“The Mahoning Drive-In” steers film fans to saving a piece of Hollywood history

It remains one of the last remaining
drive-in theaters in the country. The Mahoning Drive-In,opened in 1949 and was operated by James Humphries. It originally  had a capacity for 500 cars. The drive-in changed ownership in years; new owners took over the Mahoning Drive-In in 2014.

Located in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, the drive-in is open May through on weekends. It features the second largest screen (measuring 120 feet) in the country, FM listening devices and room for 900 cars. The Mahoning Drive-In also offers camping on the grounds for an extra $10 per car load.

Mahoning Drive-In

From sleeping in the concession stand to working entirely for free, the film fanatics at the struggling drive-in face uncertainty when Hollywood announces it will switch to digital projection for all new movies. Unable to purchase a $50,000 digital projector, a group of quirky film fanatics inrural Pennsylvania fight to keep the dying drive-in theater alive by screening only vintage 35mm film prints on their original 1949 projectors, and working for free. Relive their underdog story to save film, the Mahoning Drive-in, and drive-in theaters everywhere.

The drive-in’s history has been documented in the award-winning  At The Drive-in.
“Technology moves so fast today, faster than ever before. As technology distracts us from one another and segments us further into smaller audiences, it was just magical to see a bunch of people gather together in rural Pennsylvania to watch film flicker through a projector from 1948,” Alexander Monelli, director. “That’s ultimately what this documentary is about.”
It has also screened at multiple Alamo Drafthouses and at TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood as an official selection of Dances With Films.
Bonus Materials
  • Over 17 Minutes of Deleted Scenes
  • Three Separate Feature Length Commentary Tracks (two with cast and one with director)
  • 30-minute Q&A from Alamo Drafthouse Screening
  • Trailer