OSAWATOMIE, Kan. (AP) A drive-in theater in eastern Kansas is facing a threat from the movies’ switch to digital, but the community is pitching in to help.
Owners of the Midway Drive-In Theater in Osawatomie say now that film distributors’ move to digital is drawing closer, the Midway is struggling to make the transition. The Midway is only equipped to use 35 mm film.
Going digital requires theaters to buy new projectors at up to $100,000 per screen. Paul Dimoush, who run the Midway, told The Kansas City Star he hopes to raise about $30,000.
Community leaders are offering their support, organizing everything from charity golf tournaments to carhop fundraisers in a bid to keep the drive-in. So far they’ve raised about $5,300 toward the $75,000 the Midway needs to upgrade.
