Visit the Quarterly Reports Index to see past reports.

1 Jan 2003  - Mission Closure - No Changes

I made a quick run by the Mission on New Year's Day. No changes have occurred at the site.

12 Jan 2003 - Still No Changes

I dropped by the Mission on 12 Jan 2003. No changes have been made that are visible from the exterior of the property.

31 Jan 2003 - Signs of Life!

Matt Cooper has volunteered to be a test subject in a series of secretive experiments into human physiology being conducted at Brooks AFB. The latest experiment required him to stay overnight at the test facility. I agreed to drop him off there as a gesture of friendship and goodwill. I also planned, if time permitted, to perform a quick survey of the Mission during the trip.

I was waiting outside for Matt at the appointed time and we were off! As I hoped, there was plenty of time for a short detour to the Mission.

When we arrived at the property, I drove through the entrance and up to the ticket booths. There were no obvious changes to the property but something didn't seem quite right to me.

I turned the car around and drove around to the exit that serves Screens 1 and 2. Here we found new construction on the fence that separates the VFW from the Mission. To be more accurate, I should say there is now a fence between the two properties. The original fence was torn down after the bulk of it collapsed last year. The new vertical posts have been installed along the entire fence line and there are three sections which have been fully built up.

I also discovered what had been bothering me when I looked into the property from the ticket booths. The plywood panels covering the breezeway doors have been removed on the Screen 1 side of the concession stand. This breezeway allows access to the bathrooms from the Screen 1 and Screen 2 lots as well as to the concession stand. I can think of two reasons why these panels were removed.

The most obvious reason is to provide bathroom facilities for the workmen building the new fence. Another reason would be to allow plumbers access to the bathrooms, hopefully for renovation.

These are hopeful signs that the Mission may, in fact, reopen. I'll continue to monitor the situation as time permits.

16 Feb 2003 - More Fence...

I stopped by the Mission today for a progress check. Several more sections of fence have been put up along the boundary between the Mission and the VFW. Another 10 to 15 feet of fence remain to be constructed. More on this as it develops.

23 Feb 2002 - Finally, Some Good News

I captured the following text from the Santikos website tonight. Good news! I just wonder what would happen if I rented a chicken suit for this event!

Santikos Mission 4 Drive-In, 3100 Roosevelt in San Antonio

Santikos Mission 4 Drive-In is scheduled to open Friday, March 7.

We will celebrate with an official Re-Grand Opening on Friday and Saturday, March 14 and 15. See below for details!

HISTORIC MISSION 4 DRIVE-IN REOPENS WITH A 50's SWING!

Showstopping Spring Grand Reopening
Brings A Touch of Nostalgia Back to San Antonio
WHAT: Mission 4 Drive-In Season Grand Reopening
To kick off the 2003 season, Mission Drive-In opens in full nostalgia mode, including:
50's BeBop Bands
50's nostalgia movies
poodle skirts
roller skates
hula hoops
WHEN: Friday, March 14, 2003 6pm - 9pm
Saturday March 15, 2003 6pm - 9pm

1 Mar 2003 - Finally, Progress!

With the announced re-opening of the Mission less than a week away, I headed down to the site to see what preparations, if any, were being made. Rick and I have debated many times the probability that the Mission would simply re-open without any improvements whatsoever. I was hoping this trip would put the matter to rest.

Driving down White towards the main entrance, I glanced out the window towards the VFW hall. I was disappointed to see that no progress had been made towards completing the new fence.

Returning my gaze to the road in front of me, I turned into the property and headed around the screen tower. As I made the turn towards the ticket booths, I saw what I had been looking for!

Finally, progress has been made on the Screen 4 fence. Is it done yet? No, but nearly so. There is one spot where two boards are missing for no apparent reason. There is a second spot where a tree is too close to the fence (the new fence nearly exactly follows the lay of the old fence) for the boards to be installed. If I recall correctly, this tree actually displaced several boards from the old fence as it grew over the years. Rick immediately suggested the tree issue could be resolved by building a "box" around the tree trunk. That would certainly look better than having a couple of boards missing!

Other preparations have been made to support the re-opening. All the plywood covers have been removed from the snack bar. A large banner hangs over the front of the marquee. The banner reads simply, "Now Hiring 2-6 ".

A close examination of the ticket booths revealed an employment solicitation. The Mission is hiring for both maintenance and serving positions.

Using the zoom on my digital camera, I could see at least some of the concession equipment inside the snack bar.

All the exterior lights around the property were turned on. Since there was no signs of any personnel on the property, I wondered if the lights were on a timer or if they had been turned on as part of an electrical test and then not turned off. Given the overcast day, it was even possible that the lights might be on a photo-voltaic switch.

Looking across the Screen 1 lot, I counted 9 and a half sections of fence that are not yet boarded up between Screen 1 lot and the VFW hall. If the fence posts are 6 feet apart, then 57 feet of fence remain to be completed. I just have to wonder why this is taking so long!

Completing the ticket booth portion of my survey, I drove around to the Screen 1 exit. From this vantage point, I noticed something that I had missed before. There is now a large "privacy" fence wrapped around one end of the concession stand on the Screen 1 side. I'm not sure what this is all about, but you can count on me to find out!

