed but yet optimistic. The place appeared to me to be in worse condition than what I expected. It appears that no money had been put back into this place since it was purchased by the current owners. Although they may have, it just appears that nothing had been done on the upkeep. It does need a lot of paint which is no big deal. However, my concerns are with the leaky roof in the booth and evidence of a leak in the concession stand. When we went into the booth I saw water on the floor and some drips coming from the ceiling. Everything was covered by a few tarps which I realize they had to winterize the place. However, another person I know that checked the place out back when it first went up for sale in December told me that when they looked at the booth there was ice on top of the tarp covering the platter. What worries me is I do not know what kind of water damage there is above the ceiling. We had just bought an old building a few years ago for our current business that was built in the 1880s and it had a few leaks also. When we checked out the attic we found some very big problems with rotted wood. The projectors were old and a little rusty but I had been told this is not unusual since the booth isn't heated in the winter. One of the rectifiers in one of the projectors is bad. The speaker system does not work. They said they believe that there is a short in an underground wire or it is in the amp. They decided to just run the FM broadcast and not try to find the problem. The concession stand didn't look too bad on the inside. There wasn't any obvious water damage anywhere but you can see where water had came in through the ceiling at one time. Another thing that makes me wonder about the roof on the concession stand is that the soffits (?) around the outside of the building is looking rough as if they were effected by water leakage. The facia boards were looking loose. I couldn't see on top of the roof so I can't determine exactly how bad it is. The only item of real worth inside the concession stand is the popcorn machine. They had a two door cooler but it didn't work. The screen looked good structurally but it does need paint. The owners were very courteous and very helpful and I believe were very truthful with our questions. Here are some pictures, check them out and let me know what you think. As I had mentioned before, I am optimistic about this place but then again I do not believe it is a turnkey operation. Drive-in photo album  |  IP: Logged James Westbrook Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1133 From: Lubbock, Texas, Usa Registered: Mar 2006 posted 01-26-2010 11:18 AM                     Those look like Brenkert heads. Are parts still available for those?  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 01-26-2010 11:41 AM                        Looks like typical wear & tear you'd see at many old drive-ins. Nothing too major. Elbow grease will fix much of it. The roof may need some work, but that's par for the course at a seasonal drive-in. The projectors are Motiographs. I see the sound heads in use all the time. They're real workhorses. The projectors, if in decent shape, are very gentle on film and put out a steady picture. The main complaint I hear about them is they're light hogs. You'd get better light on your screen, AND find parts easily if you got yourself a used projector head... like a Century or the like. Still, it's not a dealbreaker as it is. Hopefully, the machinery will be in decent enough shape, once you get the chance to fire it up. If you do take the theatre, find a nearby tech to give you some tips on operation, care & maintenance. The fuse box says a lot about how old the theatre is. 'nuff said there. The screen looks in decent shape. I don't care for the facing metal. I have it here & you can see those ridges on bright scenes. I've seen much worse though... what's there isn't too bad. You can make your own decision on whether to fix the speaker system. Most of us have just shut them down, because the FM is so much better. Offhand, I'd say you've got work ahead of you, but there's enough there to get a good start on things. With luck, you can keep the mechanical stuff going long enough to take care of the cosmetic conditions.  |  IP: Logged Robert E. Allen Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1078 From: Checotah, Oklahoma Registered: Jul 2002 posted 01-26-2010 12:34 PM                     Yes, Jack is correct . They are Motiograph heads IMO the best machine ever made. Parts will be hard to come by but not impossible. Most every theatre supply house has a few sitting around and there are still some in use.  |  IP: Logged

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