Barbara Faulkner, the general manager at the Moonlite Theatre, counts the evening receipts inside the ticket booth. She said that the Moonlite drive-in, built in 1948, has survived the advent of television, video, the DVD, and even the construction of the interstate highway that put it off the beaten path.
But what has her worried these days is the recession. “People are hurting because there are no jobs and gas prices are high. Going to the movies is a luxury, so in turn we are cutting it real close,” she says. “We have damage to our sign and screen from the last bad storm but right now there’s no money for repairs.”
She explains that the theater makes almost no money from ticket sales. The concession stand accounts for their small profit. “We don’t show ‘R’-rated movies because we need families to come here. It’s the young kids who want the candy. If they aren’t allowed in, we make much less. Half of the staff is volunteers because they love it here. Gosh, if we had to pay everybody, we’d be dark by now.”
So, let me see if I'm getting this right--
Those of us who are struggling, out here--all Along Recession Road--are denied the opportunity to read the article about us because we can't afford to do anything that is Not Free!
Talk about getting one's nose rubbed in it---Thanks. NO, REALLY, thank you.
It's insanity like THIS that keeps me going. By the way, I am a worn-out RN, 67 year-old Black & White(Jamaican/Scot heritage)Muslim Woman, living on the edge by bartering my services for a song, a smile,food & appreciation, which keeps me alive and sane in this mental institution called USA.
#1 Posted by DrDonna Crichton Harmony, RN, CJR on Wed 5 Oct 2011 at 03:28 PM
Just because there's been a trend toward believing that information is free, doesn't make it true. CJR, its writers and editors, needs to pay for the quality reporting somehow (as do other quality publications). Decide if it's worth your hard-earned money or not, but don't berate them for trying to keep it going.
#2 Posted by David , CJR on Tue 25 Oct 2011 at 04:44 PM
I was touched by Mr. Perrini's comments about profiting off of others' misery, but I do not in any way see that that is what he is doing. He is performing a valuable service. He is not to blame for the vacant houses-- the banks are. Sad comment that we see more remorse from this individual than any of the actors that brought our economy to its knees.
We should be thankful for those like Mr. Perrini that are maintaining these houses that would otherwise fall into decrepitude. I'm sure those that live in the neighborhoods where he works are.
#3 Posted by Kat, CJR on Tue 8 Nov 2011 at 01:56 PM