Wanda says families like the drive-in because their children can curl up in the back seat and fall asleep or play on the swing set in front of the giant screen. The atmosphere is casual. That s what people like about the drive-in, Wanda says. They can come dressed any way they want. Rain or shine and a projector problem not withstanding, the shows go on, and, as the days get shorter, the show times get earlier.
Strong cables keep the drive-in screen sturdy.
There is a reason for that. Butler says a tornado hit the area a few years ago. Coincidentally, the best attendance at the drive-in was recorded for Twister, which played on a weekend. It was held over to the next Monday and came back for a repeat a few weeks after that. In an age when drive-in theaters are dwindling, Butler says his theater has yet to succumb to trends.