Holiday Auto Theatre is bringing Americana and fun to Butler County.
If you’ve driven past Holiday Auto Theatre, it’s easy to remember its iconic look: drive-in theatres aren’t common any more, and this one always looks vibrant during their open season, with large murals depicting that week’s new movies and lots of vintage, retro signs and design.
While Holiday Auto Theatre has been a drive-in in theatre since 1948, when it was called the Hamilton Outdoor Theatre, its current style is the work of Todd Chancey and Mark Althoetmar, friends and co-workers whose passion for Americana and experience working at Disney World and Disneyland brought them to this new venture.
“We are part of a roller coaster club, American Coaster Enthusiasts, or A.C.E., and we were at an event in Cedar Point in 2005 or 2006, and the old Sandusky drive-in was for sale,” says Todd Chancey, co-owner of Holiday Auto Theatre. “We thought about it seriously, and then spent about six months researching different drive-ins, buying the Holiday Auto Theatre in 2007.”
Both owners brought their experiences working at the magical theme parks to the operation of the theatre.
“With our extensive Disney background, we knew how to interface with the city, take care of guests, look out for safety, and ensure great picture and great audio,” says Chancey. “It’s a great alternative to an indoor theatre, since families can arrive early, tailgate, and then sometimes get two or even three movies for less than the price of one.”
2020 brought an unusual season for the drive-in: with movie releases and indoor movie theatres shut down for a time, licenses for old-favorite movies became more affordable, and locals in Butler County wanted a way to get out and do something fun without risking spending time with a big indoor crowd. As a result, 2020 was the best year for the drive-in, with some completely sold out showings.
The revenue from that year has helped them to make improvements, adding a patio, making the concession stand easier to run with fast service, and even repainting their screen so that movies will be even brighter on it.
They are well-known for having special events like a Harry Potter movie marathon, in addition to their mainstay new-release films, with their hallmark being their Halloween event.
“Our Terror at the Drive-In event typically sells out,” says Chancey. “We theme the whole drive-in, and dress like characters. Everything is a product of our imaginations, decking out the areas with moving caskets and sound effects and lighting. It’s all the creative stuff we love to do.”
Chancey’s background in attractions management and Althoetmar’s background in guest services at the Disney resorts combined well to help them both create a fun environment for a movie theatre as well as run the logistics smoothly and keep guests coming back time after time.
They’re excited for the ramp-up of new movies after leaner years in 2020 and 2021, and because they are passionate about running the theatre, they’re always working to help guests have a great time.
Keep an eye on the Holiday Auto Theatre Facebook page and their website, Holidayautotheatre.com, to see what’s playing each week and purchase tickets in advance. They reopen on April 8th, 2022, so there’s never been a better time to get out to the drive-in.