Goochland Drive-In Theater opens Friday

Goochland

Other Virginia

Secret-agent guinea pigs and costumed military commandos will do battle with evildoers in an open field in Goochland County tomorrow night.

Nightlife out west just got more interesting.

The event in question is the grand opening of Goochland Drive-In Theater. The rodents and heroes come courtesy of "G-Force" and "G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra," the outdoor theater's opening-night double feature.

Creating the 10-acre, 400-car drive-in just off Interstate 64 in Hadensville was a labor of love for Goochland resident John Heidel.

Heidel, 40, grew up on drive-ins in Mississippi, and later in Roanoke. He still remembers seeing Mickey Mouse outdoors on the big screen at the age of 4.

"I just loved it," he said. "It's one of those things that stuck with me, and one day you wake up . . . and realize a lot of the things you cherished as a kid aren't around anymore."

When his own two children, Anna, 7, and Grant, 5, came along, Heidel missed it even more.

"It was a real hassle to go to the movies -- an expensive hassle," he said. "You go and the next thing you know you just spent $60 and left an hour into the movie."

He decided to take matters into his own hands, giving up his dry-cleaning business to focus on building his dream.

For $7 for adults and $3 for children younger than 12, moviegoers will be treated to first-run movies played on an 80-by-40-foot screen with sound provided to each car through a low-power FM radio transmitter.

A playground, concession stand and parking rows named after popular movies and actors -- "Love Bug Lane," "John Wayne Trail" and "Willy Wonka Way" -- complete the experience.

The Gooch Dog -- a hot dog topped with macaroni and cheese and a special sauce concocted by Heidel's wife and business partner, Kristina -- will serve as the coup de grace.

"People can bring their lounge chairs and blankets and keep the kids in their pajamas," he said. "I hope people feel like they're walking back in time."

Drive-in theaters originated in the 1930s, peaking in popularity in the late 1950s and early 1960s with more than 4,000 theaters across the U.S.

"They offered people, and youth in particular, more autonomy and freedom," said Jim Kelly, director of museums for the Virginia Historical Society, calling them a "milestone on our route to becoming a more casual society."

But gradually, the theaters began to decline because of the costs involved, the increasing popularity of television, and later the advent of the VCR and video rentals.

There are now only about 400 drive-ins throughout the country, with 10 in Virginia including the new Goochland theater.

The Heidels received guidance and support from drive-in owners across the U.S. hoping to keep the business alive.

"There's a real fraternity out there between drive-in owners, and they want to help you and see you succeed," Heidel said.

Harvey Summers, a 45-year-old Glen Allen resident, hopes it will. He grew up next door to an open-air theater in St. Louis and is now a member of the Goochland Drive-In's Facebook fan page.

"I probably saw every movie that came through the drive-ins in the late'60s and'70s," he said. "Now I have a 2-year-old son and I'm looking forward to taking him out there to have some fun, and reliving my own experiences, too."

The theater will have double features nightly through Labor Day weekend, switching features next Friday. After that, it will be open weekends, Friday through Sunday, until November.

A Twelve Days of Christmas festival featuring Christmas movies and cocoa is scheduled for December.

But for now, Heidel is focused on opening night.

"It's going to be a sight to behold," he said. "I just can't wait to see people's faces. We'll get the popcorn popping and the Gooch Dogs roasting, and hopefully everything will come together."

Contact Wesley P. Hester at (804) 649-6976 or whester@timesdispatch.com.