Drive-In Cinema For Christchurch

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28234, 23 March 1957, Page 10

Drive-In Cinema For Christchurch

Christchurch is to have a drive-in cinema, with parking for 900 cars, on a site on Sawyers Arms road, Papanui. The cost is expected to be more than £lOO,OOO.

The project has been approved by the Waimairi County Council, and the promoters will begin clearing and levelling as soon as possible.

Mr R. R. Livingstone, who has been handling the negotiations for Skyline Drive-ins (New Zealand), Ltd., announced the decision yesterday.

The Christchurch drive-in cinema will be one of a chain of- seven to be built at a cost of £950,000. Three will be in Auckland, one near Hamilton, and two in the Wellington area. “Arrangements have been made for the purchase of a 20-acre site lying between Sawyers Arms road and Veitchs road, with frontages on to both these roads,” said Mr Livingstone.

This block had been chosen after a survey of all possible sites in Christchurch because it filled all the special requirements for that type of cinema, he said. Traffic would be no problem. There was easy access to the east, south and west.

Cars could leave eastward by the Main North road and Cranford street, southward by Papanui road, and westward by Bishops and Greers roads.

“One of the strongest objections to drive-in cinemas is that hundreds of cars pour out on to a main road, causing traffic jams, at the end of the show,” he said. “This site will avoid that.” Type of Patrons

Dri ire-ins attracted a different type of patron from ordinary cinemas, he said. They were ideal for family parties and for older people, who had difficulty in walking. The promoters expected to draw their patrons from all over

Christchurch and were even talking about persons driving from as |ar as Amberley and Ashburton. Skyline Drive-ins is a company established jointly by KerridgeOdeon and Amalgamated Theatres. Ltd., the biggest cinema-owners in New Zealand. Fog Only Enemy In Christchurch, the only enemy of the drive-in is likely to be fog. According to the promoters: “Freedom from both unsavoury odours and fogs are paramount factors in the choice of a suitable site. Fog is the only real problem of drive-in operation which has not been overcome.

“Rain has proved to be of purely nuisance value, but when fog settles in it means that, like airlines, drive-ins are fogged out, the show closes down and transfer tickets are issued.” Skilled engineering is required in building the ramps for drivein cinemas. Cars vary considerably in height, length and width, yet every patron must have an unobstructed view of the screen from the front or back seat.

Playground facilities for children encourage early arrival at the cinema, reducing the peak traffic period just before the programme begins and» increasing the sale of refreshments. Supervision

“Although the utmost freedom of movement and dress is encouraged, the general deportment of patrons, both within and without their cars, is subject to constant but unobtrusive supervision and patrol by car attendants and the manager,” according to the promoters.

“Parents are encouraged to allow their children to attend dressed ready for bed. In brief, absolute freedom of movement is permitted, provided always that no nuisance to other patrons is occasioned and that patrons behave with due propriety.” Australian experience shows that sophisticated entertainment does not draw patrons to driveins. They prefer feature productions, whether new or old, which provide entertainment consistent with the holiday and carnival spirit encouraged by the management.

The parking positions in the amphitheatre are indicated by the speaker posts, which carry the speakers, usually two to each post, that are placed inside each car.

In Australian drive-ins refreshment service from concession booths includes cooked hot foods and cold prepared meals, in addition to ice-cream, sweets and soft drinks.