| Mahoning Drive-In Theater | |
| Address: | 635 Seneca Rd |
| City: | Lehighton, Pennsylvania, 18235 |
| Country: | United States |
| Type: | Drive-in |
| Opened: | 1949 |
| Website: | https://www.mahoningdit.com/ |
The Mahoning Drive-In Theater is a drive-in theater located in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, along Route 443.[1] [2] Opened in 1949, the Mahoning was one of many drive-in theaters that became popular in the United States following World War II.[3] Attendance at the Mahoning waned by 2014, but the theater has since gained a resurgence in popularity due to the management's decision to screen primarily older cult films and B movies rather than newer releases. It is the last remaining drive-in theater in the US to screen films in 35 mm every weekend.[4]
The Mahoning Drive-In Theater opened on April 29, 1949 with space for 75 cars, amidst a wave of drive-in theaters that became popular in the US after World War II.[5] A preview showing the night before drew 500 attendees.[6] According to Gene DeSantis, the theater's manager circa 1988, the first film screened at the Mahoning was 1948's April Showers. The first season screened films every night of the week and admission was 50 cents.
Though drive-in attendance declined across the country with the advent of multiplex theaters in the 1970s and 1980s, the Mahoning remained in operation. In 1997, owner Joe Farruggio courted controversy when he threatened to screen Deep Throat and Debbie Does Dallas following multiple rejected zoning applications to build two additional screens.[7] Mahoning Township required the theater to get approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to build the additional screens because of their proximity to an airport, which they did not receive.[8] Police were present before the Friday night screening to confiscate the films, had they been visible from the road, but Farruggio instead elected to show Mimic and Cop Land.[9] The drive-in was only open for two weeks that year.[8] By 2014, the Mahoning had seen a significant decline in attendance, sometimes with as few as 10 cars per show.
Projectionist Jeff Mattox (who started working at the Mahoning in 2001) decided, at the suggestion of then-volunteer employees Virgil Cardamone and Matt McClanahan, that the Mahoning would screen primarily older cult films and B movies, as opposed to newer releases. The decision proved successful, and attendance at the Mahoning soon rose in accordance with the addition of Exhumed Films themed programs like the recurring "Zombie Fest"—a marathon of films featuring zombies—and "Camp Blood"—a marathon of horror films set at summer camps. Films are commonly shown as double or triple features at the Mahoning, and are often accompanied by screenings of older movie trailers, other vintage advertisements, and themed sets and costumes by volunteer James T. Mills. The Mahoning has gone on to host events for Shudder, Joe Bob Briggs, and Troma Entertainment.
On July 13, 2021,[10] it was announced that the land on which the theater is situated was optioned by a solar power company, Greenskies Clean Energy LLC, which plans to demolish the Mahoning (including its screen and marquee) and to construct a solar farm in its place.[11] [12] Following an outpouring of community support, the plans have been put on hold.[13]
The screen, marquee, concessions building, ticket booth, and projector are all original to the Mahoning, although changes and repairs have been made over the years. The original Mahoning screen was built in 1947 by Bethlehem Steel and measured 70 feet.[14] By 1958 it measured 100 feet and has now expanded to 110 feet.[15] Two weeks before the 2019 season opening, the screen was significantly damaged and underwent approximately $20,000 repairs.[16] The marquee sits at the intersection of Route 443 and Seneca Road to point cars towards the theater entrance a half mile away. In 2018, it was severely damaged by weather and a GoFundMe campaign was launched to help raise the nearly $20,000 it cost to repair the sign. To commemorate the repaired marquee, drive-in volunteers placed a time capsule in one of the posts.[17]
The concessions building also houses the projector room and bathroom. The projectors were manufactured in 1947 and have been used at the theater since it opened. 35 mm prints are sourced both from studios, private collectors, and university libraries.[18] Exhumed Films is also a regular source for prints.[19] The concessions building housed cigarette and pinball machines (both of which were robbed in the 50s and 60s).[20] [21] The mural on the concessions stand was painted by Christian Egbert in 2016, who first learned about the drive-in after meeting staff at a local flea market. Mattox paid for the materials and Egbert was given a place to sell his paintings in exchange for the labor.[22]
The Mahoning Drive-In is one of three drive-in movie theaters in the Lehigh Valley, the other two being Becky's Drive-In Theatre and Shankweiler's Drive-In Theatre (the oldest operational drive-in in the country, now operated by former Mahoning volunteer owner Matt McClanahan).[23] [24]