Three of the biggest trilogies to storm a box office will conclude this summer. They may even be too big for an indoor theater.
Angela Kershner / The Citizen
FEATURE FILMS
FEATURE FILMS
The adventures of Spider-Man, Shrek and Captain Jack Sparrow are better fit for the Finger Lakes Drive-In, which will reopen for its 58th summer season tomorrow. During its first week, the drive-in will screen animated family film “Meet the Robinsons” and the John Travolta-starring motorcycle comedy “Wild Hogs.”
“We'll be working the kinks out in the first week, making sure everything's up to snuff,” said the drive-in's owner, Kevin Mullen.
The pressure will be on to perfect operations by May 4, when everyone's favorite wall-crawler swings his way back onto screens in “Spider-Man 3.”
Given the record-breaking box office gross of the series, Mullen expects the upcoming film to lead off this summer with a lucrative bang. He hopes this season continues a decade of consistent growth in attendance at the theater.
“I think it's an affordable option for families ... they want to be able to go and see at least two movies and not worry about the kids,” Mullen said.
When the patrons pull their cars into the theater, they will notice a new concession stand ready to tide them over with cheeseburgers, hot dogs, pizza, popcorn and candy during the double-feature. The ceramic-tiled stand replaces a shack that was built over concrete and covered with a flat roof. Mullen also installed a new septic system in the off-season.
Three weeks after the summer movie season starts, the Finger Lakes Drive-In will premiere the newest installment in another popular series, “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.” Mullen expects a full lot for the film's first showing on Friday, May 25. The previous installment, “Dead Man's Chest,” drew a record-setting one-week total for the drive-in.
“We turned away hundreds upon hundreds of cars that opening weekend,” Mullen said.
The theater will be showing several other summer films on their day of release, but some will be bumped back due to the drive-in having only one screen. “Shrek the Third,” for instance, will be pushed back a few weeks by the likely popularity of “Pirates.”
Among the many cars that will pack the drive-in this summer, a few men and women will live up to the stereotype of such theaters by paying more attention to each other than the screen.
“Fortunately most people who do that have the common sense to park in the back rows and not bother anyone,” Mullen said.
The occasional front-row lovebirds and lewd teenagers still make their obnoxious presence felt at the drive-in. Hopefully this summer's schedule of blockbuster movies, namely the “Spider-Man” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” sequels, will hold their attention sufficiently.
“To have those two movies in May should be a great way to start the summer,” Mullen said.
Staff writer David Wilcox can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net
If you go
What: Finger Lakes Drive-In
When: Opens Friday
Where: Route 5, Aurelius
Cost: $7 adults, $2 children 4-12, free under 4
For details: Call 252-3969
“We'll be working the kinks out in the first week, making sure everything's up to snuff,” said the drive-in's owner, Kevin Mullen.
The pressure will be on to perfect operations by May 4, when everyone's favorite wall-crawler swings his way back onto screens in “Spider-Man 3.”
Given the record-breaking box office gross of the series, Mullen expects the upcoming film to lead off this summer with a lucrative bang. He hopes this season continues a decade of consistent growth in attendance at the theater.
“I think it's an affordable option for families ... they want to be able to go and see at least two movies and not worry about the kids,” Mullen said.
When the patrons pull their cars into the theater, they will notice a new concession stand ready to tide them over with cheeseburgers, hot dogs, pizza, popcorn and candy during the double-feature. The ceramic-tiled stand replaces a shack that was built over concrete and covered with a flat roof. Mullen also installed a new septic system in the off-season.
Three weeks after the summer movie season starts, the Finger Lakes Drive-In will premiere the newest installment in another popular series, “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.” Mullen expects a full lot for the film's first showing on Friday, May 25. The previous installment, “Dead Man's Chest,” drew a record-setting one-week total for the drive-in.
“We turned away hundreds upon hundreds of cars that opening weekend,” Mullen said.
The theater will be showing several other summer films on their day of release, but some will be bumped back due to the drive-in having only one screen. “Shrek the Third,” for instance, will be pushed back a few weeks by the likely popularity of “Pirates.”
Among the many cars that will pack the drive-in this summer, a few men and women will live up to the stereotype of such theaters by paying more attention to each other than the screen.
“Fortunately most people who do that have the common sense to park in the back rows and not bother anyone,” Mullen said.
The occasional front-row lovebirds and lewd teenagers still make their obnoxious presence felt at the drive-in. Hopefully this summer's schedule of blockbuster movies, namely the “Spider-Man” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” sequels, will hold their attention sufficiently.
“To have those two movies in May should be a great way to start the summer,” Mullen said.
Staff writer David Wilcox can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net
If you go
What: Finger Lakes Drive-In
When: Opens Friday
Where: Route 5, Aurelius
Cost: $7 adults, $2 children 4-12, free under 4
For details: Call 252-3969
