By Tom and Jerry Caraccioli
As cars drive south from Oswego to Fulton on Route 48, a bright red and yellow marquee on the right side could just as well be promoting an endangered species as much as an $8 movie that will be shown when the sun goes down.
One of only 336 modern-day drive-in movie locales still in existence in the United States, and 23 in the state of New York, Minetto’s Midway Drive-In is that endangered species. It and Auburn’s Finger Lakes Drive-In are two of the oldest of its kind.
The Midway Drive-In, located on West River Road (Route 48), was built in 1948 and has been under its current ownership, John Nagelschmidt Jr. and his family, since 1987. Auburn’s Finger Lakes Drive-In opened on July 15, 1947, and is noted as the oldest and longest continually running drive-in in New York state.
Noting the dates in which each Central New York drive-in opened, these open-air movie theaters date back to a time in America following World War II when the country was burgeoning as a world superpower. Life was booming with record population growth and a world-leading economy. More than 4,600 drive-in movie venues dotted the landscapes of modern American cities in the 1950s and were romanticized in songs, television and media throughout the decades. The attraction of spending a warm summer night, even in the far reaches of the Northeast, is now a scene in today’s movies.
“We do our best to retain the history and charm while also adapting to the necessary modern changes,” Nagelschmidt said. “The biggest shift was in 2014 when we had to switch from 35mm film to digital projection.”
And, while today’s technology offers pros and cons, Nagelschmidt’s senses harken back to the more idyllic aspects of Americana and drive-in movies. “I definitely miss the smells and sounds, the flicks of the projector,” Nagelschmidt said.
Since 1948
Built by Ruben and Irving Cantor, Midway Drive-In opened for business 77 years ago in the summer of 1948. In the late 1960s, Midway was sold to A.T. Kolinski and C. Girard and later acquired by John Nagelschmidt, Sr. in 1987. Following an accident at work, John Sr. died in April 2017. Today, Midway Drive-In begins the season nearly eight decades old and is operated under the guidance of John Jr.
Midway Drive-In is open from early May to the end of October and has featured the premiere of the new, live, action remake “Lilo & Stitch” that played with “Thunderbolts.” Other bigger movies scheduled for the summer includes “How to Train Your Dragon” and a new Jurassic Park release – “Jurassic Park: Rebirth.”
With the ability to accommodate 400 cars for a movie, the Finger Lakes Drive-In is “Americana” personified with concessions full of hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, candy and drinks, old-time metal speakers and a movie that would cost you twice as much if you attended in a theatre.
“Thousands of people go to the drive-in every summer,” Finger Lakes Drive-In owner Paul Meyer said. “The drive-in is for ‘blockbuster’ movies. We’re screening the most popular movie of the week. The drive-in is a summertime thing. It’s fun and an all-in-one American experience — entertainment, movies, being with family, cars and eating. It’s all of that. A rarity these days, the drive-in typically is a summer experience.”
Nagelschmidt also added that his drive-in theater attracts people from all over Central New York, including Syracuse.
“We realize that sometimes, after a long week, it’s easier to stay home and pop a movie on Netflix. But the drive-in is more than just going out to a movie. It’s a nice night out, with a real family-oriented business. I’ve had a lot of folks tell me their first date was at the drive-in, and they’ve been together 30 years. Now, I’ve been here long enough where I’m seeing the kids I remember when they were little coming through the ticket booth bringing their own kids. It’s really a nice tradition for a lot of folks.”
Because the Midway Drive-In and Finger Lakes Drive-In are two of the last surviving drive-ins, the specialness of attending and watching a movie in the comfort of your car is an experience that has thankfully survived from a bygone era of the mid-20th century to today.
“It’s a nice time of year in this area,” Meyer concluded. “It’s nice that folks patronize drive-ins because if they don’t, they won’t be here.”
Tom and Jerry Caraccioli are freelance writers originally from Oswego, who have co-authored three books: “STRIKING SILVER: The Untold Story of America’s Forgotten Hockey Team,” “BOYCOTT: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games” and “Ice Breakers.”
