Personally, nothing makes the movie experience more perfect
than smelling the unmistakable, mouth-watering aroma of fresh, hot buttered
popcorn. For my latest Dells Bucket List adventure, I got to relive one of my
first jobs by having the opportunity to once again make the classic, movie
watching snack.
Big Sky Drive-In is one of only ten drive-in movie theaters
in the state of Wisconsin. Located just east of downtown Wisconsin Dells, Big
Sky offers double features of first run movies nightly, May through September.
Recently, I got to spend time with owner Mary Bork, who for the past
thirty-three years has helped bring the outdoor, under the stars movie
experience to tourists and area residents alike.
Born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Mary has worked in movie
theaters for most of her life. Having jobs in the indoor theaters her parents
owned in Arcadia and Neillsville while growing up, they later went into the
outdoor movie business after buying what used to be called the Winnebago
Drive-In in 1980, changing the name to Dells Drive-In. In 1984, after
installing the second screen, they changed the name yet again to what is known
today as Big Sky Drive-In.
Nestled in-between woods and farmland on thirty acres a mile
outside of town, Mary told me that Big Sky can hold up to two-hundred and fifty
vehicles. Having phased out the old standalone speakers, you can listen to the
movie’s soundtrack either through your auto’s FM stereo, or rent one of their
radios from the concession stand.
Big Sky recently underwent a major conversion from film to
digital projection. While there is a program to help finance drive-ins with the
transition, Mary told me she decided to shoulder the big cost on her own: “I’ll
be paying for that for the next twenty years!” That said, she is happy with how
everything has turned out so far: “The picture is a lot better, way clearer and
brighter, so it’s really good.”
While getting a tour of the projection room, which her
family was in the middle of insulating to help protect the new equipment, I
learned I was the first outsider to see the new digital projection set-up. Mary
explained that the digital system streamlined the whole process, doing away
with the weekly hauling up of five or six big reels of film for each movie, to
now just having to plug in an encrypted flash drive about the size of an old
8-track tape.
At dusk, Mary doesn’t have go up to the projection room to
get things started anymore. Having rigged things specifically so she doesn’t
have to go up the stairs, with a simple push of two buttons, one for each
screen, the films now start up by themselves.
After watching Mary demonstrate the new projection process,
we made our way down to the concession area. Decorated with a mix of charming
handmade signs and collectible drive-in artifacts, it creates a nostalgic
atmosphere of years gone by. There is even a working payphone that customers
can still use.
Immediately upon entering, I was hit with the pleasant scent
of popcorn popping, bringing me back to my own days of working at movie
theaters. Not wanting to miss the opportunity to relive some of my old skills,
I offered to try and make a batch. After adding a gallop of coconut oil, I
dumped a large scoop of kernels topped with salt into the rotating kettle. A
few minutes later, hot popcorn spilled out from the machine and all that was
needed was some buttery topping to create the perfect moviegoing snack.
Big Sky Drive-In features two full-sized outdoor screens of
double features, showing first run movies nightly. Bring the kids, bring the
pets, bring the games, and they’ll provide the fun. Also be sure to try one of
the famous Mamaburgers, made from a third-pound of ground chuck steak. For more
information call 608-254-8025 or visit www.bigskydrivein.com
