Parking lots host movies, music
Lee Buchanan
editor@thefranklinpress.com
COVID-19 has muted many of the entertainment options in Macon County, but venue operators have gotten creative in bringing their shows to the public while they wait for permission to open up.
Two entertainment venues – Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts and Ruby Cinemas – have taken their shows outside.
A night out at the micro drive-in
Ruby Cinemas has been staging what the theater industry calls “popup micro drive-ins.” Owner David Parlier launched drive-in movies in May and is now showing three different movies a week on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Parlier built the screen himself with the help of Stone Creek Construction. The screen, which measures 28 feet diagonally, is mounted on the side of the building.
Audio is delivered to car radios through FM transmission. Customers can also bring a portable Bluetooth speaker with FM radio built in.
Parlier wants to get Netflix addicts out of the house. He also hopes the drive-in movies will draw much-needed revenue.
“Since we shut down our interior operations, we’ve tried to come up with something to bring in some revenue,” he said.
“Attendance has been hit and miss,” Parlier said. “We started off kind of strong, but then it dropped off with people going out of town for the Fourth. We’ve been building a bit more traction over the last weeks. People are back and looking for some type of local entertainment.”
The idea of parking-lot drive-ins caught the attention of Walmart, which is planning to roll out 160 of them at super centers across the nation. Those locations have not been announced.
Movie theaters and other performance venues were not allowed to open in Phase 2 of Gov. Roy Cooper’s reopening plan. They’ve been closed for over four months now.
Cooper may move to Phase 3 after July 17, but it’s far from certain that performance venues will be allowed to reopen.
“We have weekly meetings with our trade organization, but it’s a moving target,” Parlier said. “Communication from the governor’s office has been very limited.”
He said it’s frustrating to see most other businesses open while theaters remain shuttered.
“The risk of movie theaters is no more or less than any other business that is currently open,” he said.
The Ruby Cinemas staff has been training for reopening with social distancing in mind.
The trade group has hired an epidemiologist to review members’ opening plans.
Ruby theaters normally seats about 200 people. Satisfying the six-foot social distance requirement would allow about 50 customers in the theater at one time.
Other measures to protect customers include requiring online ticket sales and having them order concessions from their seats to delivered by staff members.
Even when the state allows theaters to open, Parlier doesn’t expect a rush to cinemas.
“We don’t want to be too aggressive,” he said. “We don’t want to expose people and we don’t want people to expose the staff.
“I think, to begin with, there’s going to be a certain percentage of people that’s going to hold off,” he said. “But I think we have pretty good number of people who are ready to come back, especially when they see that we’ve taken such precautions.”
Movies scheduled through the end of July include Jurassic Park, The Shining and The Grinch.
For ticket information and to see upcoming shows, go to rubycinemas.com.
Parking-lot concerts at SMCPA
Just down the road at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Scott Corbin has also gotten creative in finding a way to bring music to the people.
Corbin and his team are getting ready to stage their third parking-lot concert on Friday, July 17, featuring the Overlook Theatre performing “A Few of Our Favorites – The Best of Broadway.”
Mark Wills kicked off the outdoor concerts on Friday, July 3, followed by the brother-and-sister bluegrass duo Summer and Bray on July 10.
Corbin and company put up an elevated stage in the parking lot where performers play. The audience is asked to stay in their vehicles except for bathroom breaks. Curb-hop concessions are be available for purchase, cash only.
“They will be able to listen with their windows down,” Corbin said. “We also offer an FM frequency that will come through their vehicle radios.”
Corbin said he has gotten positive feedback on the new venue from performers.
“They’re all excited,” he said. “So many artist have not been able to work since February or March. Show people live to do shows.”
Corbin said he was inspired by how churches are conducting drive-in services.
“So we thought, ‘Why not try a drive-in concert?’ We can still provide some relief and entertainment while following the suggested guidelines and restrictions,” he said.
Like other venues, the COVID shutdown wrecked SMCPA’s summer schedule.
“We have had to reschedule so many shows and events,” Corbin said. “In the first month alone, we had to re-arrange over 10,000 patrons and their tickets. Most artists and patrons have been very kind and understand the situation. This is something new, so we’re all learning as we go.”
With so much uncertainty, Corbin is keeping his options open.
“We’re looking to see how well these first three are received and then make a plan for other options,” he said. “We have some fun ideas. We also need to approach things a little cautiously not knowing how the virus and the government restrictions will affect us in the coming weeks and months.”
For tickets or more information, go to greatmountainmusic.com.