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Mahoning Drive-In Theater

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Mahoning Drive-In Theater
Map
Address635 Seneca Rd
Lehighton, Pennsylvania, 18235
United States
Coordinates40°48′31″N 75°46′17″W / 40.80861°N 75.77139°W / 40.80861; -75.77139
TypeDrive-in
Opened1949
Website
https://www.mahoningdit.com/

The Mahoning Drive-In Theater is a drive-in theater located in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, along Route 443.[1][2] Opened in 1949, the Mahoning was one of many drive-in theaters that became popular in the United States following World War II.[3] Attendance at the Mahoning waned by 2014, but the theater has since gained a resurgence in popularity due to the management's decision to screen primarily older cult films and B movies rather than newer releases.[3] It is the last remaining drive-in theater in the US to screen films in 35 mm every weekend.[4]

History

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The Mahoning Drive-In Theater opened on April 29, 1949, with space for 75 cars, amidst a wave of drive-in theaters that became popular in the US after World War II.[5][3] A preview showing the night before drew 500 attendees.[6] According to Gene DeSantis, the theater's manager circa 1988, the first film screened at the Mahoning was 1948's April Showers.[2] The first season screened films every night of the week and admission was 50 cents.[1][2]

Though drive-in attendance declined across the country with the advent of multiplex theaters in the 1970s and 1980s, the Mahoning remained in operation.[3] In 1997, owner Joe Farruggio courted controversy when he threatened to screen Deep Throat and Debbie Does Dallas following multiple rejected zoning applications to build two additional screens.[7] Mahoning Township required the theater to get approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to build the additional screens because of their proximity to an airport, which they did not receive.[8] Police were present before the Friday night screening to confiscate the films, had they been visible from the road, but Farruggio instead elected to show Mimic and Cop Land.[9] The drive-in was only open for two weeks that year.[8] By 2014, the Mahoning had seen a significant decline in attendance, sometimes with as few as 10 cars per show.[3]

Owner and projectionist Jeff Mattox (who started working at the Mahoning in 2001) decided, at the suggestion of then-volunteer employees Virgil Cardamone and Matt McClanahan, that the Mahoning would screen primarily older cult films and B movies, as opposed to newer releases.[3] The decision proved successful, and attendance at the Mahoning soon rose in accordance with the addition of Exhumed Films themed programs like the recurring "Zombie Fest"—a marathon of films featuring zombies—and "Camp Blood"[3]—a marathon of horror films set at summer camps. Films are commonly shown as double or triple features at the Mahoning, and are often accompanied by screenings of older movie trailers, other vintage advertisements, and themed sets and costumes by volunteer James T. Mills.[3] The Mahoning has gone on to host events for Shudder, Joe Bob Briggs, and Troma Entertainment.

On July 13, 2021,[10] it was announced that the land on which the theater is situated was optioned by a solar power company, Greenskies Clean Energy LLC, which planned to demolish the Mahoning (including its screen and marquee) and construct a solar farm in its place.[11][12] Following an outpouring of community support, the plans have been put on hold.[4][13] In 2024, Mattox passed away less than two weeks before its 75th season was set to begin.[14] Ticket sales and the season opening were paused while the theater's staff sought a way to continue without a business owner. On May 10, 2024, the season began under the operation of Cardamone. The night included a memorial video to Mattox titled, "The Man Behind the Curtain."[15]

Location and Facilities

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The screen, marquee, concessions building, ticket booth, and projector are all original to the Mahoning, although changes and repairs have been made over the years. The original Mahoning screen was built in 1947 by Bethlehem Steel and measured 70 feet.[16][1] By 1958 it measured 100 feet and has now expanded to 110 feet.[17][16] Two weeks before the 2019 season opening, the screen was significantly damaged and underwent approximately $20,000 repairs.[18] The marquee sits at the intersection of Route 443 and Seneca Road to point cars towards the theater entrance a half mile away. In 2018, it was severely damaged by weather and a GoFundMe campaign was launched to help raise the nearly $20,000 it cost to repair the sign. To commemorate the repaired marquee, drive-in volunteers placed a time capsule in one of the posts.[19]

