F'. -y 1. LEISURE Sunday Republican JUNE 7, 1998 SECTION Drive-in projects nostalgia Northfield's 50-year-old Enjoy outdoor cinema gives its patrons new memories The Show By DIANE LEDERMAN Staff writer Aug. 3. 1948.
Carl Nielman opened what was then called the New Northfield Community Drive-In Theater, on seven acres of land straddling the Massachusetts and Vermont border. The first movie shown there was "Thunder in the Valley." Admission was a quarter. A bag of popcorn was a dime. Shows were every night at dusk, "rain or moon." Thousands of drive-ins have come and gone since that first screening: from more than 6.000 in their heyday in the 1950s, they now number fewer than 1.000 nationwide. Yet the Northfield Drive-In is well, owned and run by Mitchell Walpole, N.H.
Mitchell Shakour said he believes it is the oldest continually run drive-in in New England. It is the only drive-in. in Western Massachusetts. On a recent Saturday night, a double bill of "Deep Impact" and "Titantic" drew so many patrons that cars were still idling in line 90 minutes after the first film began. Those who hadn't made it in were given the option of parking off to the side of the ticket booth and taking blankets onto the drive-in lot, or coming back the next day.
Mitchell Shakour, who was collecting the admission and handing out fliers for the following week's show, said that very much alive and and Carla Shakour of IF YOU GO Event: Movies at Northfield Drive-In Where: Route 63, Northfield When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights until. July daily after that until Labor Day. For films, call (603) 239-4054 Cost: $7 per adult; $3 for children under 12; two -adult minimum rain the night before and a prediction of rain for the next day had compressed the crowds. The movies play no matter what the weather, however. "Rain or shine.
the show'll be fine," is Shakour's motto (although they did have to cancel the show Sunday night when power was knocked out by a severe storm, the first time that ever happened). The drive-in can accommodate about 400 cars. And over and over again, Shakour apologized to customers for the drive-in's size. "We're really small, a little country drive-in." Little has changed during its more than 50 years in existence. The original 80-by-40-foot screen was destroyed in 1950, but the one that was erected in its place still stands today.
The snack bar, more of a snack shack. still stands, although the menu has changed a little. Last year, Shakour pitched in $5.000 for a new popcorn maker. In addition to the popcorn, fries, hot dogs and hamburgers that Nielman served, the Shakours cater to contemporary tastes with items such as spinach pies, onion rings, personal pizzas and veggie burgers. The sound system has changed several times over the Please see Drive- In, Page F6 Summer brings theater to Western Mass.
By FRED SOKOL posers. We haven't done that recently." The main stage season at BTF opens Theater writer with a musical adaptation. of Noel Cowestern Massachusetts, espe- Producing plays Spirit," in the smaller. refur1 ard's "Blithe titled "High Spirits." live cially various stage the theaters Berkshires, entertainment. often is differ rich The in in ly bished of Theater Stage Unicorn Festival West.
will Theater be at Eric the Hill, Berkshire formerlook, scope, mission, and outlook. Hence, He will direct Pedro Calderon de la Barall survive in handsome fashion, exem- ca's "Life's a Dream." The 17th century plars of the dictum: good theater begets play examines issues of free will and pregood theater. destination. Venerable Berkshire Theater season as Festival Kate "There will be mystery and secrecy in begins its 70th anniversary virtually all of the shows. Many of the peoMaguire commences her first as producing ple involved in direction are in the 35- to director.
her 45-year age Maguire said. "The She points toward directors as pri- selections, and I include myself here, are mary sources for the chosen productions. reflective of that." "Finding good, strong directors who have When Michael Ritchie arrived three a great sense of what it means to work in years ago in Williamstown as the producthe theater is the most important part of ing director for Williamstown Theater Fesmy job," she said. "Actors have always tival, he immediately injected the program, an: Ariel Block portrays Lisa and Malcolm Ingram plays Adrian in Shakespeare been honored have here chosen and they directors will who be, once will with renewed energy and spirit. and Company's production of "Private Eyes," on stage at the Wharton again.
I Theatre in Lenox through Aug. 23. bring different sound designers and com- Please see Theater, Page F5 4. A A 5 1 A Kevin O'llare Fogerty's latest gives credence to his admirers John Fogerty, "Premonition." (Reprise) He's battled with his ex-bandmates, fallen out with label execs and seemingly spent more time in courtrooms than making music during the past 25 years. But at last, John Fogerty seems 1.
to be at peace. He may even be getting the last laugh. The founding father of Creen dence Clearwater Revival, Fogerty spent years shunning that band's 'most famous songs, even though he wrote them. Bitter from battles with Fantasy Records over royalty rates, Fogerty was finally awakened by none other than Bob Dylan, who told PLAYBACK him that if he i didn't start ing "Proud Mary." people would think Ike and Tina Turner wrote the Creedence classic. Playing off the momentum of his Grammy- winning "Blue Moon Swamp" album and last year's very successful comeback tour, Fogerty is releasing "Premonition," an 18-track.
career -spanning live set. Recorded over two days before a small audience at a Warner Brothers soundstage in December. the disc includes a host of Creedence masterpieces. 'Singing with passion and fronting a first-rate band, Fogerty opens with "Born on the and promptly rips through "Green River," "Susie a scorching "I Put a Spell on You," and a moving, if overly mellow "Who'll Stop the Rain." It's an auspicious start and the disc rarely lets up the rest of the way. Not only does it feature the.
best sounding live versions of Creedence material, it also includes strong takes of Fogerty solo tracks like "Centerfield," the recent ballad "Joy of My Life," and an incendiary, guitar-fueled "The Old Man Down the Road." But the biggest highlights here are two tough-to-track-down songs from his eponymous 1975 solo album. While "Rockin' All Over the World," is faithful to the true grit of the original, "Almost Saturday 5 Night." is reinvigorated thanks to a sparkling vocal mix, loaded with harmonies. "Premonition" also includes the rock-solid, brand title cut. The album will be released in conjunci: tion with a companion-piece home I video and DVD. each of which includes songs not found on the IT CD.
Fogerty's been gone from the game for far too long and his extended return is cause for Once seemingly a recluse, the is on a roll. Please see Piayback, Page F6 John Fogerty INSIDE PLAYBACK John Fogerty, "Premonition" Dwight Yoakam, "A Long Way Home" Gloria Estefan, "Gloria!" The Jimi Hendrix Experience, "BBC Sessions" When the Northfield Drive-In opened 50 years ago, admission was 25 cents and a bag of popcorn cost 10 cents. At right, a young moviegoer peers out from his car as coowner Mitchell Shakour gives the passengers their tickets. Staff photos by GRETCHEN ERTL A 7 A La -Ax- A..
