Q. Why charge you a fee to bring food into the Drive-in?
A. Food sales are the lifeline to success at all movie theatres & Drive-ins. Actually, most Drive-ins across the country have already had this policy for years! It is simply a matter of survival, since a large percentage of the gate fee goes directly to the movie companies. If you think about it, outside food & drinks are strictly prohibited at rock concerts, sports arenas, indoor theatres, & amusement parks. This is nothing new & they give you NO choice. So please keep in mind that WE STILL ALLOW YOU THE CHOICE to bring in what you want, as always, but you must purchase a $5 permit upon admission. This small fee is charged per vehicle, not per person, & is not transferrable. To bring you the very best service & variety possible, we even opened a new express window last year & are expanding our reasonably priced menu choices again this year! The operating expenses for a drive-in are very high, especially since we are only seasonal. We appreciate your understanding & cooperation in helping us to stay in business so that you & your children can experience the “magic” of the great American drive-in!
Q. Can I switch screens if I wish to watch the second feature on another screen, instead of the movie pair I purchased a ticket for?
A. Sorry, but no. Our licensing agreements with the film companies do not allow screen switching, just as indoor theatres with multiple screens do not permit this either. You see, your ticket purchase entitles you to view a PARTICULAR PAIR of movies on ONE SCREEN only. Kinda like a pair of socks...ya can't mix-n-match! Please do not change screens, or attempt to view a different movie from your original screen, without purchasing an additional admission ticket. The only way to accomplish this is to exit the theatre at the end of the first movie, & drive up to the gate to purchase tickets for the other screen you wish to view the 2nd feature on. Switching screens is against the rules of the film companies & this drive-in. Violation of this policy will result in expulsion from the drive-in without a refund.
Q. How do you determine your movie "pairs" & which movie plays first, & should I make a suggestion about what I think would make a great pair?
A. We always value customer suggestions... however, when it comes to movie pairs, please realize that the film companies have the ultimate say in what is allowed to be paired together, & there is no way of altering these decisions. After 61 years in business, we are generally well aware of what movies would make a great pair and, you can bet if a pair seems a bit mismatched, it's most likely due to film company policies. With our 3 giant screens, we can almost always offer a pair that suits EVERY audience! That’s one of the big advantages to coming here…..we’ve got 6 of Hollywood’s newest releases on any given night all season long! Also, please keep in mind that we ALWAYS show the most newly released movie FIRST! We get a lot of comments about this too, and we have determined over the years that MOST patrons prefer to see the brand new movie FIRST. So, if you are interested in the 2nd movie only, you can either arrive later when it begins, or if you watch our movie schedule weekly, there was probably a time when it WAS showing first! Please understand that there are as many opinions out there about movie pairs & what plays 1st, as there are people! It is simply impossible to please everybody all the time! Lastly, since we cannot simply pair up whatever movies we would like, the ratings on the movies may differ slightly, within reason. For example, you might see a PG movie paired with a PG-13, or a G movie paired with a PG & occasionally an R movie with a PG-13 (never a G movie with an R movie!) ........ again, check the movie reviews & ratings BEFORE you arrive, and make your selections, regarding screen choice & arrival time, accordingly to what serves your interests! You are not required to stay for both movies...... our prices are so low that it's still a bargain even if you only watch 1 movie! Once again, our policy is to play the newest released movie first. We do our best to bring you the best possible selections each week. We hope you enjoy them, & the great value you get here at the Elm Road Triple Drive-In…. and I haven’t even mentioned our pizzas, popcorn, ice-cream and the rest of our dinner menu favorites that await your arrival!
Q. Why do you need to have rules at the drive-in?
A. We are one of less than 400 drive-ins remaining in this country & we have been in business for over 60 years. It hasn't been by luck that we have survived. We have had to change & adapt numerous times throughout our over 60 year history. We are complimented daily on the excellent service & family friendly atmosphere that we provide, and we have many loyal customers. We have established rules & procedures in our theatre to help ensure that the evening is enjoyable & safe to ALL who come here...... however, even we can't please everybody all the time. There are as many opinions out there as there are people, and we do value your opinions. However, some opinions are simply not feasible to adopt or enforce in our theatre. By viewing the movie in the privacy of your own car at the drive-in, we offer numerous advantages over other theatres ........you can talk whenever you want to your family, you can use your cell phone, you can get up & use the restroom or purchase snacks without crawling over the person next to you, you get to see 2 new movies for less than the price of 1 at an indoor, you can sit in your seat with your feet up, you can come in your pj's, you can even pass gas without offending those around you!!! etc, etc, etc. This freedom is part of the great American drive-in experience & that's what makes it more fun & enjoyable for MOST people.
