JENNA PRICE/The Register-MailThe restored Blue Moon Light Drive-in Theatre, across from Farm King in Galesburg, is set to open Friday night showing double-feature of "Batman Begins" and "War of the Worlds."
Back to the Future: Drive-in opens
Carlsons refurbish old Galesburg Drive-in
Friday, August 5, 2005
GALESBURG - Tonight, for the first time in 20 years, Galesburg will have a drive-in theater.The Blue Moon Light Drive-In Theatre, the former Galesburg Drive-In, opens tonight at dusk, showing "Batman Begins" and "War of the Worlds." Admission to the double feature is $7 for adults and free for children 12 and younger.
Ron Carlson has owned the property since 1985, according to his wife and drive-in theater co-owner Teresa Carlson. He used the property to store machinery, but Teresa said when Ron met her about a year and a half ago, he said, "'What would you think about reopening the drive-in?'"
Six weeks later Ron proposed and the couple was married in April 2004, and during their honeymoon they traveled through Indiana checking out drive-in theaters.
The reborn drive-in, located across from Farm King on the west edge of Galesburg, will be open seven days a week through the summer, showing double features. There will be a new double feature every week; no movies will be held over. The features begin at dusk.
Teresa hopes the shortened first season will last until Halloween "so the kids can come dressed up and we'll do something special." She said the plan is to have a couple of scary movies, but nothing too scary for the kids.
"We won't bring any R-rated movies in here," Teresa said.
When the new season starts in April, Teresa said the drive-in may only be open on weekends until the weather warms up, then it will be back to every night of the week.
Since the Galesburg Drive-In closed more than 20 years ago, there was plenty of work to be done. Teresa said there was no roof on the concession stand. All of the buildings were gutted, although the roof on the projection building was in good enough shape to keep. The movie screen was repainted.
The Blue Moon Light will broadcast its audio for the movies at 89.5 on the FM dial, but Teresa said Ron wants to put in a row of speakers next year for those movie fans who are really into nostalgia. Drive-ins of the past featured rows of speakers on poles. The speaker was attached to the driver's side window so movie goers could hear the movie's sound.
Teresa said she hopes the public understands if because of first-night excitement the theater is filled to capacity or if there are any opening-night glitches. During a preview showing July 29, an estimated 300 cars were turned away.
"There's nothing like sitting out under the stars watching a movie," said Pauline Baynes, Teresa's mother.
Other advantages? Smokers can light up during the movie and friends can set up their lawn chairs and watch the movie together.
"It's going to be a party," said Karin Pierson, who works at the drive-in.
As for the future, Teresa hopes to expand the playground and maybe build a fence around it. There is an area from which the screen cannot be seen. Teresa is thinking about a picnic area and maybe even renting it out during the day for birthday parties, opening up the concession stand for a party.
