Drive ‘N Theatre in Newton is kicking off its 72nd season, and owner Tammy Bergbower is ready to create some movie magic. Originally named Fairview Drive-in Theatre, this drive-in showed its first movie in 1953 on a single 72-by-36-foot screen with 250 parking spaces for eager moviegoers.
The Fairview closed in fall 2014 and was put up for sale. Bergbower, having been a stay-at-home mom, decided she wanted something new to do as her kids got older. Living with her family right behind the drive-in, the opportunity presented itself to her from her own backyard.
She bought the business, which is on Norris Electric Cooperative lines, and quickly made necessary upgrades, including a new concession building and a digital projector. The newly named Drive ’N Theatre played its first movie in June 2015 during a downpour. But, that didn’t stop the community from coming out to watch.
“A lot of times people aren’t going to come to the drive-in when it’s raining. Let me tell you, people did. They just poured in here,” says Bergbower.
Her dedication to her business is obvious. She’s there every night and can usually be found walking among the cars, greeting customers and taking photos.
However, she isn’t always easy to spot. Depending on the movie, Bergbower will often dress up as a character from the film. Out of the characters she has dressed up as over the years, she considers Joy from “Inside Out 2” her favorite. But it wasn’t the costume that made it so special.
“I could just tell [it was special for visitors] because of all the little kids coming up and just hugging me,” she says.
Bergbower also talks fondly about her staff and the environment they have created. She says her high school students work for her each season until they go off to college.
“It’s just really a fun environment. The customers, the guests — they are wonderful.”
She asserts that despite the number of streaming services and at-home options for watching movies, there is just no comparing the experience of a drive-in theater.
lthough the 250 marked spots from the original drive-in remain, more room has been allocated for vehicles, though sometimes that is still not enough. Movie tickets are normally available online, but for highly anticipated films, she only sells tickets on site, since they will likely sell out.
Drive ’N Theatre also hosts events such as Easter egg hunts in the spring and a corn maze in the fall, as well as pop-up events, and participates in local parades.
“The community is wonderful,” Bergbower says. “We have a lot of people who come out, who participate in some of our social media. It’s just really wonderful.”
The theater’s average season runs from May to September, but special showings are sometimes scheduled for popular movies during nice weather. This season has already kicked off with Disney’s live-action “Snow White.” Updates on movie showings and events can be found on their website and Facebook page. For more information about featured movies and showtimes, go to driventheatre.com.
