272
Backers
$17,292
pledged of $8,800 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Mar 27, 2012 -
Apr 26, 2012
(30 days)
- First created · 2 backed
- Carl Weese 302 friends
- Website: carlweese.com
Pledge $10 or more
63 backers
A handwritten thank-you note mailed from the road, on a custom postcard with a picture from one of the project theaters.
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $25 or more
59 backers
A handwritten thank you note postcard, plus two 5x7 color photos showing two of the most interesting theaters from this road trip.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $50 or more
38 backers
A handwritten thank you note postcard, plus a set of six 5x7" color photos showing some of the coolest theaters visited on the trip.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $75 or more
2 backers
A handwritten thank you note postcard, plus an American Drive-in Theater project 12-month calendar with color pictures from 12 of the theaters on the road trip.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $100 or more
40 backers
A handwritten thank you note postcard, the custom drive-in calendar, plus one archival exhibition quality 8x10 print from the project, and a fun souvenir from one of the theaters. (popcorn fork, refrigerator magnet? Won't know till I get there).
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $175 or more
21 backers
A handwritten thank you note postcard, the custom drive-in calendar, plus one archival exhibition quality 11x14 print from the project, and a fun souvenir from one of the theaters.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $250 or more
0 backers
Special Reward: Are you a drive-in theater owner in the regions I’ll be traveling? You'll get an 11x14 print (color or monochrome) of your theater, the custom calendar, plus I'll do documentation of your theater in color and provide you with files you can use to update and enhance your theater’s web site.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $350 or more
8 backers
A handwritten thank you note postcard, the custom drive-in calendar, and a portfolio of six 11x14 archival exhibition quality prints from the road trip.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $375 or more
3 backers
A handwritten thank you note postcard, the drive-ins calendar, plus one contact-size monochrome archival print from a theater on the trip, on heavy cotton paper, scanned from a panoramic 7x17 inch negative, and one 11x14 inch print scanned from an 8x10 negative.
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $800 or more
0 backers
A handwritten thank you note postcard, and a portfolio of six 15x20 archival exhibition quality prints from the road trip.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $800 or more
0 backers
Special reward: are you a photography enthusiast and live in the region I’ll be traveling? You’ll get the portfolio of six 11x14s from theaters on the trip, plus meet me on the road and take a private photography workshop on view camera technique, digital capture, or both.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $1,300 or more
0 backers
A handwritten thank you note postcard, and a 22x28 inch monochrome archival exhibition print from a theater on the trip, on heavy cotton paper, scanned from an 8x10 inch negative.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $1,300 or more
0 backers
A handwritten thank you note postcard, plus a 16x40 inch monochrome archival print from a theater on the trip, on heavy cotton paper, scanned from a 7x17 inch negative.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $2,000 or more
0 backers Limited (10 of 10 left)
The handwritten thank you postcard, and one hand-made platinum/palladium contact print from one of the 8x10" photographs, and one from the 7x17" photographs, each in an edition limited to ten prints and two artist's proofs. Signed and numbered by the artist.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012
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Show older commentsCreator Abraham Latchin on July 18, 2012
Got my postcard, now at home on my fridge :) It has been good fun reading your updates, which I save for the evening when my young son is in bed and I have a cup of tea and a biscuit. I look forward to the possibility of a book!
Creator Greg Tan on June 20, 2012
My postcard arrived in Australia today too! Thanks.
Creator Peter Tosi on June 20, 2012
Thanks for the postcard, it got all the way down here to Australia ok :)
Creator AuroraLee on June 15, 2012
Received my postcard today! I continue to follow your travels and hope to hear about new projects in the future. (book kickstarter??)
Creator Carl Weese on June 6, 2012
Thanks to everyone for the pointers. I was late seeing it because of a bad WiFi connection earlier today: see details at my Working Pictures Blog. I'll get an update here on recent events in a day or two.
Creator Randall D on June 6, 2012
Everyone see today's Google Doodle celebrating the opening of the first drive-in theater?
Creator AuroraLee on June 2, 2012
what MACizik said... The main reason I backed this project was in hopes you'd do a book. I know that wasn't part of the deal but... a girl can dream?
