By: Chuck Miller
Movies

The Jericho Drive-In is back – with first-run movies!!

It’s no secret to my blog readers that the Jericho Drive-In in Glenmont was one of the few places of relief during this COVID-19 pandemic. I saw several films there, and the owners were gracious enough to let me photograph a custom signage on their marquee last year, a photo of which I’m entering in Competition Season 2021.

Double Feature; also Family Friendly. Nikon Df camera, Irix 15mm lens, two images spliced together in PhotoShop. Photo (c) 2020 Chuck Miller, all rights reserved.

That being said, last year the Jericho was one of many drive-ins in the Capital District – including the Malta, the Hollywood and Hathaway’s – and made the best of a rough situation. With studios not providing new film content, the drive-ins relied on legacy films and theme nights. The Jericho, in particular, partnered with Proctor’s for a series of live concerts that tied in with movies – for example, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band that played before a screening of Almost Famous.

Now comes the news that this weekend, the Jericho (along with other drive-ins) are opening for the season. And the first double feature planned this weekend is … Godzilla v. Kong, followed with Tom and Jerry: The Movie.

And both of these films – are 2021 releases.

Yes!!

We’re not getting the 1962 King Kong v Godzilla movie from Toho Studios that had two stuntmen in rubber costumes, followed by a bunch of classic MGM Tom and Jerry cartoons. No, this is the kind of stuff you would definitely see in a drive-in late night double feature picture show.

The Jericho has also done what it could in the form of COVID-19 safety – crowds and cars will be spaced out for social distancing, foods can be ordered from the snack bar or from the Twist ice cream parlor through your phone and paid for with Google Pay; and you can still sit under the stars and see the big stars on the big screen.

So much of our world has changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thankfully, there’s still a way to enjoy a big-screen motion picture without my only available option as streaming the film on HBO Max or Disney+ or something like that.

Besides, we all know that theater popcorn and cheeseburgers taste better when you’re sitting in a picnic chair in front of the big screen.

And you know I’m right.