The summer of 2013 was a matter of life or death for Maine's Saco Drive-In. The major motion picture producers set fall as a deadline, after which they would no longer distribute blockbusters on 35mm film. Message to drive-ins: Convert to digital projection or die. Cost: $40,000.

The old projector.  The film is on a platter to be threaded up and around and down through the machine.

The feature film is delivered in segments, in several boxes.  It is then hand-spliced together.

The colorful small reels, against the wall, are the Coming Attractions. They will be spliced onto the feature film.

The finished film, ready for showing.  A pancake.

Turn your radio on.

Unlike our memories of Diners, where the design and personality of the business is what makes the memories, with Drive-Ins, it's the experience and the fun and the friends.

It's Showtime!

The End.