For the last eight years, Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-In has been a fixture in Austin’s cinema scene. Now the two-screen outdoor theatre has been the subject of a robbery, and needs Austin’s help to keep the projectors rolling.
On Dec. 28 (in the middle of the holiday season, no less), thieves stole $4,000 worth of generators from the drive-in’s current location near Mueller – a potentially devastating blow. Staff discovered the loss the next morning and are currently reviewing security footage. However, they still managed to mount the last screenings of 2018. In a Facebook post, management wrote that “we are not sure how we will be able to recover from this pricy burglary but we will persevere.”
As they look to move on, there are ways that the local community can lend a hand. First, tickets are currently on sale for all Blue Starlite screenings, including the Harry Potter Drive-In Festival, starting tonight and running through February. However, there is also a donation page, where Austinites and film lovers everywhere can donate between $10 and $100 to help buy replacements.
This article appears in December 28 • 2018.