The Spud Drive-In Theater is a
drive-in theater
A drive-in theater or drive-in cinema is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor movie screen, a projection booth, a concession stand, and a large parking area for automobiles. Within this enclosed area, customers can view movi ...
between
Victor
The name Victor or Viktor may refer to:
* Victor (name), including a list of people with the given name, mononym, or surname
Arts and entertainment
Film
* ''Victor'' (1951 film), a French drama film
* ''Victor'' (1993 film), a French shor ...
and
Driggs, Idaho
Driggs is a city in the western United States in eastern Idaho, and is the county seat of Teton County. Part of the Jackson, WY-ID Micropolitan Statistical Area, it is located in Teton Valley, the headwaters of the Teton River. The populatio ...
.
Background
Located in a potato-farming region, the theater's entrance sign features a giant potato on the back of a 1946 Chevrolet flat-bed truck. The drive-in was built by Ace Wood in 1953. The theatre has also hosted concerts, including a 2010 concert by the band
Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Duane Trucks, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and g ...
. Financial difficulties in 2011 threatened to close the drive-in, but arrangements were made to continue its operation.
On the evening of April 4, 2022, the original screen structure was destroyed in a windstorm. Manager Katie Mumm said that it would be rebuilt in the same colors as the original structure and that they will probably need to replace the screen.
In August 2023, MD Nursery purchased the Spud. MD Nursery owns the surrounding land and operates a commercial landscaping company. The new owners plan to keep the theater in operation.
SpudFest Family Film and Music Festival 2004-2008
Spud Drive-In Theater was the home base for the film screenings, music performances and parties of The
SpudFest The SpudFest Family Film and Music Festival was an annual film festival which was established in Driggs, Idaho, U.S.A. in the summer of 2004 by Dawn Wells, the original Mary Ann from '' Gilligan's Island''. It was founded as a natural outgrowth ...
Family Film and Music Festival, which was an annual
film festival
A film festival is an organized, extended presentation of films in one or more cinemas or screening venues, usually in a single city or region. Increasingly, film festivals show some films outdoors. Films may be of recent date and, depending upo ...
from 2004 to 2008. It was established in the summer of 2004 by
Dawn Wells, the original
Mary Ann from ''
Gilligan's Island'' and founded as a natural outgrowth of the Idaho Film and Television Institute and Film Actors Boot Camp.
SpudFest was discontinued in 2008.
See also
*
List of drive-in theaters
This is a list of drive-in theaters. A drive-in theater is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor movie screen, a projection booth, a concession stand, and a large parking area for automobiles. Within this enclosed area, custo ...
References
External links
Website
Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in Idaho
Buildings and structures in Teton County, Idaho
Drive-in theaters in the United States
Theatres completed in 1953
Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Idaho
National Register of Historic Places in Teton County, Idaho
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