On the big screen
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Tammy Layman / News Virginian
Published: July 18, 2007
Drive-in fans can be assured that the Hull's tradition will continue, thanks to the innovation and the intervention of a community full of volunteers preserving a family tradition for moviegoers by selling memberships and working hard to keep the drive-in in good working order.
Grandparents are taking their grandchildren to the site where they courted. Others are continuing the tradition and are now dating at the drive-in. Extended families are tailgating and bringing lawn chairs, blankets, Frisbees and footballs to entertain themselves prior to the movies in the facility's huge field prior to the movies being shown. Amazingly, everyone is still honking their horns before the movie starts, said Marketing Director Christina Rivera.
"I couldn't believe it the first time I heard the horns honking," she said. "But everyone honks their horn just before we start the movie, just like when the drive-in was so popular 50 years ago. We continue show the movies rain or shine.
"When they are first courting, the teens park in the back," Rivera added. "Grandparents with their grandchildren or those with young children tend to park in the front of the field. And families with older children tend to park in the middle."
The drive-in is still using the big reels of days of old, according to Rivera.
"We have the huge reels," she said. "We have handed down the skills of running the projectors over time. Frank Kulesza is in the process of training a new generation with the reels. It is a skill you have to acquire."
The drive-in is able to keep the prices low because it is a non-profit run by a lot of volunteers, Rivera said.
"The community was able to purchase the drive-in several years ago and it is thriving with 16 volunteers on its board of directors," said Rivera. "We have five on a community movie committee."
The drive-in is running a membership drive, currently offering free popcorn, newsletters and invitations to special events. Every year, the members vote on the board of directors.
"It's like owning your own piece of a drive-in," Rivera said.
Memberships are $5 and are tax deductible.
Hull's Angels also has fundraising products and T-shirts for sale at the drive-in to help offset the costs of renovations.
Going to the drive in isn't just about watching a movie, said Rivera.
"The tailgating and the fellowship that takes place at the drive in has a lot to do with the popularity," she said.
The first movie feature starts between 9:15 and 9:30 p.m., but often Rivera sees people lined up to get in prior to the gate opening at 7 p.m.
"We are at the mercy of Mother Nature with when we start the movie," said Rivera. "It has to be dark."
The regular snack bar boasts everything from popcorn and BBQ to hamburgers and hotdogs to corn dogs, chicken nuggets, French fries and onion rings and lots more. Snow cones, sodas and coffee are also available.
The Hull's Drive Inn boasts the original screen underneath an expanding screen on both sides.
"That screen is going to need to be replaced soon," Rivera said.
The drive-in does require that everyone wear a shirt and shoes and no glass bottles are allowed.
"We ask that everyone keep an eye on their kids," Rivera said. "We have a big grassy field they like to run and play in prior to the movie, but we want to be sure they are being watched."
Drive-in moviegoers now have the option of tuning into a portable FM radio or Walkman to hear the movie, or they can still use the speakers in their windows.
"A lot of our fans like to pull chairs and blankets out and they prefer to use a portable radio," said Rivera.
Moviegoers last weekend came from as far away as Colorado, and they often come as far as Arlington, Roanoke and Alexandria.
"I was surprised to discover that 50 percent of our people coming to Hull's are from Augusta County," Rivera said.
Admission is $5 for adults and children under 11 are free.
"This is a good deal for a double feature," she said. "This is one price for two movies. The volunteers spend hundreds of hours making this work for everyone. This keeps us from raising prices. They put on their hats and give of their hearts for the drive-in and they do a great job."
Rivera said the volunteers and the community that keep the drive-in going are appreciative of the community's support.
"Thanks to everyone's support, we can keep the family-friendly tradition of the drive-in, just like longtime owners Mr. and Mrs. Seybert Hull did," she said.
Upcoming features for this week at Hull's Drive-in are "Ratatouille," featuring an ambitious rat named Renny, followed by "Nancy Drew, A Small Town Girl's Big Town Adventure."
Once the volunteers open for the season, the movies are shown weekly at the drive-in on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The movies are reversed on Sundays.
The maximum number of cars the drive-in can hold is 350.
For more information, call Hull's Drive-In at 540-463-2621, or check out their Web site at http://www.hullsdrivein.com.
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