Getting back into my car, I backed out onto White and started the drive home. On a whim, I turned right onto the road that separates the VFW from the city park.

Glancing out the window, I saw two vehicles parked near the concession stand on the Screen 2 side. I turned the car around and parked it on the side of the road.

Like that famous chicken, I crossed the road to get a better look at the drive-in on the other side. I immediately realized that I had forgotten to bring two important items with me. Although I could see someone standing on the stairway landing, I couldn't identify the person even with my camera on maximum zoom. Had I brought my binoculars, this would not have been a problem. Why was the identity of the person important? I wasn't prepared to walk up on people I didn't know. Sure, I could have pulled the old "I saw your sign out front and I'd like an application" trick. But I wasn't prepared to do that either. After all, this is the (nearly) weekly drive-in report, not the National Enquirer! I will not lower my standards just to get a story!

What was the other item that I had forgotten? If you recall from my previous reports, I was presented with my very own Santikos name tag. Had I had it with me, I could have put it on and then walked over for a visit. Since I'd have been wearing their "colors", I would have expected a positive response if not a hardy welcome!

After watching the activity at the snack bar for a few minutes, I decided it was time to leave. It was at this point that I realized I was missing something more important than binoculars or name tags. I was missing my car keys.

I wasn't concerned at first when I didn't find them in my right jacket pocket. I still wasn't concerned when I found the left pocket empty. I got concerned when I "patted down" the front pockets of my jeans. No keys! What the hell?

Attempting to remain calm, I considered the possibility that I had left the keys in the car ignition. Normally, I wouldn't do that but this was a special case. When I'm at the Mission, the keys would normally be in the ignition if I was near the car. Could I have become, like Pablov's dog, a victim of conditioned response?

That seemed reasonable to me at the time. I trotted across the road to my car and got inside. I checked the ignition. No keys. I felt around on the floor mats. Still no keys. What now?

I knew that I had only walked around in a very small area. Although my heart was beating faster at this point, I knew I'd find the keys if I searched carefully.

And I did that without any positive results.

Panic began to sit in at this point. What to do now? I decided to conduct a close examination of the grass between the road and the VFW fence. As I bent over to get a closer look at the ground, I felt something poke me in the butt! Holy flashbacks! I'd just had a physical exam (if you know what I mean and I think you do!) just a few weeks ago. I jerked upright and the sensation went away. Hmmmm....

I bent over again and got poked again. Could this be an overly aggressive insect attacking me from behind? Or even an enraged humming bird? Possible! I reached my hand around behind me and slapped myself hard. Ouch! My hand hit something hard. Perplexed, I reached into my back pocket to find my car keys on top of my wallet. My relief was physical, the keys had been found! How did they get into my back pocket? We'll never know!

Having gained positive control of my car keys, I got into my car and proceeded home without further incident!

After some reflection, I now believe that the person I had seen, and at least one other person that I didn't see (there were two vehicles), were on site inspecting the sound and projection equipment. I can think of no other reason for them to have been on the second floor of the concession stand.

In summary, some progress has been made but only a few days remain to get the property ready for the public. The fences need to be completed and the grass needs to be mowed and trimmed.

7 March 2003  -   Reanimated!

Having waited for months for the Mission to reopen, you won't be surprised that I was ready to return to the drive-in! As announced on the Santikos website, the Mission reopened on 7 March 2003.

A study of first weekly Mission advertisement of the 2003 season revealed that eight new films were playing at the Mission. These films being "Tears of the Sun", "Darkness Falls", "Daredevil", "Just Married", "Cradle 2 Grave", "Drumline", "Old School" and "Biker Boyz". This was the first week of release for "Tears of the Sun". The other seven films had previously opened in San Antonio.

Of these eight films, I had previously seen "Daredevil" and "Darkness" falls.

Rick Stivers agreed to join me for the first evening of the new season. John Miller, an occasional drive-in patron, stated that he too would attend if we agreed to see "Old School". Why "Old School"? I think it has something to do with John's upcoming high school reunion. When confronted with this theory, John laughed. Why couldn't he go see "Old School" alone? Was he tormented by some type of fear or anxiety? No. Nothing so psychological. The radio in his truck doesn't work. Although unlikely, sometimes there is a simple explanation!

Rick Stivers met me at my apartment at 5:30PM. We left immediately and arrived at the Mission at 6:15PM. As soon as we turned off White into the property, we knew changes were afoot!

Two of these changes were immediately obvious to us. An entrance sign is under construction on the VFW side of the entrance off White. Oddly enough, the Mission hasn't had such a sign in years. A series of lights mounted on poles are being installed around the perimeter of the entrance lane. The poles appear to be about two feet tall and the lights are titled down towards the ground at what appears to be a 45 degree angle. The is yet another vitally needed addition to the property! On more than one occasion, I've lost track of where the pavement ends and the grass begins when making the turn off White!

As we rounded the screen tower, we saw yet another change. The marquee display format has been modified. The marquee is still broken up into four sections. Each section now contains a lot designation and a movie title. The radio frequencies are no longer being displayed. Helpful tips such as "any lane any show" have also been removed.