Creator MACizik on April 26, 2012
Can't wait to see pics from this. When you're done, maybe you can do a kickstarter to create a book of all the theaters. I'd back that!
Creator Colleen Peterson on April 26, 2012
The Cascade Drive In in West Chicago, IL was a big part of my childhood. I loved how they used to play Three Stooges skits before the films. And apparently there is the McHenry Outdoor Theatre, which isn't too far away.
Creator Hollie Jean on April 25, 2012
I am excited to see the final collection once your project is completed!
Will you be documenting any drive-ins in Wisconsin? I am familiar with the Gemini Drive-In in Eau Claire, WI and the Highway 18 Drive-In outside of Jefferson, WI.
Best of luck!!
Creator Kimberly J. Locke on April 25, 2012
Happy to support this project, which is a tribute to days gone by at least in most of the U.S. There were drive-ins in both Torrance and Lakewood, California, up until the '80s and then they were torn down. Good luck on your adventure.
--Kimberly L. (Torrance, Ca.)
Creator Carl Weese on April 25, 2012
Dean, backers at every level are important and most appreciated. The number of people who've wanted to be involved—261 backers at this point—is wonderful.
Creator Dean Wight on April 25, 2012
Congratulations on the more-than-successful funding. I'm going to enjoy following your progress this summer. Thank you for the opportunity to participate, if only in a small way.
Creator Sean Wyatt on April 16, 2012
Have been following your project and decided to back it. Congratulations on making your goal and exceeding your expectations! I live in oregon and am also a photographer, when your in the area or possibly checking out
Dallas (Polk County) Oregon
Motor Vu Drive-in: 503-623-4449
located at 315 Southeast Fir Villa Road
Feel free to friend me I am in that area.
Best wishes! Congrats!!
Creator Ed Bacher on April 16, 2012
Hi Carl. I've been following your Working Pictures blog for a few years, and this is a great project that I'm glad to support. I've recently moved to the west coast from New Hampshire (near the Milford Drive In). I was down in Santa Barbara last weekend and drove by what is apparently an active drive in at 907 South Kellogg Avenue, Goleta, CA (just north of Santa Barbara).
Have a great trip.
Creator Peter Tosi on April 7, 2012
This is whats left of the drive in I saw "Star Wars" at as a kid. Google Maps link http://g.co/maps/j4f4u
Creator Peter Tosi on April 7, 2012
Drive-Ins were big in Australia too. This is all that left of the last one i went to. Google maps link. http://g.co/maps/7y2np
Creator Carl Weese on April 5, 2012
Saipaman, I've got those in my lists and will be trying to contact owners as the time draws nearer. Glad to hear they were going last year. Thanks for the info.
Creator saipaman on April 5, 2012
The Tascosa in Amarillo was open last summer. I saw the 'Smurfs' there. That same weekend I saw 'Captain America' at The Sandell Drive-In, located about 80 minutes away in Clarendon
Creator Kevin Rushlow on April 4, 2012
Ah, cool! Well, I'm glad to hear that.
Creator Carl Weese on April 4, 2012
Thanks, Kevin. I have both of those in the project, from several years ago. I also managed to get the one inside the Buffalo city limits on that that same trip, just before that one closed.
Creator Kevin Rushlow on April 4, 2012
Well, they aren't anywhere near the route you have listed. I live in upper-Western New York state, near the great lakes and the city of Buffalo. The two nearby drive-ins are the Transit drive in, located in the town of Lockport (http://www.transitdrivein.com/) and the Sunset Drive in, located in the village of Middleport. (http://www.sunset-drivein.com/) If you do end up in the very general Western New York area, there's also this one: (http://charcoalcorral.com/w3/), although I've never been there, and can't tell you anything about it. The Sunset is already open for the season. I'm not sure about Transit. I'll drive by today, and I'll look then. Dunno if that helps. If you do make it out this way, that'd be cool!
Creator Carl Weese on April 4, 2012
BC, another problem is that even the expensive digital projection gear is aimed at the cineplex--small screen--market and for a DI with a giant screen a hundred or more feet wide, the costly digital conversion will result in a worse picture, not a better one.
