Summerfest Drive-In Movie & 60’s Day

Written by admin on 08 July 2010

Summerfest Turns back the clock to the 1960’s and drive-in Theatre fun!

From a distance it is difficult to appreciate just how many vehicles are actually in attendance but you do get an idea of the size of the giant screen.

MARATHON, ON – Tuesday, July 6th Summerfest organizer Andre Paris and Marathon A & W Owner Lori Martineau partnered to give turn back the clock for a 60’s theme day like no other!

Throughout the day the staff of the A&W were decked out in 60’s garb while many classic cars came through both to support the event and in anticipation of the MAIN SHOW ‘N SHINE behind held this Saturday, July 10th from noon – 5pm…

The day’s main attraction however did not commence until much later, as organizers of the Drive-in movie had to wait for the sun to go down on the Marathon Centre Mall Parking Lot before cueing the feature film “How to train a dragon”. In excess of 180 vehicles gathered in the mall parking lot and A&W parking lot some filled with passengers, some using it as a couple’s romantic night out, for the first showing. The 2nd film began around 11:45 and had a similarly successful turnout.

Lft - Rght: Gail Campbell, Stephanie St. Amand and the Queen A&W in Northern Ontario herself, Lori Martineau, the ladies were having a great time playing up the theme day and customers seemed to be loving everyminute of it, I heard many commenting as the left the buildling regarding how much they enjoyed it and whished it could happen again!

Why 60’s you might ask? Well, Lori Martineau doesn’t just ‘own’ the A&W in Marathon, it’s in her blood. She started as a hopper (delivery persons on roller skates who would take and deliver orders from carside before modern drive-throughs did a way with this unique A&W experience) at the Sault Ste. Marie A&W she now owns, at 14 years old “It was my first real job and I loved it!” said Martineau who would continue in this position for all of her high school years until Graduating in Grade 13 when she decided to focus on post-secondary education.

Later, she would spend nearly 30 years as manager of the Marathon Centre Mall, where she also managed Marks Works Warehouse and later Bushwacker. She has just, last week, retired from these positions but seems to have no intent on slowing down. Her love for the A&W Franchise experience has seen her purchase an A&W restaurant in Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, and of course Marathon.

I did ask Martineau if there was any chance of another ‘Drive-in Movie Night’ occuring in the summer of 2010, though she could make no promises, she did seem very open to the idea, especially in light of the overwhelming success of Tuesday’s Shows.

The Marathon Gymnastics Club once again had a booth offering a wide variety of snacks and resfreshments for movie gowers to enjoy throughout the night, a fundraiser for their organization, it was nice to see that many took advantage of having them on the premices to make the experience that much more authentic.

What about the movie gowers? As I was leaving I came across a father with 2 of his own young children in tow (5 & 8) and one of their friends (9?) and ask ed them of the experience, they had opted to stretch a blanket on the hill overlooking the parking lot (others set up launchairs on the pavement, in the backs of pickups, opened up their campers or watched from a more traditional point of of view, the front or back seat of their vehicles), the children had never been to a drive-in movie before and were clearly thrilled with the experience, the group agreed unanimously that they would be back should their be a similar event held during the summer, nearly speechless “It was awesome” one of the boys told me – indeed “AWESOME” . This seems to be a constant throughout the summerfest events!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ORGANIZERS AND VOLUNTEERS OF THE MARATHON SUMMERFEST DRIVE-IN MOVIE FOR HAVING PUT TOGETHER SUCH A MEMORABLE EVENT!

: Lft – Rght: Gail Campbell, Stephanie St. Amand and the Queen A&W in Northern Ontario herself, Lori Martineau, the ladies were having a great time playing up the theme day and customers seemed to be loving everyminute of it, I heard many commenting as the left the buildling regarding how much they enjoyed it and whished it could happen again!

: From a distance it is difficult to appreciate just how many vehicles are actually in attendance but you do get an idea of the size of the giant screen.