Yes, patrons will now find it easier to remember which movie is in which lot; however, those same patrons now have no visual indication as to which radio frequency to use once they get into the appropriate lot. Since there are far more radio frequencies than there are movie lots, this is a bad trade-off! This is a mistake which I hope will soon be rectified! If not, confusion will reign supreme!

Although the ticket booths were advertised as being open at 6:00PM, they were not open when we arrived. As we slowed to a stop, we found ourselves in line behind six other cars. The line of cars continued to build as we waited patiently. I took many photographs while Rick waited in the car.

Not only has the Screen 4 fence been completed, a new "winglet" has been added to the old fence line. This "winglet" appears to be between six and eight feet long and runs parallel to the bridge which allows vehicles to reach Screens 3 and 4. In the past, the headlights of cars waiting in line at the ticket booths have shined into the back of the Screen 4 lot. While only a minor problem, the addition of this "winglet" will prevent this light pollution from reaching patrons parked in the back rows. A very nice touch!

The screen tower now sports a pair of antennas. One large parabolic antenna points towards downtown San Antonio, perhaps even directly at the Tower of the Americas. The other antenna is smaller and is shaped like a pipe or tube. This antenna is pointed towards the concession stand. We would later learn that these antennas provide a wireless communications link with the main Santikos office.

An older gentleman approached us and we had a short conversation about the other drive-ins currently operating in Texas. He seemed particularly excited about the Brazos as his grandchildren live in the Dallas area.

The ticket booths finally opened at 6:45PM. There was some confusion at first as the single line of cars split up into the four entrance lanes. Reaching the ticket booth, I purchased two tickets for "Old School". To be honest, I paid for the tickets with Rick's money. As of this writing, I still owe him for my ticket! Since he just edits these reports, and doesn't really read them, he'll never remember that I owe him $5!

We proceeded without incident to the Screen 3 lot. Per Rick's request, we parked in the second to the last row near the "fun house" bridge. Why so far back? He wanted our location to be obvious to John, should he actually make the scene.

Leaving my car behind, we began our patrol of the property. As we crossed over the "fun house" bridge, it was obvious to me that the incline of the bridge had become much worse during the last three months. This bridge is now in serious need of repair. In its current condition, I don't expect it to survive the season.

Leaving the "fun house" bridge behind, we made our way across the Screen 2 lot. Looking back towards the screen tower, the antennas on top of it where silhouetted by the setting sun.

Reaching the concession stand, we stopped for a bathroom break before heading inside to purchase tasty treats that are fun to eat! Not only did I purchase my usual large Diet Coke and large popcorn, I decided to celebrate the re-opening of the Mission by eating two hotdogs! While I was waiting to be served, "DOps" came out of the kitchen and began working his way down the counter inspecting the equipment. When he reached the drink machine nearest me, he turned and greeted me warmly. I was surprised, and gratified, that he remembered me. I noticed a few other familiar faces behind the counter. I'm glad at least a few of the employees were able to return for the season.

Completing our purchases, Rick and I headed outside into the Screen 1 lot. Here we encountered Mr Kunert. He was formerly the manager of the Mission until he moved up the management food chain. He took the time to talk with us about the re-opening and the changes to come to the Mission in the future. I took the opportunity to express my regret that the Mission had closed for the winter. I did allow, of course, that there had been a few nights when the weather was so bad that I might have been their only customer! You hear people used the term "street credit" all the time. In this situation, I'd built up quite a bit. I could tell that he had no difficulty believing that I'd have been there on some dark, lonely, wind swept night, huddled inside my car.

Not wanting to take up too much of Mr Kunert's time, Rick and I thanked him and headed off towards the Screen 4 lot. After a quick look inside, we returned to my car.

Here are the car counts for those that like them. Keep in mind that these counts were taken fairly early in the evening on the first night of the season.

Screen 1 - "Tears of the Sun"/"Darkness Falls" - 14
Screen 2 - "Daredevil"/"Just Married" - 19
Screen 3 - "Old School"/"Biker Boyz" - 8
Screen 4 - "Cradle 2 The Grave"/"Drumline" - 2

We made camp quickly in preparation for start of the film. To our surprise, John arrived just in time for the movie.

I have to admit that "Old School" was funnier than I expected. The only sound problem we experienced (this is a very important issue for Rick as he will tell you that every time he has been to the Mission he has experienced sound problems) was a slight vibration from my speakers. The vibration went away after I reduced the bass. The projection was slightly out of focus throughout the film. But, to put that in perspective, the projection on "Daredevil", which I saw at the Regal 18 in Live Oak, was also out of focus throughout the film. On the other hand, when we saw "Darkness Falls" at the Silverado, the projection was absolutely perfect. We did experience one small problem. There are a variety of lights around the property mounted on poles. These lights are used to illuminate the areas in which cars and pedestrians travel. In the past, these lights have been turned off during the movie presentations. On this night, the lights stayed on the entire time. We might never have noticed this fact if we hadn't been parked in the second to the last row, nearly directly under the pole!

Oh, lest I forget, here is something else odd. "Old School" was rated "R", and shown first. "Biker Boyz" was rated "PG-13", and shown second. In most cases, the higher rated film usually comes second or is proceeded by another film of an equal rating.

As soon as the credits began to roll, the three of us began a second patrol of the property. Here are the updated car counts for those that like them.

