Brownsville Drive-in has been a community staple since 1949.
Uniontown, PA - Once prevalent across the U.S., drive-in theaters are now a rarity, with only about 300 remaining in operation nationwide. Fayette County is fortunate enough to have two, and one of those is marking a big milestone.
Brownsville Drive-In is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
“It opened in 1949,” manager Charlie Perkins said. “We’ll mark the 75th anniversary here in April.”
Perkins said John “Preach” Sebeck and Tom Clark purchased the theater back in 1969. Clark passed away in 2011, but Sebeck still owns the drive-in.
“He runs it. He works the box office every night,” Perkins said.
Though the official anniversary isn’t until April, the theater will open for the season this weekend, with a special event on Saturday evening.
“This Saturday, we’ll have Steel City Ghostbusters for a meet and greet since we’re featuring the movie,” Perkins said.
Steel City Ghostbusters is a Pittsburgh-based fan group that travels to events throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. From 6 to 7:30 p.m., Ghostbusters enthusiasts can get their photos taken with members of the group, who will be dressed as characters from the movie franchise.
Perkins said the drive-in will also host several wrestling shows throughout the summer, and other special events are in the works, though most are still being finalized.
For opening weekend, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is the first of a doubleheader on Screen 1 of the three-screen drive-in. It will be followed by Marvel Studios’ Madame Web. Screen 2 will show Kung Fu Panda 4 and Migration, and Screen 3 will feature Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and Wonka.
“It always is (family-friendly), just as long as we can get them,” Perkins said of the theater’s offerings. “We try to get everything that comes out brand-new.”
He said family movies bring out more people. Attendance hasn’t been a problem for Brownsville Drive-In, even weathering a rough patch about 10 years ago when many drive-ins were closing.
A lot of (times), you weren’t able to get the films anymore, unless you bought a new projector,” Perkins said, noting many drive-ins were unable to afford the significant expense.
Brownsville, however, invested in the new projectors and now also gets movies on hard drive.
Perkins said the drive-in will be open Friday through Sunday until summer, with the exception of this weekend, when it will close Sunday for Easter. Once summer arrives, the drive-in will be open Friday through Tuesday.
The box office opens at 6 p.m., and movies begin at dusk. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 4 to 9. Kids 3 and younger are admitted free. The drive-in is cash only.
There is also a snack bar, which Perkins manages. He has worked at the theater for 38 years, since he was a teen, and said Sebeck once owned the nearby diner as well. The diner was sold last year to Perkins’ cousin, who is also the drive-in’s projectionist.
Perkins said he still enjoys his work.
“I love the job,” he said. “We had the diner, too, but the drive-in has always been dear to my heart.”
Brownsville Drive-In is located at 6229 National Pike, Grindstone. For more information, call 724-785-7190 or visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/brownsvilledrivein.
To learn more about Fayette County, visit www.fayettecountypa.org.
Editor's Note: Photo attached (Brownsville Drive-In Sign)
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This communication, among other initiatives, is funded through the 2016 Fayette County Local Share Account (LSA) in cooperation with the Fayette County Board of Commissioners, Fayette Chamber of Commerce, The Redevelopment Authority of the County of Fayette, The Redstone Foundation and other partners. This funding has been designated for the continued promotion and marketing of Fayette County, PA.
For more information, contact Kristi Kassimer Harper, Public Relations Specialist, at 724-437-4571, kkassimer@fayettecountypa.info or Jamie Rankin, Journalist, at 724-437 4571, jamierankin13@gmail.com.
