BECKY’S DRIVE-IN Movies ha
Movies have been
been in the Beck f in the Beck fam ly’samily’i
blood since 1936, when patriarchlb ood since 1936, when patriarch Wiilliamlliam Beck showed free fi lms at Uncle Charlie’
he opened the Route 45 Dri t e-in on leasedi
property; in 1946, he bought the land where his namesake theater now stands.
eral times; for el times;
Beck showed free fi lms at Uncle Charlie’s Restaurant in Berlinsville. Some years latertRes aurant in Berlinsville. Some years later, he opened he Route 45 Drive- n on leased property; in 1946, he bought the land where
his namesake theater now stands. Owned since 1982 by Cindy Deppe and
her brother Darrell Beck, Becky’s has been upda ed severa
Owned since 1982 by Cindy Deppe and her brother Darrell Beck, Becky’s has been updated set
for examp e, FM xample, FMl
stereo transmission replaced in-car speak- ers decades ago, and the theater added 33’ x 67’ second screen in 2007. More recently, hey put in a new refreshment stand (mid- ay between the screens) and expanded the
stereo transmission replaced in-car speak- ers decades ago, and the theater added 33’ x 67’ second screen in 2007. More recently tthey put in a new refreshment stand (mid- way between the screens) and expanded the restroom facilities.
restroom facilities. But it still sports some old-fashioned touch-
But it still sports some old-fashioned touch- es, including pony rides and a “fi re engine”
es, including pony rides and a “fi re engine” (dressed-up garden tractor) that can haul
about a dozen kids. Each June, Becky’s celebrates the opening
of Hollingshead’l orks at
s driive-in with a DJ, fi re-
Each June, Becky’s celebrates the opening of Ho lingshead’s dr e-in with a DJ, fi re- works at intermission, moon bounce and intermission, moon bounce and snack-bar specials. And the owners plan
a dusk-to-dawn marathon during Labor Day weekend.
(dressed-up garden tractor) that can haul about a dozen kids.
snack-bar specials. And the owners plan a dusk-to-dawn marathon during Labor Day weekend.
SHANKWEILER’S DRIVE-IN Paul Geissinger was just a kid when he
aul Geissinger was just a kid when he started working at Shankweiler’s in 1971 as
started working at Shankweiler’s in 1971 as its projectionist. “I eits projectionist. “I expected to be there justxpected to be there just a couple of weeks, and then start studying ech. But none of my.
a couple of weeks, and then start studying electronics at Ryderle ectronics at Ryder Tech But none of my rep acements worked out…so here I am, 42 years later later.” Ge ssinger has co-owned driive- n with his wife Susan since 1984.e-in with his wife Susan since 1984.i
replacements wl years dr
Although its
orked out…so here I am, 42 Geissinger has co-oi
wned the the
Although its “landlocked” position pre- cludes it from installing a second screen, Shankweiler’s has stayed at the forefront ation.t
“landlocked” position pre-
cludes it from installing a second screen, Shankweiler’s has stayed at the forefront of technical inno tof echnical innova ion. When 1955’s Hur ricane Diane leir cane Diane leve ed the original “shadoweled the original “shadol box” screen, it was replaced with the then- new Cinemascope screen. In 1986, it was the e-in to implement stereo FM broad-
When 1955’s Hur-
box” screen, it was replaced with the then- new Cinemascope screen. In 1986, it was the fi rs drive-in to implement stereo FM broad- rst drit casting (with custom-made equipment), and
It also pioneered “camp-ins” for Cub Scouts: an outdoor mot
vie, and oi he concept from all over the U. S.”
casting (with custom-made equipment), and in 2002 switched to Red L.E.D Spectral ©in 2002 switched to Red L.E.D Spectral © technology for state-of-the-art audio.technology for state-of-the-art audio.
It also pioneered “camp-ins” for Cub Scouts: an ou door mov e, and overn ght camping in tthe theater lot. “The idea is catching on,
ernight camping ini
he theater lot. “The idea is catching on,” Geissinger says. “I’iGe ssinger says. “I’ve had nquiries about had inquiries about i tthe concept from all o er the U. S.
And Shankweiler’s is featured prominently At-
And Shankweiler’s is featured prominently in the upcoming documentary “Goingin the upcoming documentary “Going At- ttractions: The Defi nit can Driive-in Movie..”
ractions: The Defi nitiive Story of the Ameri- can Dr e-in Movie
Story of the Ameri- Continued on Pg 52 because you live here® May 2013 51
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