Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Big new 5-screen drive-in planned in North Carolina

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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 03-23-2017, 11:40 AM:

Looks like this venture is owned by a development company so they've got some bucks. The Graham Cinema of course was the home of the famous Tim Bob until he passed away last fall.

Graham Cinema owners plan five screens, room for 1,000 cars

By Bill Cresenzo / Times-News

The owners of the Graham Cinema plan to finalize the sale of 34 acres on Jimmie Kerr Road at Interstate 40 Thursday, and build a drive-in theater there in time for a spring 2018 opening

I-40 Drive-In will have five screens, said Jennifer and Chuck Talley, the principals of Court Square Development Group, which owns also the Graham Cinema.

The complex will include a restaurant, and have a playground and mini golf course.

It will have a parking capacity of about 1,000.

Courthouse Development is partnering with Martin Murray, a Southern Alamance High School graduate, who graduated with Chuck Talley, to build the drive-in.

Murray and his wife, Marsha, own three drive-in theaters in Texas, including a brand new one.

The Graham tract is already zoned to allow the theater. The city would have to approve site plans.

THE NUMBER OF drive-ins in the United States has steadily declined. According to the United Drive-In Theater Owners Association, as of 2016, there were 324 drive-in theaters in the United States. Six are in North Carolina, including one in Eden.

But Jennifer Talley said not to count on the total demise of the drive-in.

“They said the same thing about hardware stores, and our hardware store [Colonial Hardware in Graham] has thrived,” she said.

The theater will show first-run movies and double features.

“It’s unique in this day,” said Chuck Talley, adding that older people are nostalgic for drive-ins, and younger people are curious about them.

Typical movies will start around 8:30 p.m., with an intermission before a second movie starts.

The Murrays' Town & Country Drive-In in Abilene, Texas, charges $8 per adult and $3 per child for a double-feature. Citing demographic and traffic studies, partners expect people to come from the Triad and the Triangle to the enjoy the theater.

Alamance County used to have at least two drive-ins. The 70 Twin Drive-In was on North Church Street. A storm destroyed the original drive-in in 1969. It was rebuilt and closed in 1980 before being demolished in 1991.

There was also the Circle G Drive-In on Ossipee Road, which was originally a mainstream drive-in. It later showed X-rated films before closing.

Article

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-23-2017, 01:18 PM:

Thats awesome!

Posted by Terry Monohan (Member # 8285) on 03-23-2017, 07:45 PM:

Thanks Mike for this news. They probably will put in 2 large scope screens plus 3 smaller flat screens. Hope the roads to get into the place can handle all the cars on the weekends. Many hot dogs & burgers will hit the grills soon.