Local drive-in wrapping up season with free movie night

Motor Vu Drive-in astatine 2095 North Yellowstone Highway is hosting a free movie nighttime connected Saturday. Take a look down nan scenes successful nan video above. | Rett Nelson, EastIdahoNews.com

IDAHO FALLS – Idaho’s oldest drive-in theatre is holding a free movie nighttime this play to observe nan extremity of nan season.

Motor Vu Drive-in astatine 2095 North Yellowstone Highway successful Idaho Falls will beryllium showing “Jumanji” connected Saturday, Aug. 24. The 1995 movie stars Robin Williams and Bonnie Hunt and will commencement astir 8:45 p.m.

Co-director Jennifer Spalding tells EastIdahoNews.com she’s excited for group to spot Robin Williams connected nan 10th day of his decease connected nan theater’s 4K RGB laser projector.

“We’ve ne'er shown it connected our surface and we thought it would look epic connected our immense screen,” Spalding says.

At much than 6,400-square-feet, nan surface astatine Motor Vu is nan biggest operating outdoor movie surface successful nan country, according to a news release.

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This twelvemonth marks 77 years of cognition for nan locally-owned theater. It dates backmost to 1947 and nan original owners were Hugo Jorgensen and J.H. Moran, an aged news clipping from nan Rigby Star reported.

Vintage photograph of Motor Vu Drive-in taken from its website

Spalding says nan first movie ever shown astatine Motor Vu was “The Homestretch,” a drama starring Maureen O’Hara.

Ticket prices astatine nan clip were 50 cents for adults and 9 cents for children.

The theatre has changed hands galore times complete nan years. Ryan and Linda Rumsey bought it successful 2019 aft it had sat vacant for 11 years. The erstwhile owner, Marcia Leonard, closed nan business successful 2008 because she couldn’t spend to upgrade from 35 mm movie to a integer projector.

The Rumseys ain a furnishings shop correct adjacent doorway and person been progressive successful nan classical car segment for years. They had their first day astatine a drive-in theater, Spalding says, and had fond memories of nan Motor Vu.

“Because they person this heavy emotion of nostalgia and because nan onshore is adjacent and they person truthful galore awesome memories of nan Motor Vu, they decided to acquisition (Motor Vu),” says Spalding.

Ryan and Linda Rumsey airs for a photograph adjacent to 1 of their classical cars astatine Motor Vu Drive-in. | Rett Nelson, EastIdahoNews.com

The Rumseys person revitalized nan spot complete nan past 5 years, including buying a caller 4K laser projector successful 2021.

Local precocious schools utilized nan abstraction for graduations during nan pandemic successful 2020 and it’s earned a batch of support from nan organization since then.

In an property erstwhile galore drive-in theaters are permanently closing — Teton Vu successful Rexburg is hosting its last movie screening Saturday — nan Rumseys are grateful for nan overwhelming support for nan Motor Vu.

RELATED | Rexburg drive-in permanently closing aft 75 years. Here’s what’s happening pinch nan property

“It is simply a occurrence drive-ins are still astir astatine all. It is acknowledgment to nan Idaho Falls organization that we are still standing! They person supported nan Motor Vu, shouted america on, and showed up!” Linda says successful a news release.

They’re readying to return successful 2025 pinch further options for concessions.

Gates for Saturday’s free movie nighttime will unfastened astatine 7 p.m. There is simply a costs for concessions and location will beryllium trivia contests and prizes for nan winners. Bounce houses, look coating and different activities will beryllium disposable arsenic well.

The arena is jungle themed and Motor Vu unit are encouraging those who be to dress up successful thing jungle-related.

“We are grateful to everyone successful Idaho Falls who person been champions of nan Motor Vu!” theatre co-director Brett Harris says. “We wanted to clasp a community-wide arena that celebrates our agelong history successful this municipality we love. We dream group will bask our last movie of nan season.”

TAKE A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES IN THE VIDEO ABOVE.