Shining Stars - Canada's Drive-In Movie Theatres

Journal - Cambridge, Nova Scotia & Brackley Beach, PEI

Cambridge, Nova Scotia



We were warmly greeted by Kirk Longmire of the Valley Drive-In. The story of this property dates back to the 1950s, but we were interested with the story that began approximately three years ago.

The drive-in sat idle for a number of summers until the local Lions Club chapter decided that they would like to lease the property as part of their fund-raising efforts for charity. It was the chapter's most ambitious fund-raising effort and it has been paying off since. All the profits from the theatre are placed in the chapter's charitable pool of funds to donate to local charities.

Kirk is the chair of the Lions Club committee that overseas the running of the drive-in. Kirk and all of the property's managers who are also Lions Club members happily volunteer their time to make sure their movie goers get a first class show.


Brackley Beach, PEI










We met Bob Boyle of the Brackley Drive-In Theatre. Bob is a consummate showman and drive-in enthusiast. Whether it's the restored vintage cars parked under the screen, a snack bar full of glowing neon or rock 'n roll music drifting out of the speakers allowing children to dance on a platform, this property pays homage to drive-ins past while providing great entertainment for today's families.

The Boyle family first got involved in the drive-in business in the early 1990s. Bob's dad decided that he wanted to renovate and restore an abandoned drive-in property. Everyone told him that it would be like "trying to get an elephant to fly." They spent a year landscaping, fixing up the screen and installing new projection equipment before they opened.

Now running for over ten years, the crowds made up of locals and tourists keep coming. When in Brackley Beach, be sure to visit the drive-in and be sure to watch for flying elephants.


Introducing Camera Operator Michael Strange



Mike Strange has been video taping people, places and things for over 25 years. He joined the production because of his love of movie history and drive-ins. "This is a great project; it was about time that somebody recorded the story of our drive-ins," explains Mike.

Mike was eager to capture the beauty of the properties with their brilliant neon lights, monolithic screens and natural surroundings. Whether it was the red clay of PEI or the swaying corn crops around Ontario's properties, Mike wanted to show the unique landscape that makes up our drive-ins and our country.

This expert camera operator has shot electronic press kits, television interviews, news, independent features and broadcast shorts.

Our journey continues in… Manitoba.