There’s a piece of Americana that pulls at the fringes of my memory, and that’s the summertime activity of drive-in theaters. I was born just before this type of movie peaked at over 4,000 back in 1958, and my parents were up to their ears in toddler-raising responsibilities until the mid-1960s. This meant we didn’t get to a movie very often, but I recall going to a handful with my folks and it was quite a treat. As of 2016 there were just over 300 drive-in theaters in operation, and I would encourage everyone to take part in this experience if you ever have the opportunity.
Gaylord Kemp, from Spirit Lake, Iowa spent many years commuting to Jackson, Minnesota where he worked at the AGCO tractor company. But when he retired, he decided to fulfill his lifelong dream of building a drive-in theater. He somehow managed to convince a neighbor who grew corn to sell him 10 acres of his farmland, persuade local officials to rezone the property, and acquire a 55-foot intact screen located seven miles away at a drive-in that had been dead for 40 years.
That’s where the Superior 71 Drive-In began eight years ago, and it continues today to bring joy for families near and far. It has been the destination for first dates as well as generational get-togethers, and Gaylord says it’s the greatest job in the world because everybody comes happy. He’s proud of this endeavor that held no guarantees for him.
There’s also a benefit for everyone who comes that they may not realize, and it’s free with the price of admission. Folks have the chance to experience rural America – the outdoors with its peace and tranquility, and never-ending, always-changing landscape. For the Superior 71 Drive-In exists among the grand turbines of a wind farm and land with tractors and combines that plant and harvest food year after year… If one pays attention, the show off the screen can be just as engaging.
Enjoy a piece of Americana this summer!
-Terry Olson, Titan Machinery
References:
http://www.kare11.com/news/local/land-of-10000-stories/from-the-cornfields-a-drive-in-theater-bucks-the-trend/434648247
http://www.driveintheater.com/drivlist.htm
http://www.superior71drivein.com/