‘Drive-In Woodstock’ coming to Carbon County
By Amy Longsdorf
Movie fans, take note. An event dubbed the “drive-In Woodstock” is coming to Carbon County.
Lehighton’s Mahoning Valley Drive-In, which kicks off its latest season this Friday and Saturday with 35 mm screenings of “The Wizard of Oz” and “Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory,” is preparing for the first annual Joe Bob’s Drive-In Jamboree — a threeday event that will run from July 16-18. Tickets will be on sale in April.
The bash will feature a festival for guerrilla filmmakers, a live double-feature version of Briggs’ popular TV show, a family-friendly “haunted drive-in” event with live zombies and monsters, and days filled with bands,
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO contests, custom cars, movie memorabilia vendors, sideshow attractions and free seminars for ultra-low-budget filmmakers.
Briggs is a familiar figure in the world of B-movies. After writing a book about exploitation fare and hosting a number of series devoted to the genre, including TNT’s “Monstervision,” Briggs (aka film critic John Bloom) is now the host of the Shudder series “The Last Drive-In.”
Thanks to the Shudder show, “generations of fringe film fans are getting their Joe Bob fix once again,” says Mahoning general manager Mark Nelson.
“I think he holds a special place in the world of cinema in that he was one of the few film reviewers to take lower-tier cinema seriously, joining in the sense of fun and passion horror and exploitation fans have for these films, with a fun and mischievous persona.
“He wasn’t a high-minded critic talking of high-minded films, he was a good old boy who loved the cheap-thrill flicks as much as the common Drive-In goer did.”
According to Nelson, the event is expected to draw both local movie buffs and hardcore Joe Bob fans.
“We’ve already heard from Joe Bob fans all over the country who plan to make the trek out for the Jamboree, including one enthusiastic gentleman who’ll be driving up from Texas,” says Nelson.
“This is the first-ever fan gathering where Joe Bob Briggs and Darcy The Mail Girl will be appearing and performing a live version of [‘The Last Drive-In’] and Joe Bob fans old and new are extremely excited to be at this historic gathering.”
Mahoning owner Virgil Cardamone is not only hoping to make the Jamboree an annual event, but he’s working with local theaters to screen some of the films coming out of the workshops.
“Our plans for this annual film festival is to shine a light on material and filmmakers who are working outside the studio system of Hollywood,” says Cardamone.
In the meantime, the Mahoning has launched a podcast about “theater, retro film, and drive-ins in general,” notes Nelson. “[It is] a sort of peek behind the curtain.”
For times and ticket prices for the Mahoning Drive-In, go to mahoningdit.com
Movie writer Amy Longsdorf is a contributor to The Morning Call. Amy can be reached at movieamy@aol.com