Death of the Mooney Drive-In

	Duration: 03:20 minutes Upload Time: 06-09-10 23:29:08 User: riverkee :::: Favorites :::: Top Videos of Day
Description: The Mooney Drive-In movie theater in Visalia, CA showed its last movie on Saturday, September 9, 2006. The land on which it operated was leased and was purchased by a new owner. The new owner has plans to level the only remaining drive-in in California's Central Valley and aid in the extinction of a dieing American icon to make way for office space. It just an example of the value we place on the color green over tradition. To celebrate its Grand Closing, the theater showed two classic films, Grease and Viva Las Vegas. It appealed to both by generation and my parents. Obviously, I picked Grease as did many others. Viva Las Vegas did not get nearly the number of viewers as Grease did. In 1978, Grease was the first movie I ever saw at a drive-in theater. Ironically, it'll probably be my last. I have been to the drive-in theater a little more than a dozen times in the last 2 years. I wanted my daughter to experience one of my fondest childhood memories. There were hundreds of people that turned out for the event. It was a celebration of our past youth and to pay respects to this dieing icon. If you have never been to a drive-in, I suggest you go. A drive-in can take any bad movie make it descent; it is the ambience of the drive-in that makes it special. I had hoped to capture what makes Mooney unique -- the nesting peacocks. However, this night they were shy probably due to the loud band that played prior to the feature. There is a website dedicated to this pastime and from there you can find out where a drive-in is in your area. Here is their link: http://www.drive-ins.com
Comments
bkoeth ::: Favorites Ummm, doesn't that sound familiar? 07-09-20 04:24:00 __________________________________________________
riverkee ::: Favorites From what I heard, Mearles was forced to close down. Supposedly he was hit by a guy that goes around California threatening to sue small business if they do not settle out of court over what he feels are non-compliant ADA issues. Most of these small business give rather than risk a higher settlement. It boils down to legal extortion. 07-09-07 12:09:44 __________________________________________________
lowerthedynamite ::: Favorites that sux that they closed mearles down.:( had good shakes! and cheeseburgers i remember going there when i was younger and even before they closed it!! 07-09-07 02:40:14 __________________________________________________
karma94 ::: Favorites i miss the drive in =[ 07-08-24 19:17:06 __________________________________________________
HurricaneDylan ::: Favorites oh god they had pizza!? man im feel like im going to break my leg 07-07-16 12:35:22 __________________________________________________
smilez1999a ::: Favorites Thanks for posting this video! I am sad to know that I missed the last night event, but at least now I know what went on. I have been sad ever since the drive-in closed, especially after experiencing the same thing in Bakersfield. Thanks again for this video! 07-07-08 10:11:47 __________________________________________________
surferchick25 ::: Favorites I think I saw a sign that that land is for sale now. Man, if I had money, I would rebuild the drive-in theater. 07-06-17 23:14:16 __________________________________________________
dncnnanci5 ::: Favorites what hotel? 07-06-17 03:19:32 __________________________________________________
riverkee ::: Favorites Yeah. I heard that a-hole sued Mearles Drive-in and put them out of business. He tried to sue the hotel I work for for some petty b.s. We didn't give in and we once our lawyer contacted his, we never heard back from them - they try to settle out of court. 07-06-17 01:25:33 __________________________________________________
dncnnanci5 ::: Favorites I miss the Mooney Drive in. It was such a fun thing to do on a summer night. Things are sure changing around here. 07-06-16 20:22:55 __________________________________________________