Creator Carl Weese on April 4, 2012
Kevin, please tell me what theaters they are, and where. An eyewitness report is a lot more reliable than a web search!
Creator Kevin Rushlow on April 4, 2012
There are two still operating Drive-in theaters within ten miles of my house. I grew up with going to the drive in in the summer, and it was a big part of my childhood. (And high school and college years. I haven't exactly stopped going.) So when I saw this project come up, I had to back it. I mean... I know it sounds cheesy to say that it spoke to me, but it did. Good luck with your project!
Creator William Collinson on April 3, 2012
Carl (et al),
Here is a link to a recent article that really drives home how rapidly the cinema business is transitioning to digital: http://digitalcinemainfo.com/IHS-screen-digest_11_15_11.php
I think one of the challenges in the transition is that the hardware industry has not yet filled in an entry-level niche for smaller houses and the DI market. It is a shame, as it would probably be a win-win-win (distributor - hardware manufacturer - screen owner), as there is probably some latent demand for a lower-cost solution in addition to the fact that any distributor will benefit from more, not less, screens. The DI business is a bit tougher though in that it is a more technically challenging solution than for smaller theaters (higher output, longer throw requirements).
-BC
Creator Carl Weese on April 3, 2012
Bill, thanks for the info. I have the DI in Seymour in my list, but it's good to get a confirmation that it's still going. The setting of the theater in Barstow is simply spectacular from a couple of snaps I've seen online. Can't wait to work with it.
BTW, I've recently read that small, single screen in-town theaters and old bijoux places that have been rescued by historical societies also face the same problem with conversion to digital projection. Shoe-string non-profit organizations don't have a hundred grand lying around.
Creator William Collinson on April 3, 2012
Carl,
Happy to find and support this project. I think the importance of the body of work by the current generation of documentary photographers such as yourself will become increasingly evident in the coming decades as we are seeing an accelerating demise of 20th century cultural icons such as the drive-in theater and the single-screen movie house.
I haven't explored your proposed route yet, but wanted to note that there is a small, operating DI in Seymour, Missouri on Highway 60 about 30 miles east of Springfield. The Owen's Drive-In has been operated by the same family since I was a child. Here is a link to the Cinema Treasures page for it: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/8571
Also in Southern California, there is a large multi-screen DI operating in Barstow, CA. I'll work on forwarding you info on that location as well.
Look forward to following your progress, thank you for the frequent posts and insight into your 2012 project.
-Bill Collinson
Austin, TX http://www.pbase.com/pixtorial
Creator Carl Weese on April 2, 2012
saipaman, my resources show the Tascosa DI there. If this is true I want to get there. Is there any chance you can confirm this, or maybe even have some fun swinging by to take some scouting snaps?
Creator saipaman on April 2, 2012
Looking at your map, is it safe to say that you are planning on swinging thorough Amarillo?
Creator Carol Titus on April 1, 2012
Hey...do you have a list of the DI's in Indiana you will be visiting? I wish the one in Linton IN was still open. It had the distinction for the longest time of being the longest continuous running DI in North America. I think all that is left of it now is the screen & the sign... BOOOO. I ran across an operating DI in southern Indiana not too long ago, It's sign is a 50's model car hoisted up on a pole! There is also a non-functioning one just outside of Indianapolis on a frontage road off of I74 on the eastside, and one North of Indy on State Road 13 I believe. I can run that info down if you'd like...But there are a few still operating... the Tibbs in Indianapolis and I believe it's called the 6 T 7, on SR67 just north of Spencer Indiana to name a few...
Creator Carl Weese on March 30, 2012
Hey Roy, great to see you here and thanks for backing the project. Your idea is great. To a typical DI theater, conversion is a huge obstacle. But you don't have to be Ted Turner for 100K or even a quarter million (three screen theater) to be in reach. 466 theaters. How many movie stars have the money to sponsor one DI theater's conversion? How many producers, attorneys in the business, etc. It's a pretty big, wealthy, industry. So how to promote the idea? Some ideas come to mind.
