Anniversary Season Opens At Southington Drive-In [IMAGES]

SOUTHINGTON, CT — On a gorgeous, mosquito-free Saturday evening, a milestone was achieved with the 10th season-opening presentation at the historic Southington Drive-In.

The only community-owned and volunteer-operated theater of its kind in Connecticut, and one of just three open-air cinemas remaining in the state, the drive-in had closed in 2002 after a 47-year run. In early 2010, a group of local volunteers gathered under the auspices of the "Southington Drive-In Committee" to begin the process of reopening the venue.

The committee coordinates all components of the drive-in and operates it separately from the town. The snack bar is run by the Southington High School DECA Club, with all proceeds benefiting the organization and its various activities. It is also supported by local advertisers.

Feature films, ranging from blockbuster classics to more contemporary movies, are scheduled for 14 Saturdays through Sept. 7, plus a Halloween festival on Oct. 26. Each evening is hosted by a different non-profit organization.

Opening night found the theater grounds jam-packed with vehicles, eagerly awaiting the opening scene of the 1975 Steven Spielberg thriller, Jaws. Many of the spectators came dressed for the occasion, wearing T-shirts and hats from the movie; a group of about eight kids was spotted with matching dorsal fins on their heads.

Patrons came from numerous towns in the region on opening night. I spoke with a few people prior to the start of the movie, with hometowns ranging from Branford to Cromwell to Sturbridge, Mass. The biggest change since I last went to a drive-in over 30 years ago was, due to the advent of SUVs and minivans, I did not see a single instance of someone having to be "trunk boy" in order to cram as many people as possible into the vehicle (admission cost is per carload). I fully expected to see someone all disheveled, wreaking like a combination of antifreeze, vulcanized rubber and an 8-month-old can of Miller High Life.

Here is the schedule for the remainder of 2019. Gates open at 6 p.m., with the films starting at sunset.

• June 8 - The Little Mermaid
• June 15 - Back to the Future
• June 22 - Ralph Breaks the Internet
• June 29 - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
• July 6 - Bohemian Rhapsody
• July 13 - Up
• July 20 - Weekend At Bernie's
• Aug. 3 - Ice Age
• Aug. 10 - Lady and the Tramp
• Aug. 17 - Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
• Aug. 24 - Tangled
• Aug. 31 - Ferdinand
• Sept. 7 - Captain Marvel
• Oct. 26 - Halloween festival (film TBA)

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Patch Editor Chris Dehnel contributed to this story.