Screen 1 - "Tears of the Sun"/"Darkness Falls" - 66
Screen 2 - "Daredevil"/"Just Married" - 32
Screen 3 - "Old School"/"Biker Boyz" - 22
Screen 4 - "Cradle 2 The Grave"/"Drumline" - 27

Not a bad turn out for the first night of the season!

John Miller left after 10 minutes of "Biker Boyz". Rick and I foolishly stayed until the end of the movie. During the film, I suggested to Rick that "Biker Boyz" wasn't filmed in "wide screen" format. I can't remember if he ignored me or disagreed with me. When I came back to the Mission the next day to take some pictures, I discovered a film listing taped to the front of the ticket booths. The listing contained the usual information -- times, screens, radio frequencies, etc -- plus one extra bit of information I thought was unusual. Each film was listed as "scope" or "flat". I'm just guessing here, but I suspect that "scope" means "wide screen" and "flat" means "normal" 35MM framing. Can anyone confirm my speculation?

After "Biker Boyz" finally ended, Rick and I proceeded home without incident.

After Action Analysis: Given that the Mission had been closed for nearly three full months, I thought the first night back in operation went very well. I understand that at least nine of the original employees have returned to the Mission. They should form a solid foundation on which to build an effective organization. The projection problems we saw during "Old School" and "Drumline" are correctable. I'm not certain, but I believe the picture was actually brighter on Screen 3 than it was at the end of the last season. The lack of sound problems was a major plus. Even more important, the quality of the hot dogs have improved! I think this season could be the best yet at the Mission!

In-Joke Revealed: Everyone should know by now that the title of each report is related to something that happened that week at the Mission. This week is an exception. Jeff Perry, the host of the radio program "Music of the Silver Screen", devoted his most recent program to music associated with drive-in theaters. During the program, he mentioned Captain Chicken's website. In return, we've dedicated this report to one of Jeff's favorite drive-in movies, "Re-Animator".

Here is the weekly comparison between the weekend Mission exhibition schedule and the top ten grossing films. Only four of the top ten films were showing at the Mission this week.

WEEKEND BOXOFFICE   March 7 - March 9, 2003

15 Mar 2003 - Spooked!

For the second week in a row, I was able to follow my usual Mission routine! But this routine is different from the one I followed last year. This year I plan to alternate between Friday and Saturday nights. This should allow me to keep in closer touch with attendance trends.

A study of the weekly Mission advertisement revealed that four new films were playing at the Mission this week. These films being "Agent Cody Banks", "A Guy Thing", "Willard" and "Final Destination 2". This was the first week of release for "Agent Cody Banks" and "Willard". "A Guy Thing" and "Final Destination 2" had previously opened in San Antonio.

With the addition of these four new films, I had seen 3 of the 8 films being exhibited this week. I should point out that of these three movies, I had seen two of them, "Daredevil" and "Final Destination 2" at the Regal Cinema near my home.

I left my apartment at 6:15PM. I made no stops along the way and arrived at the Mission at 6:42PM.

As I neared the entrance to the Mission, I was pleased to see that the fence between the Mission and the VFW had finally been completed! Now, if only the VFW can be persuaded to change the angle of their security lights, the picture on Screen 1 would improve dramatically!

Turning into the property, I noticed that the new entrance sign was lighted; however, it had nothing on it. It was just a white sign with a white arrow on top of it. Is this the kind of thing that will help or hinder customer awareness? Only time will tell!

As I rounded the screen tower, I noticed that both ticket booths, and all four entrance lanes, were already open. I immediately noticed two changes to the marquee layout. The lot number designations have been removed and a line added to advertise carload night on Wednesdays.

The "runway" lights to the left of the entrance lanes were operational. There was still plenty of light so I was unable to evaluate their effectiveness as navigational aids.

Reaching the ticket booth, I noticed the runners were not wearing their traditional uniforms. No, they wearing "Willard" tee-shirts! Making contact with the nearest runner, I purchased a ticket for "Willard". Before I could drive on, the runner stopped me and urged me to keep my ticket stub. Why? There was going to be a prize drawing during intermission. Thanking the runner for this information, I proceed without incident to the Screen 1 lot.

I parked my car in the second row, on the left of the screen. For those new to these pages, this is my traditional parking space for those nights when I plan to stay for the second feature. Leaving my car behind, I began my first patrol of the property.

After making a complete count of the cars in the Screen 1 lot, I entered the concession stand where I made my traditional purchase of a large Diet Coke and a large popcorn. Not having eaten since noon, I decided to fill the void in my stomach with two hot dogs!

While I was waiting for my order, several Mission employees approached me. They had recently been to the Captain Chicken web site and wanted to tell me how much they had enjoyed it. And they had other news for me as well. The Mission now provides free refills on large drinks! Yes! No Diet Coke addict could resist free refills, so I knew that I'd be back later to take advantage of this new policy!

Leaving the snack bar behind, I performed an exhaustive count of the cars in the Screen 2 lot. That task complete, I crossed the "fun house" bridge to the Screen 3 lot. I can't say it enough. Something needs to be done about the bridge before it becomes impassable!