The concessions building also houses the projector room and bathroom. The projectors were manufactured in 1947 and have been used at the theater since it opened. 35 mm prints are sourced both from studios, private collectors, and university libraries.[20] Exhumed Films is also a regular source for prints.[21] The concessions building housed cigarette and pinball machines (both of which were robbed in the 50s and 60s).[22][23] The mural on the concessions stand was painted by Christian Egbert in 2016, who first learned about the drive-in after meeting staff at a local flea market. Mattox paid for the materials and Egbert was given a place to sell his paintings in exchange for the labor.[24]

The Mahoning Drive-In is one of three drive-in movie theaters in the Lehigh Valley, the other two being Becky's Drive-In Theatre and Shankweiler's Drive-In Theatre (the oldest operational drive-in in the country, now operated by former Mahoning volunteer owner Matt McClanahan).[25][26]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Mahoning Valley Drive-in Theatre Ready to Open". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. April 18, 1949. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Connolly, Sean (September 15, 1988). "Theaters out of doors out of date?". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. p. 161. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Abrams, Simon (July 9, 2021). "The Schlock-Horror Drive-In That Rose From the Grave". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 15, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Harris, Jon (July 15, 2021). "Mahoning Drive-in Theater to stay open after solar farm plan is put 'on ice'". The Morning Call. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  5. ^ "Drive-In Theatre To Open Friday". Mauch Chunk Times-Nwes. April 28, 1949. p. 1. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  6. ^ "Open Drive-In Theatre". The Morning Call. April 30, 1949. p. 8. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  7. ^ Ayers, Chuck (August 21, 1997). "Drive-in neighbors upset over planned X-rated films". The Morning Call. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Laylo, Bob (June 8, 1998). "Mahoning Drive-In theater may not see 50th birthday". The Morning Call. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  9. ^ Ayers, Chuck (August 23, 1997). "Drive-in offers action". The Morning Call. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  10. ^ @MahoningDIT (July 13, 2021). "SAVE THE MAHONING Watch. Share. https://vimeo.com/574291936 We're calling upon the Mahoning Township to deny the requested variance, and @GreenskiesSolar let their option lapse, allowing us to purchase the land from the landowner, in order to remain in operation. #savethemahoning" (Tweet). Archived from the original on July 15, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ Smith, Zachary (July 14, 2021). "Historic Mahoning Drive-In to be replaced by solar farm". PAHomePage.com. Nexstar Media Group. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  12. ^ "Save the Mahoning". The Mahoning Drive-In Theater. Archived from the original on July 15, 2021.
  13. ^ Warner, Andrea (July 15, 2021). "'You guys aren't going to let it happen': Mahoning Drive-In theater staying open". PAHomePage.com. Nexstar Media Group. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  14. ^ Ahner, Terry (April 17, 2024). "The man behind the movies; Mahoning mourns projectionist who turned drive-in into American Icon". Times News Online. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  15. ^ Radenhausen, Jim (May 9, 2024). "Mahoning Drive-In returns for 75th season". Times News Online. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Nark, Jason (August 14, 2019). "'Magnet for strange': Nostalgic Pa. drive-in lets you sleep over, bring your dog, get weird". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  17. ^ "Mahoning Drive-In Theatre To Open Tomorrow". Jim Thorpe Times News. April 4, 1958. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  18. ^ Monteforte, Laurie (April 8, 2019). "Drive-In Screen: Gone with the Wind". wnep.com. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  19. ^ Mataloni, Carmella (May 1, 2018). "Repairing Iconic Marquee at Carbon County Drive-In". wnep.com. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  20. ^ Strunk, Brianna (May 8, 2021). "Mahoning Drive-In Theater". Pocono News Network. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  21. ^ Tatu, Christina (June 22, 2019). "Reeling in the film fans: Mahoning Drive-In is last in the U.S. showing 35 mm films every weekend". The Morning Call. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  22. ^ "Mahoning Drive-in Theatre Burglary". Jim Thorpe Times News. June 24, 1959. p. 3. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  23. ^ "Police Probe Burglaries in Panther Valley Area". The Morning Call. September 7, 1965. p. 12. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  24. ^ "An artful exchange: Bernville man swaps paintings for exposure". Reading Eagle. December 19, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  25. ^ Report, Morning Call | Staff (June 6, 2015). "Lehigh Valley's historic drive-ins and movie theaters". The Morning Call. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  26. ^ WFMZ-TV (November 5, 2022). "Shankweiler's Drive-In sold to new owners". WFMZ.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
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