Photos by Patrick Olivero
HOLMDEL – Last weekend saw the first installments of the new Bell Works Drive-In Movie Theater when a 65-foot screen went up in Lot 3 of the Holmdel business park.
Part of Cinema Pop-Ups, a drive-in theater concept which creates a safe outdoor theater experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, the events include classic films, concert films and recent blockbusters, from family-friendly movies to those suitable for adults.
Hundreds of cars piled into the parking lot Sunday, July 26 for the 1996 animated family film “Space Jam.” Couples on date night snuggled in the backs of pick-up trucks, families tailgated and some even took to car roofs to watch the show as the brilliant sunset faded.
While attendees appreciated the nostalgia, unlike traditional drive-ins from the 1970s, there’s no hanging of clunky speakers on car windows. Audio for the movies is streamed through an app with free direct Wi-Fi connection or through the car’s FM radio receiver. Gates open 90 minutes prior to the 8:30 p.m. showtime and tickets $25 per vehicle can be purchased online at bellworks.com/events.
Some of Bell Works restaurant tenants are providing special menus during the drive-in. The food can be picked up using the building’s main Crawford Corner entrance.
Upcoming shows include “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” Thursday, July 30; “Palm Springs” Friday, July 31; “The Wizard of Oz” Saturday, Aug. 1; and “Shazam” Sunday, Aug. 2.
The article originally appeared in the July 30 – August 5, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