Making my way over to the Screen 4 lot, I performed a quick count of the cars. On my way out of the lot, I stopped to evaluate the effectiveness of the "winglet" that has been added to the fence. Although it was still not dark enough to be certain, I believe the "winglet" does extend out far enough to block the headlights of the cars as they round the screen tower. This is a definite improvement over the old fence.

My evaluation complete, I hurried back across the bridge to the Screen 1 lot. Reaching my car, I pulled out my camp chair and settled down to wait for the trailers to begin.

Here are the car counts for those that like them.

Screen 1 - "Willard"/"Final Destination 2" - 22
Screen 2 - "Tears of the Sun"/"Cradle 2 the Grave" - 19
Screen 3 - "Daredevil"/"Old School" - 22
Screen 4 - "Agent Cody Banks"/"A Guy Thing" - 11

As I waited, I began to consume my hot dogs. Just as I started on the second dog, the speakers in my car came to life. The show was about to begin!

Looking up at the screen, I was taken completely by surprise. I wasn't looking at a movie trailer. I was looking at a cartoon! That's right, a cartoon! And not just one cartoon, three cartoons ran back to back including one of my personal favorites "8 Ball Bunny". How long has it been since you saw a classic Warner Brothers cartoon on the big screen? Years? Decades?

After the last cartoon ended, there was a five to ten minute pause in the presentation before the start of "Willard". I later learned that this pause was required so that the projectionist could swap out the lens and aperture plates on the projector.

These old cartoons were made before the rise of the "wide-screen" movie format. They appeared on the movie screen in "full-screen" format, much like they do on television today. Of course, this means they did not fill the entire area of Screen 1. While the cartoons, reached to the top and bottom of the screen, the extreme left and right sides of the screen went unused.

As I write this, I realize that I missed an amazing opportunity. Had I gotten up from my camp chair and walked over to the screen tower, I could have checked to see how well the image area of the "full-screen" cartoons would have matched up with the original surface of the screen tower. For those that don't know it, a new screen was constructed in front of the original screen. This was done to allow "wide-screen" movies to be displayed properly.

Cartoons were shown on both Screen 1 and Screen 2. Trailers were shown on Screen 3 and Screen 4.

After the changes to the projector were made, "Willard" began.

"Willard" is the story of a sad, pathetic bastard who can't even bond with rats. The best moment of the film comes when Willard attempts to beat Ben to death with his bare hands. Does he succeed? You'll have to wait for the sequel to find out!

Were there any scary parts in "Willard". Not in the movie, but there was a spooky moment in theater.

I was munching through a hand full of popcorn when I thought I heard a metallic rattling sound. The sound didn't fit into the movie. What was it? I began to concentrate on the sound. As I did so, the rattling got louder and louder. It seemed to be coming from the direction of the screen tower. My eyes were immediately drawn to the door that provides entrance to the screen tower. Covering that door is a security door made of iron bars. I strained to see into the darkness. Was the rattling sound coming from that door? Were the bars shaking? I couldn't be sure. I admit to a moment of hesitation. What should I do? Get up and investigate? Stay in my chair? Get car and lock the doors? Flee the theater?

And then it became clear to me. When you find yourself in a situation like this, you need only ask yourself, "What would Captain Chicken do"? I knew that answer to that question, the Paragon of Poultry would investigate with caution! As I stood up, the sound reached its peak! I began to walk slowly towards the door. With each step I took, the sound faded away. Suddenly, it was gone. I stopped and waited for it to begin again.

After a few moments, I returned to my chair. I remained alert for the sound for the rest of the movie, but it did not return. What had made the sound? Could it have been a truck carrying a load of pipes traveling along Roosevelt? Could it have been vandals that had carelessly become trapped inside the tower? Could it have been some unnatural force seeking to escape and reek havoc on seemingly helpless movie patrons? I hope we never find out! One spooky incident at the Mission is enough for me!

After the credits began to roll, I began my second patrol of the property. The number of cars in the Screen 1 lot had increased dramatically. Cars were pouring through the entrance into the lot. Clearly, "Final Destination 2" was drawing in the crowds! And why not? It is a perfect drive-in movie!

Reaching the snack bar, I stopped in for a free Diet Coke refill. Do free refills attract extra business to the snack bar? Absolutely! I purchased my third hot dog of the night before heading out into the Screen 2 lot.

Counting cars in the Screen 2 lot after dark from the back row is very difficult and leads to constant under counts. While I feel comfortable walking the rows in the Screen 1 lot, I don't feel comfortable doing the same in the Screen 2 lot. I don't know why I feel that way, I just do! Sometimes, there is no reason why!

I took the time to perform a complete count of the Screen 3 and Screen 4 lots. Attendance had increased significantly in all four lots. My counts complete, I rushed back to my car to wait for the start of "Final Destination 2".

Here are the updated car counts for those that like them.

Screen 1 - "Willard"/"Final Destination 2" - 106
Screen 2 - "Tears of the Sun"/"Cradle 2 the Grave" - 58
Screen 3 - "Daredevil"/"Old School" - 94
Screen 4 - "Agent Cody Banks"/"A Guy Thing" - 25

I greatly enjoyed seeing "Final Destination 2" on the big screen. The car crash scene alone was worth the admission price! Why is this a perfect drive-in film? It has an improbable plot and huge amounts of mayhem. Two elements key to a successful drive-in movie.

