Mendon Twin Drive-In opens for 70th season: 'Godzilla x Kong' and 'Wonka' showing
MENDON — Mendon Twin Drive-In co-owners and brothers Mike and Dave Andelman are preparing for the drive-in's 70th year in business, opening Friday. The brothers are celebrating their 10th year as co-owners.
The drive-in was built in 1953 and opened in June 1954. It is one of the last few fully-operating drive-in movie theaters in Massachusetts, with two others in Barnstable and Dukes counties.
"Opening day of the drive-in is more exciting than Fenway at opening day, to us," Mike Andelman said. "This summer, after Hollywood being delayed because of the strikes and COVID, this is going to be the first full summer of amazing movies."
The number of drive-in movie theaters in the country has depleted over the last few decades. In the late 1950s, the United States had around 4,000 drive-in movie theaters, Andelman said. Now, there are only 300 left in the country. Out of several once operating in Worcester County, including Auburn, Oxford, Shrewsbury, Leicester, Sutton and West Boylston, the Mendon Drive-In is the last one standing.
What makes the Mendon Twin Drive-In unique is that it is driven by the community and customers, Andelman said. On their Facebook page, the pair ask for customers' suggestions from themed movie nights to what kinds of beer and wine they sell.
"It's a special bond we have with our customers. We take a love of their input," Andelman said. "It really is a symbiotic love relationship. We don't call them our customers, we call them our partners."
In May, he said they are planning their second annual Taylor Swift night, which includes showing Taylor Swift music videos, a DJ, friendship bracelet trading and more. In August, the theater will have a Jimmy Buffett tribute night where attendees are encouraged to treat it like a "Jimmy concert in Mansfield."
Andelman also said many movies coming out this summer are "for the family," like "Kung Fu Panda 4" and "Despicable Me 4."
"There's something for everyone," he said. "If you're a family, you're coming to the drive-in. If it's date night, you're coming to the drive-in. If it's girls' night, you're coming to the drive-in. When you're at the drive-in, all is right in the world."
Andelman said people drive over 500 miles to come to the Mendon Twin Drive-In, one of the few left in Massachusetts.
"There are memories that are created at the drive-in movie theater unlike any other memories," Andelman said. "There's nothing in the world like going to a drive-in."
For their opening weekend, movies showing include "Kung Fu Panda 4," "Wonka," "Migration" and "Godzilla x Kong: the New Empire."
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Mendon Twin Drive-In celebrates 70 years in business
