Those who remember going to one of the many drive-in movies in South Mississippi are about to get a piece of their childhood back.
John Watzke is still kicking around names for his drive-in theater as his crews work to clear the lot along U.S. 90 in Hancock County. It’s next to Shady Acres RV Park and about 1,000 feet west of the big Silver Slipper sign, on the north side of the highway.
The Bucktown Marina went back in time on Friday, May 22, 2020 as a drive-in movie theatre was set up. About 100 cars parked in the open field to watch on a 40-foot screen the 1978 musical movie "Grease," starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. The event was part of a Memorial Day event for families hosted by Z Event Company. The event allowed people to get out of their house and watch a movie while keeping a safe social distance by remaining in their cars.
Watzke said this will be the only drive-in movies in Mississippi and Louisiana, other than one family-owned operation in far northeast Mississippi near the Alabama and Tennessee border. The last one in South Mississippi closed in 1978, he said.
He plans to build in two phases in Hancock County, with the first screen and parking for 275 cars on the south side of the property. He’s working to get that open by Mardi Gras.
Another screen will built on the north side on the property and open about a year later in early 2024, he said.
The concession stand and restrooms will be in the middle.
His drive-in will be much more than a walk-in theater with an “overpriced movie,” he said.
“The drive-in’s a memory,” he said.
Preview of coming attraction
Watzke said his property is about 25% cleared. He’s working with contractors to get estimates on building the screen tower and has his laser light projectors ordered.
He already operates the drive-in movies at Ocala in central Florida and has agreements with the top film companies.
“We’ll have all the new releases,” he said, and will present them in a double feature, just like people remember from the days when Biloxi had three drive-in theaters and many more were open from Mobile to New Orleans.
The drive-in will be open all year, he said.
The first movie of the night will be a family show like an animated movie when there is a new release, he said. The second show will be more geared for adults, he said, but will still be appropriate for kids who don’t fall asleep.
There won’t be those speakers that hung on the car window at drive-in movies in the 1950s and ‘60s.
The Bucktown Marina went back in time on Friday, May 22, 2020 as a drive-in movie theatre was set up. About 100 cars parked in the open field to watch on a 40-foot screen the 1978 musical movie "Grease," starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. The event was part of a Memorial Day event for families hosted by Z Event Company. The event allowed people to get out of their house and watch a movie while keeping a safe social distance by remaining in their cars.
“We no longer do speakers,” he said, but instead transmit through FM radio frequency, either through the car’s radio or a portable radio. The quality of the sound is just as good as the car speaker, he said.
Food comes with the movies
The cost of the double feature will be $6 for adults, $3 for children and kids 5 and under will be free, Watzke said. A couple with two kids age 5 and under can dress them in their pajamas, pay just $12 for the tickets, have no cost for a babysitter and can control the volume of the movies.
“It’s the concession that supports us,” Watzke said. Movie goers will be required to pay an extra $10 per car for a concession voucher.
His prices are much lower than a typical indoor theater charges, he said. A hamburger meal with fries and a soda will sell for well under $10.
“We have a huge menu,” he said, and in addition to the standard popcorn, candy and nachos will be choices like a muffaletta, barbecue sandwich or shrimp po-boy. Alcohol will not be sold.
Why here, why now?
Bay St. Louis is the perfect location for his new drive-in, said Watzke, who has lived in that area for 40 years.
It’s a quick drive from Slidell and New Orleans, he said, and close enough for people from Biloxi and Mobile to drive over for that drive-in experience.
He moved to Florida in 2007, restored the Ocala Drive-In and reopened it in 2012, but said he always wanted to get to a position to come back to South Mississippi and create one here.
“This is something the next generation needs,” he said, and he wants to open the drive-in now, while his generation is still around and can bring their children and grandchildren.
“They’ll fall in love with it like we did,” he said of the kids.
He plans to open a small arcade at the drive-in, but said because of insurance, a playground isn’t possible. There will be a grassy area in front of the screens where kids will be able to play before the movies start.
He posted on Facebook his plans to open a drive-in and quickly had more than 1,000 likes and many comments.
“Drive-ins are way cool. We can show the next generation how fun they really are,” one person commented.
“So very needed in our community.. I have a feeling it will be packed every weekend,” another said.
Watzke said he will deliver the highest quality in picture, the lowest movie prices — and some memories.