After the credits began to roll, I folded up my camp chair and proceeded home without incident. If Rick Stivers had made the scene, he would have enjoyed the evening. After all, the grass had been freshly cut and edged!

Here is the weekly comparison between the weekend Mission exhibition schedule and the top ten grossing films. Six of the top ten films were showing at the Mission this week.

WEEKEND BOXOFFICE MARCH 14 - 16, 2003

22 Mar 2003  -   Blue!

My plan to vary my attendance at the Mission failed quicker than I expected. Unable to get away from work in time on Friday, I decided I would wait for Saturday, rather than arrive late at the Mission. Where is daylight savings time when you really need it?

A study of the weekly Mission advertisement revealed that only one new film was playing at the Mission this week. This film being "Dreamcatcher". This was the first week of release for this film.

With the addition of this new film, I had seen 4 of the 8 films being exhibited this week.

I left my apartment at 6:02PM. The weather was drippy and cold. In the distance, I could see storm clouds with rain pouring down from them. Would I be the only patron at the Mission this night? Only time would tell!

Despite the rainy weather, I my trip to the Mission was without incident until I reached the intersection of South Presa and Southcross. As I waited at the red light, a green Pinto roared over the railroad tracks, narrowly missing the car in front of me. As it sped away, my eyes were drawn towards it. My heart skipped a beat when I saw that this Pinto had been hit from behind at some point in the past. The entire rear section was twisted and mangled. Part of the rear hatch had been ripped away. The metal edges were twisted and rusted. A person with a more fanciful imagination than mine might have noticed how much the rear of the Pino resembled a mouth full of bloody teeth.

As the Pinto vanished into the night, I pondered the incident. Could this be some kind of omen? The appearance of a Pinto in "Final Destination 2" had been one sign of the mayhem to come. Yes, the Pinto might been a harbinger of some future disaster. But on the other hand, this Pinto had clearly avoided the explosive fate suffered by the rest of its kind when hit from the rear. Could this be a lucky Pinto? Ill omen or lucky charm, which was it?

When the light turned green, I continued my journey. The incident had unnerved me. That much was true. But it did not deter me. I knew I'd have to complete my journey to the Mission no matter what fate awaited me!

Moments later, I arrived at the Mission. The time was 6:34PM.

As I rounded the screen tower, I was taken completely by surprise. Nothing could have prepared me for the sight in front of me. The ticket booths had been painted blue. Yes, blue. This is not a hoax, not a dream, not an imaginary story. The Mission has turned blue. My first reaction? Why wasn't that Pinto blue? Did it mean something else? Or perhaps nothing at all? Only time would tell!

Reaching the ticket booth, I found the runners dressed in yellow rain ponchos. Mr Kunert was standing under the marquee watching the horizon for signs of drive-in patrons. As I pulled to a stop, he recognized me and declared, "You really are hardcore"! I hold that truth to be self-evident. Clearly no response was needed. He was taken by surprise when I responded, "Why blue"? It took him a couple of seconds to respond to my comment. I find this generally happens whenever I change subjects without notice during a conversation.

After a short pause, Mr Kunert replied, "We wanted to change the look of the theater. Blue seems to be as far from the old color scheme as we could get. We'll be painting the trim white after the weather clears up. We'll probably won't paint the screen tower but the rest of the property will get a new look". (Note: This is a paraphrase of his actual statement. No notes were taken during this conversation.)

Still shocked, I purchased a ticket for "Tears Of The Sun" and then proceed without incident to the Screen 3 lot.

I parked my car in the second row, near the middle of the screen. Looking around, I saw two other cars in the lot. Clearly, I wasn't the only "hardcore" drive-in patron in San Antonio! The sun was setting and the clouds were clearing. The rain was over but had it been enough to dampen the night's attendance? Exiting my vehicle, I pondered this question as I began my regular patrol of the property.

Dodging puddles of water, I made my way to the "fun house" bridge. The boards were shiny, covered with moisture from the rain. Grabbing the hand rails, I made my way slowly across the bridge. Each step was made with deliberate caution. One slip would be enough to send me sliding into the creek bed.

Reaching the far side of the bridge, I breathed a sigh of relief. The danger past, I headed towards the snack bar to secure my snacks for the evening!

Once inside, I made my usual purchase of a large Diet Coke, large popcorn and two hot dogs. I should point out that the Mission is now serving a better class of hot dog. It may, or may not, be real meat, but it certainly has a more pleasing texture than the hot dogs served last year. Try one! You'll like it!

My purchase complete, I exited into the Screen 1 lot. I shoved my face into the popcorn bag and filled my mouth with practiced ease. Looking up, I studied the snack bar as I chewed. It has also been painted blue. Yes, blue. Well, to be specific, only the second floor has been painted completely blue. And I do mean completely blue. Every surface, every vent, every pipe, every cable has been painted blue. Even one of the antennas has been partially painted blue.

How does it look? Have you ever seen a model airplane kit? The parts are usually molded from a single color of plastic. Each and every part, including surface details, are all the same color. Only after the parts have been painted does the model take on a realistic quality. This is how the snack bar looks to me. It looks like part of a model kit waiting to be assembled and painted. I hope that makes sense. I can't describe it in any other way.

