The Spud Drive-In Theater is a
drive-in theater
A drive-in theater/theatre or drive-in cinema is a form of movie theater, 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, c ...
between
Victor 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 popula ...
.
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 (musician), John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Duane Trucks, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJ ...
. 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 of ...
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 movie theater, cinemas or screening venues, usually annually and in a single city or region. Some film festivals show films outdoors or online.
Films may be of recent ...
from 2004 to 2008. It was established in the summer of 2004 by
Dawn Wells
Dawn Elberta Wells (October 18, 1938 – December 30, 2020) was an American actress. She is best known for her role as Mary Ann Summers in the sitcom ''Gilligan's Island''.
Early life
Wells was born to Evelyn (née Steinbrenner) and Joe Wesle ...
, the original
Mary Ann from ''
Gilligan's Island
''Gilligan's Island'' is an American sitcom created and produced by Sherwood Schwartz. The show's ensemble cast features Bob Denver, Alan Hale Jr., Jim Backus, Natalie Schafer, Tina Louise, Russell Johnson, and Dawn Wells. It aired for th ...
'' 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 movie theater, cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor Projection screen, movie screen, a projection booth, a concession stand, and a large parking lot, parking area for ...
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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