Thank You Paul & Mim! (The story of two projectors and two projectionists)

For the past 20 years, Paul Bader has been projecting the movies at the Northfield Drive-In. Paul began learning to project at only the age of six with his dad at another theatre in 1949 (one year after the Northfield Drive-In was built). After projecting at many different theaters and drive-ins, he was finally hired in 1993 as the projectionist for the Northfield Drive-In. Using his experience, and at times ingenuity, Paul has been able to keep our antique projectors (for which they stopped manufacturing new parts 35 over years ago) running reliably; never failing to put a show on the screen throughout his time as our projectionist. In latter years, Paul has been joined by his wife Mim, who helps greatly by taking turns projecting, especially on our Dusk-to-Dawns (quadruple features/Labor Day Weekend).

As one who has had the privilege of learning the basics of projecting on machines like these from Paul, I can honestly say that he is a master projectionist. Unfortunately, because of the industry's upcoming conversion to digital projectors, even if the Northfield Drive-In stays open next year Paul will be retiring. So, if you come to the Drive-In before the end of the year, make sure to stop in at the projection booth before the show, ask for tour of two of last running arc-and-carbon projectors in the country and thank Paul & Mim for all of the wonderful years of movies.

Help Us Survive Digital Conversion! Come Hungry & Have Dinner With Us Too

It is predicted that within the next year we will be forced to make the conversion to digital projection equipment here at the Northfield Drive-In Theatre. The digital conversion is the most significant advancement of technology in the movie industry since the introduction of audio soundtracks in the late 1920s. Just as the introduction of “talkies” led to the end of the “silent” movie era, digital projection technology will mean the end of 35mm film. This will be an enormous expense for us, especially given the fact that we are only a seasonal business.

If we are to survive this transition, we need your support in our snack bar, now more than ever! Strong concession sales are the only means of financing this huge capital investment. It is expected that more than half of the remaining 366 drive-in theatres in the US will be forced to close their doors. That would mean less than 200 surviving drive-ins, in an industry that was once more than 4,000 theatres strong. So as one means of supporting us we ask that you patronize our snack bar.

For over 65 years, we have endured through thick and thin as the only original family-owned and operated drive-in in the tri-state area! However, we will not survive this technological upgrade without your strong support in 2012. We strive to keep this lasting piece of Americana on the map here on Route 63, and we hope that you will help us endure this coming transition.

Thank you for your support!

Opening Night Of Our 2013 Season Only 4 Days Away! Showing Iron Man 3 & Oz

This weekend (Friday May 3rd and Saturday May 4th) is opening weekend at the Northfield Drive-In. It's usually a weekend that is intended mainly to get "the kinks out of the system", however,  with the blockbuster double feature we have playing we will need to be firing on all cylinders. We hope to see you there this weekend to see either Iron Man 3 (shown first at 8:15) or Oz (shown second) or BOTH! Come help us kick of the 2013 season with a bang!

Here are the trailers for the two shows:

For more information checkout our website: http://www.northfielddrivein.com

Will we be re-opening?

Keep an eye on our YouTube channel in the coming weeks for a video which will answer that question!