The moon rises slowly into the sky as the sun creeps behind the horizon, taking with it the heat of the day. A cool atmosphere settles over the massive gravel lot, already filling with cars—couples laughing, children darting into the concession stand, running out with armfuls of popcorn and treats. The giant screen buzzes on and a hurried husssshhh falls over the crowd, each tuning their radio stations to the proper channel.
Susan Haaheim handles the growing concession line with the ease and demeanor of someone who has been doing this for a long time, and in fact, she has. “I was born and raised in Idaho and spent a lot of my childhood playing and working at the Drive-In,” Susan shares with us before the movie.
We dug into our pile of snacks and settled into the back of my RAV4, with the backdoor swung open as wide as she would go. Just as we achieved the perfect viewing angle and maximum level of comfiness, the show had begun. Bundled in our blankets, surrounded by snacks, and sharing this evening with two dozen other couples and families—each doing the same: reaching for snacks and snuggling into blankies—was an experience far greater than any Friday movie on the couch.
However, nearly seven decades ago, it wasn’t all snuggles and snacks for the Motor Vu. In 1953, Susan’s grandparents, Gladys Anderson and Bill Dobbs, transformed this once banal dirt lot into what is it today. They did this to combat their latest enemy: the television. Before the drive-in, the family were proud owners of a string of local theaters, alongside the Jewell family. Gladys and Bill were incredibly slighted by this new technology. The (at the time) brand new TV had everyone and their dog enamored. No one was going out to movies anymore.
It was a struggle to compete with television, but with creative ingenuity, the family prevailed. And now, 69 years later, Susan looks forward to 2023 and celebrating their 70th anniversary. “There aren't many drive-ins left across the U.S. It is such a unique and nostalgic business. It’s so much fun to have patrons young and old come out to enjoy watching movies under the stars. As a child I took it for granted,” Susan says. “Now it is my legacy and my favorite subject.”
And so, unlike many things these days, the Motor Vu still has some of its original equipment. While one of Susan’s biggest challenges is maintaining the nearly 70-year-old building, the same 1953 Manley popcorn popper is still running like a dream. And still making the best popcorn around.
The Parma Motor-Vu is open Friday through Sunday, mid-April into October every year. “It is worth the drive to come out for a date night or fun for the whole family. We have a full snack bar and a beautiful digital picture on our 60-foot screen.”
To learn more about Motor Vu and their upcoming showings, visit them online at ParmaMotorVu.com. A special thanks to the contributing photographers: @kaderandrews, @pixiestarlet, @mari.hoskins, @tincangoat
It was a struggle to compete with television, but with creative ingenuity, the family prevailed. And now, 69 years later, Susan looks forward to 2023 and celebrating their 70th anniversary. “There aren't many drive-ins left across the U.S. It is such a unique and nostalgic business. It’s so much fun to have patrons young and old come out to enjoy watching movies under the stars. As a child I took it for granted,” Susan says. “Now it is my legacy and my favorite subject.”
