Holiday Auto Theatre, which opened as Hamilton Outdoor Theater in 1948 and was purchased by Chaney and his business partner, Mark Althoetmar, in September 2007, was open for two weekends in early March. Then Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine closed all theaters due to COVID-19.
Holiday Auto reopened last weekend and will be open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the summer, Chaney said. He hopes to open the theater, located at 1816 Old Oxford Road in Hamilton, every night after May 22.
Last season, the 72-year-old theater attracted about 60,000 moviegoers, the highest since 66,000 in 2016, Chaney said.
Chaney said the drive-in made several changes in order to reduce the risk of COVID-19.
He said Saturday night was the busiest of the three days, even though temperatures dropped into the low 40s. The drive-in holds about 550 cars and about 175 — 50 percent of the normal crowd — attended the double feature Saturday, he said. He expects some shows to sell-out this summer if the restrictions aren’t lifted.
Drive-ins throughout the U.S. are being aided by movie companies that are discounting the cost of renting movies due to the limited movies being produced, Chaney said. The catalogue of possible movie titles offers some “good stuff,” he said.
This weekend, the drive-in is showing the Invisible Man at 8:50 p.m. and The Hunt at 11:05 p.m.
Here is a list of modifications Holiday Auto implemented for COVID-19:
Social Distancing
- Only one car parked between two poles; if a family has two cars they can park together between two poles.
- Capacity will be reduced in accordance with the new parking plan.
- You may sit outside your vehicle as long as you are next to your vehicle. The theater strongly recommends the wearing of masks if you get out of your vehicle.
- Maximum of two people per social distancing marker. Social distancing queues are in place for concession and restrooms, including portable restrooms.
- Only two at a time allowed in the main building restrooms. The middle stalls in the women's and men's rooms have been closed to ensure social distancing. Restrooms will be temporary closed often for sanitizing.
General Info
- We will have frequent cleaning and sanitizing. Restrooms and portable toilets will be temporarily closed often for sanitizing.
- We have installed hands-free soap dispensers to go along with our hands-free sink faucets and hands free hand dryer.
- We have installed Plexiglas and additional barriers in concession to ensure social distancing.
- Maximum of two persons per social distancing marker in concessions.
- Concession stand is now one-way only. Enter from the west side and exit on the east side.
- Hand sanitizer will be available.
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