Creator Roy Barnhart on March 30, 2012
I'd love to see Ted Turner, Disney or others interested in preserving film history raise funds to support drive-in theater operators who are willing to convert to digital but cannot afford to. Have a great trip Carl.
Roy
Creator Robert Dales on March 29, 2012
Congrats on getting the funding Carl. If you are on I-5 in Oregon in Sutherlin you may want to check out a re-purposed drive-in now a RV park called Hi-Way Haven. They still have the big screen, show classic films and give you a cup of popcorn when you check in.
Bob
Creator Carl Weese on March 29, 2012
Oops, accidentally hit the post button. I'll make a Carolina/Georgia/Florida run later in the summer, after I've completed the huge cross country figure-8 loop and had a bit of recovery time back home. Any and all scouting snap are very welcome. The easiest way to send them is probably to use one of the feedback links at my web site. Just make sure they are JPEG files below the 10 meg email size limitation. Thanks!!
Creator Carl Weese on March 29, 2012
Katie, that would be great. I will make a Carolina/Georgia/Florida
Creator Katie Ford on March 29, 2012
There is an abandoned drive in very close to Winston-Salem, NC. I can send you some shots if you are interested!
Creator Carl Weese on March 29, 2012
Carol, every bit helps and every backer, at whatever level, helps make the point that the interest is out there in this subject and project. That will help, down the road, to get it in front of an audience in the form of a book and exhibition. Thanks for your backing.
Creator Carol Titus on March 29, 2012
...wish I could afford more...
Creator Carol Titus on March 29, 2012
I've always wanted to do this! I grew up going to the drive-in with my folks & my sis...sometimes in the car, sometimes in the pick-up...parking on one of the back rows with the tailgate down so we could lie in our sleeping bags...and the extra buttered popcorn from the concession stand...mmmmm...I can taste it now!
Creator Carl Weese on March 28, 2012
Henry, every little bit helps. The more sponsors, at whatever level, the better the project looks for future efforts like exhibitions and publications. Thank you.
Creator Carl Weese on March 28, 2012
saipaman, this would be wonderful. There are quite a few DIs in TX, but the place is so big. I'd love to have some scouting shots of the theaters to help plan my route. You could email them to me at carl@carlweese.com and it would be a great help. Thanks so much.
Creator Carl Weese on March 28, 2012
Henry, thank you so much for your help. If what I hear comes true, in a couple of months $5 will buy one gallon of gas, which will take me 34 miles of the journey in my little station wagon. Thanks.---Carl
Creator saipaman on March 28, 2012
One more thing... Drive-in Theaters across the country are starting to open. Consider setting up a daily Google search looking for 'drive-in theaters'. This should bring you a few articles a day opening theater opening dates. It will also bring you the sad news that another theater will never re-open.
Creator saipaman on March 28, 2012
I have pictures of many of the Texas Drive-In theaters and would be happy to share some with you if they would help you evaluate the ones that are worth the trip.
I live in San Antonio, Texas and our nearest drive-in is probably the one in Gatesville, Texas that I visited last year.
Creator Henry Fosdike on March 28, 2012
I could only manage $5 for various reasons but absolutely love this idea.
Going to a Drive-in is something I'd love to do but as I'm UK-based, it may just be a pipe dream.
Have a great trip and, as others have said, do keep us all updated on any possible book! I'd buy it in a heartbeat - well, when the 'various reasons' mentioned earlier disappear!
All the best!
Creator Michael Ibach on March 28, 2012
Hi Carl. Will backers have the opportunity to purchase more or different prints at some point in the project?
Good Luck!
Creator Mark Scholey on March 28, 2012
I'm glad to see you got the funding! :)
Creator Gordon Coale on March 27, 2012
I live on Whidbey Island, just north of Seattle. There is a great little drive-in on the north end of the island: The Blue Fox Drive-in. My kids went to it and now my grand kids get to go. It's open year around.
Creator DerekL on March 27, 2012
All I know is what's on the websites... :) Sorry I can't be of more help than that...
Send me an email, and I can do ground scouting, or watch the websites, or whatever.