August Moon Drive-In Recreates ‘60s Vibe
The indoor drive-in theater is a $10 million project created by entertainment entrepreneur Michael Counts.
By Laura Calugar
Nashville, Tenn.—New York-based director Michael Counts and his partners recently revealed their plans to create a giant indoor replica of a 1960s American drive-in theatre in northeastern Nashville, Tenn. Michael Counts is also responsible for Paradiso: Chapter 1 and The Walking Dead Experience.
August Moon Drive-In will be a 40,000-square-foot, seven-story tall, air-supported dome that will replicate an outdoor space. The indoor theater will include trees, grass, hammocks, sunsets, fireflies and stars. Counts partnered for this $10 million project with Vector Management’s Ken Levitan, music executive James Diener of Freesolo Entertainment/Alignment Artist Capital, manager Michael Solomon and financial backer Daniel Frishwasser. Project 13 delivered the branding for the theater.
Located at the intersection of James Robertson Parkway and Interstate 24, but also close to the Nissan Stadium, August Moon Drive-In will feature a variety of seating options, full bars at several locations, multiple dining areas, party spaces, private tree houses, as well as a separate lounge with live music programming before and after the movie. The inside will also include a simulated starry sky, 50 mid-1960s modified vintage cars and the largest non-IMAX screen in North America. Interactive technology will be incorporated in the screen to allow live performers to communicate to the audience during movie previews and post-credit sequences.
According to variety.com, the entire experience of seeing a movie is estimated to take about three hours for a 90-minute film. Roughly 350 guests can be accommodated at each of the projected 18 screenings per week. Plans are showing both first-run films and classic movies. A membership card will grant movie fans free entries, but also perks such as food and drink specials, seating upgrades and the opportunity to occasionally choose programs. Tickets are expected to cost between $8 and $20, depending on seating location, with food and beverages extra.
With full color LED lights on the exterior of the dome, August Moon will be a highly visible landmark on the Nashville skyline. The indoor drive-in cinema is targeted to open by the summer of 2018.
The first drive-in theater in the U.S. opened in 1933 in Camden, New Jersey, according to the smithsonianmag.com. Back then, people paid 25 cents per car to see the British comedy Wives Beware under the stars.
Images courtesy of augustmoondrivein.com
