Nearly three years after the campaign began, Jericho Drive-In raised enough money to purchase a new digital projector.
The projector was installed on Sunday, May 24, but couldn’t be used until the following Wednesday due to a needed software upgrade. The first movies to be played digitilly were Tomorrowland and Avengers: Age of Ultron.
“It’s an amazing feeling that we were able to accomplish this with the support of all the community and our customers, said Co-owner Lisa Chenette. “We want to thank everyone who donated from $2 to a $200 season pass. We couldn’t have done it without them.”
In 2013, Jericho Drive-in owners Mike and Lisa Chenette lost their bid to win a new digital projection machine through a competition sponsored by Honda Motor Company. Drive-ins and independent movie theaters are being forced to upgrade to digital projection machines as the movie industry phases out the use of 35mm film.
It’s become increasingly harder to find film movies each season. Eventually, the couple began to fundraise on their own, and became closer to their goal after finding a used digital project.