My study of the snack bar complete, I began walking across the Screen 1 lot with the intention of crossing over to the Screen 4 lot. Reaching the entrance to the lot, I found the puddles to be too wide to cross without getting my feet wet. If this were July and not March, I'd have crossed over without hesitation. Looking down at the puddles, I noticed the water was too dirty to see through it to the bottom. Was the bottom gravel or mud? If it was mud, there was always the possibility that i might slip and fall into the water. I'm not sure if you can catch a cold from having wet feet, or if it is really possible to drown in an inch of water. Rather than find out, I turned around and headed back towards the snack bar. Before reaching it, I slipped through an opening in the fence to the Screen 2 lot.

I retraced my steps across the Screen 2 lot. I paused for a moment when I reached the "fun house" bridge. Burdened with snacks, I knew that I'd be unable to use the hand rails in the event of an emergency. I considered the possibility of making several trips across the bridge. If I carried one snack at a time, I'd have a hand free to steady myself if I slipped. As I glanced about for a place to set down my food, I noticed Rusty, the drive-in dog, walking down the entrance lane to the Screen 2 lot. Although I've never seen Rusty bother a drive-in patron, I knew that popcorn and hot dogs would be too great a temptation for the poor beast to resist. Taking a deep breath, I began the perilous trip across the bridge.

Like many things we dread, the crossing wasn't as scary as I expected. Stepping off the bridge into the Screen 3 lot, I hurried back to my car. I opened the door and sat my food down on the floor board. Closing the door, I made a quick trip to the Screen 4 lot. After counting the cars, I hurried back to my car.

Opening the trunk lid, I got out my camp chair. Retrieving my snacks from inside the car, I carefully sat down in my chair. Two weeks before, one of the support rings that hold up the seat of the chair had partially given way. The open edges of the ring were sharp indeed, and I had torn my jeans on them the previous weekend. That night, the heavy denim material had saved me from a nasty cut. I wanted no repeats of that incident tonight!

Noting my need for both a new camp chair and a first aid kit, I settled down to watch the movie. As I took a long sip of Diet Coke, the first movie trailer began to run on the screen.

Here are the car counts for those that like them.

Screen 1 - "Dreamcatcher"/"Cradle 2 the Grave" - 21
Screen 2 - "Willard"/"Final Destination 2" - 2
Screen 3 - "Tears of the Sun"/"Old School" - 9
Screen 4 - "Agent Cody Banks"/"Daredevil" - 6

As I watched "Tears of the Sun", I noticed a new form of light pollution on the screen. I'm not sure, but I believe that one of the new lights on the snack bar was reflecting off the standing water and onto the screen. This light wasn't coming from the lights near the "fun house" bridge. Those lights had been turned off at the start of the film. I added this possibility to my mental list of "things to investigate at the drive-in".

After "Tears of the Sun" was finally over, I made yet another quick patrol of the property. The number of cars in each lot had increased significantly. I'm certain the Mission staff hadn't expected this good of a turnout on a rainy evening.

Here are the revised car counts for those that like them.

Screen 1 - "Dreamcatcher"/"Cradle 2 the Grave" - 65
Screen 2 - "Willard"/"Final Destination 2" - 32
Screen 3 - "Tears of the Sun"/"Old School" - 30
Screen 4 - "Agent Cody Banks"/"Daredevil" - 29

After completing my patrol, I returned to my car and proceeded home without incident. I must confess to watching the traffic around me far more closely than I usually would. What was I looking for? A mangled green Pinto. I didn't see it that night. I hope I never see it again!

Here is the weekly comparison between the weekend Mission exhibition schedule and the top ten grossing films. Four of the top ten films were showing at the Mission this week.

WEEKEND BOXOFFICE MARCH 21 - 22, 2003

29 Mar 2003 - Abomination!

For the second week in a row, I visited the Mission on a Saturday night.

A study of the weekly Mission advertisement revealed that five new films were playing at the Mission this week. These films being "The Core", "The Hunted", "Basic", "Bringing Down The House" and "Shanghai Knights". This was the first week of release for "The Core" and "Basic". "The Hunted", "Bringing Down The House" and "Shanghai Knights" had previously opened in San Antonio.

With the addition of these five new films, I had seen only 1 of the 8 films being exhibited this week.

I left my apartment at 6:21PM. The sky was cloudy and the air was cold. I made no stops along the way and arrived at the Mission at 6:48PM.

Rounding the screen tower, I was pleased to see that both ticket booths, and all four entry lanes, were open. I immediately noticed that some of the trim on the ticket booths has been painted white. Thank you, Mr Paintbrush! "Total blue" was simply too much blue!

But I wouldn't have selected white as the trim color. I'd have gone with a reddish pink instead. Part of the Hispanic culture is a strong appreciation for bright colors. Given the history of the area in which the Mission is located, and the demographics of a large portion of its customer base, a bright color scheme would be an effective marketing tool. Using a reddish pink as a trim color would also be a better match for the concession stand. While the top floor is nearly all wood veneer, and easily painted, the bottom floor is mostly constructed of brick. And what color is this brick? I'd call it a pale reddish pink. By painting the trim boards and rain gutters in a reddish pink, the two floors could be more visually tied together. I believe that using white paint will have the opposite effect, creating a boundary that divides the two floors into separate visual elements.

