*****
This is Screen 2 as seen from the Screen 3 lot. Note the "surreal" look to the sky on the left side of the screen.
This is the concession stand as seen from the foot bridge in the Screen 2 lot. See the neon "snack bar" sign? Above it, and to the left, you'll notice a reflection of this sign apparently floating in space. That reflection occurred inside the camera. Drive-in theaters of the future may well have holographic "snack bar" signs! Or better yet, holographic radio frequency signs that float in front of the screen until the movie starts!
This is Screen 4 as seen from the Screen 3 lot. Note the glow from the apartment complex behind the screen. Light from the apartment complex can be very distracting when watching a movie on Screen 4. In this lot, the correct parking place is a must! I prefer parking to the right of the screen. Two things could be done to fix this problem. First, a sheet metal "skirt" could be installed over the legs of the screen. This would block the light coming in under the screen. The impact would be dramatic for those people parking in the first couple of rows. Second, trees could be planted behind the screen. Years later, they would block at least some of the light from the apartment complex.
Here is Screen 1 at sunset. This is my favorite time at the drive-in. Patrons are arriving. The staff is hustling. The night remains full of promise and hope. My least favorite time? That's at the end of the final feature of the night. The patrons drift away. The staff heads home. The lights go out. The night grows quiet. And with that quiet comes the eternal question. Has this drive-in seen its last performance? Will it survive the next dawn to bring entertainment to its loyal patrons? Remember, only YOU can save your local drive-in!
If you arrive late at the Mission, this is what you might see through your windshield as you wait to purchase your ticket!
This is a view of the ticket booths from the bridge to the Screen 3 and Screen 4 lots. As you can see, this was a busy night for the Mission!
Back To The Mission Drive-In Page!
This page viewed
times since 29 Sep 2004