Watching movies in moonlight

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Young film critic found drive-in movie was like nothing else. By Ed Jones

Date published: 12/16/2006

By Ed Jones

BARGAIN NIGHT AT THE Fredericksburg Drive-In theater was no bargain for me.

As one of the few regular patrons (perhaps the only) who motored to the drive-in by himself, the $5-a-carload "bargain" was actually $1.50 more than my normal single admission. That's a far cry from the $2 savings a couple of lovebirds would garner.

My pleadings at the ticket booth won me no financial concessions--though undoubtedly the man behind the cash register must have thought I was "special."

But I had an excuse. As the youthful film critic of The Free Lance-Star, I reviewed everything in town. And frankly, it was a lot easier to entice my girlfriend (now wife) to a first-run attraction at the elegant Victoria Theater downtown than to a double bill of "Gates of Hell" and "Flesh and Chrome" at the hot, occasionally rainy drive-in.

But I loved that Lafayette Boulevard venue.

Watching movies in the moonlight can be surreally special--even when you spend 10 minutes in the middle of the film trying to swat a giant bug in the back seat of your car, even when your radio reception of the soundtrack is interrupted by the latest highway construction announcement from VDOT.

They say drive-ins are making a minor comeback these days. For the first time in years, new, multiscreen outdoor theaters are opening up again.

I hope that trend reaches the Fredericksburg area.

It's great to have special nights in the city and neighboring counties for the outdoor showing of films. But that's not the same as a drive-in.

Lounging in your car while Hollywood does its magic amounts to a homey blend of "Grease"-style nostalgia. How often can you be a couch potato while spending time "outdoors"?

What a unique pleasure it would be in this day and time to sit in traffic--without getting frustrated.

ED JONES is editor of The Free Lance-Star. Call him at 540/374-5401 or e-mail
Email: edjones@freelancestar.com.

Date published: 12/16/2006