In this special interview episode, Mike took a journey to one of his favorite places on Earth: Lehighton, Pennsylvania, home to the much-loved Mahoning Drive-in Theatre. This last-of-its-kind, old-school site is one of the only places in the United States where you can sit under the stars, munch on a bucket of popcorn and watch 35mm prints of classic films from decade’s past on a huge screen. Virgil Cardamone, the drive-in’s film booker, curator and publicity director, is among a handful of employees at this blast-from-the-past, and in a soulful, wide-ranging interview with Mike, he explains the Mahoning’s history, it’s deep commitment to community, the reason for its dedication to 35mm in an age of all-digital projection and some of the challenges the drive-in has faced in recent years; most notably the loss of master projectionist Jeff Mattox before the start of the 2024 season. If you love film, Virgil’s own passion for the medium will surely move you… perhaps to make a pilgrimage of your own to rural Pennsylvania where you can find a good spot, camp out for the night and catch some of your favorite movies the way they were intended to be seen, flickering on a big outdoor screen.
Learn more about the Mahoning Drive-in, movies they’ve got scheduled and various events held at the site by following their website and socials!
Website: www.mahoningdit.com
Instagram: @mahoningdriveintheater
X: @mahoningdit
Buy Tickets: ticketleap.com
Listen to their podcast: Mahoning Drive-In Radio