Reaching the ticket booth, I purchased a ticket for "Bringing Down The House" and proceeded to the Screen 4 lot without incident. Having already decided that I would stay for the second feature, "Shanghai Knights", I parked the car on the left side of the screen in the second row. I turned the motor off and then got out of the car. The temperature had fallen several degrees since I had left my apartment. I knew it would get even colder once the sun went down. The blue blanket would easily get me through the first feature. But what then? Would I be forced into the car at intermission? I considered this point carefully. Did I want to violate the drive-in code by turning my car around and thus potentially annoying other patrons? No, I knew I didn't want to do that! Obviously, the only correct course of action was to sit inside the car the entire evening. I got back into my car and turned it around to face the screen. I spent the next few minutes, backing up and driving forward, in an effort to minimize the light pollution from the apartment complex on the other side Roosevelt. If you park with care, you can use the screen supports to eclipse the offending lights!

Finally satisfied with my car's location, I left it behind to begin my first patrol of the property. I took the time to take a complete count of the Screen 4 lot before heading across the bridge into the Screen 1 lot. I counted the cars there before heading into the concession stand.

Once inside, I made my usual purchase of a large popcorn, two hot dogs and a Diet Coke. Business was better than I expected given the number of cars in the lots.

I exited from the concession stand into the Screen 2 lot. I performed a quick count of the lot and then moved on towards Screen 3. As I walked along, I noticed that the grass is once again in need of mowing. I crossed the "fun house" bridge without incident or hesitation. After counting the cars, I returned to the Screen 4 lot.

Back in my car, I began to consume my hot dogs with great enthusiasm. Note that I didn't say "with great relish" as that might have confused the more casual reader. Mustard is the only condiment you'll find on my hot dogs!

Here are the car counts for those that like them.

Screen 1 - "The Core"/"The Hunted" - 17
Screen 2 - "Dreamcatcher"/"Cradle 2 The Grave" - 11
Screen 3 - "Basic"/"Tears Of The Sun" - 8
Screen 4 - "Bringing Down The House"/"Shanghai Knights" - 15

I don't find Steve Martin to be that funny. Even so, I still enjoyed "Bringing Down The House".

As soon as the credits began to roll, I made a quick loop through the property. All four lots showed a strong increase in attendance. For the third week in a row, I stopped in at the concession stand for a free refill of my Diet Coke. And for the third week in a row, I purchased a hot dog to go with it.

While I was in the Screen 2 lot, I tested my light pollution theory by walking directly into the lot towards the screen. I made it slightly more than halfway into the lot before I stopped casting a dark, well defined shadow. A shadow? Yes, a shadow. One of the upgrades to the Mission during the off-season was the repair of the lights on top of the concession stand. These lights must have halogen bulbs in them because they are extremely bright. The light above the Screen 3 projection booth is aimed nearly directly at Screen 2. This light is so bright that it actually washes out the image on Screen 2. This is an abomination! It is clearly against the laws of man and God for a drive-in to be its own worst source of light pollution!

The purpose of this light is to light up the pedestrian area near the snack bar and the walkway back towards the "fun house" bridge. It can serve this purpose without injury to the picture on Screen 2. It simply needs to be titled down, and to the right towards Screen 3. Right now, I'd rate this as the number one problem at the Mission!

I returned to my car just in time for the start of "Shanghai Knights".

Here are the updated car counts for those that like them.

Screen 1 - "The Core"/"The Hunted" - 90
Screen 2 - "Dreamcatcher"/"Cradle 2 The Grave" - 65
Screen 3 - "Basic"/"Tears Of The Sun" - 58
Screen 4 - "Bringing Down The House"/"Shanghai Knights" - 85

Although not as good as the original, "Shanghai Knights" was enjoyable even when seen from inside a vehicle. As soon as the credits ended, I proceeded home without incident.

The Mission has been open again now for a month. I thought this would be a good time to review the changes made since the Mission so abruptly closed in December. The repairs on the Screen 1 and Screen 4 lots have been completed. The concession stand and ticket booths have been painted blue with some white trim. A lighted sign has been added to the entrance to the property. Unfortunately, this sign remains blank but I'm sure that will change. A set of "runway" lights have been added from the entrance on White around the screen tower to the ticket booths. Not only do these lights improve safety and traffic flow, they draw the eyes of drivers traveling up and down Roosevelt. All of the other lights, including the offending lights on top of the concession stand, appear to have been repaired. The greatest area of improvement has to be the lot cleanup. I've never seen the lots this clean! Bravo!

Two things need to be done immediately. The offending lights on the concession stand need to be "tuned" to minimize their impact on the nearby screens. The "fun house" bridge needs to be repaired and leveled.

Let's close this report with some trivia. The Mission is the only theater open in San Antonio south of Highway 90. Depending on the criteria used to divide the city, from a half to a third of San Antonio is served by a single four screen drive-in theater! Amazing, isn't it!

Here is the weekly comparison between the weekend Mission exhibition schedule and the top ten grossing films. Five of the top ten films were showing at the Mission this week.

WEEKEND BOXOFFICE MARCH 28 - 29, 2003

This Concludes the First Quarter 2003 Reports

If you have any comments, corrections, or additions you can reach me Here.