By SHAWN YORKS, Guymon Daily Herald
June 10th, 2008


When the Corral drive-in theater on Hwy. 54 showed its last movie in 1985, a little bit of small-town Americana died with it. But thanks to Eric and Alka Lammes, the projector will roll once again later this summer when they reopen the Corral drive-in.

"The game plan is to open in late August," Eric Lammes said, "with a carload special for $15 and just a single feature, just to get the kinks worked out."

When the theater reopens in the spring it will feature classic cars scattered around the property with bench seats in the back for children to sit or play on, as well as two or three inflatable jumping balloons, and a $7 double feature. Signage along the highway will announce drivers are approaching the theater — sort of like the old Burma Shave signs along Route 66. The main sign along the highway will have a 1932 Roadster with a neon arrow coming out of the car.

So why did Lammes want to bring the Corral back to life? "It's just my thing," he said. "I like keeping Americana around, and since this is right here in our backyard, I think it's kind of important."

The concession area will feature a birthday party room, and the concession stand will serve pizza, popcorn, nachos and soda."With the birthday party room, we'll have the jumping balloons, and we're going to serve fresh pizza," Lammes said. "We'll have birthday parties during the day, so the kids will have a place to reserve for birthday parties, and along with the jumping balloons it'll be a pretty good time."
All the movies will be second-run so "We won't have to be head-to-head with Mitchell for first-run (movies)," Lammes said.

Lammes and Brian Chadick of Custom Comfort were hard at work yesterday afternoon building what will eventually be the concession area and projection room. "We're going to do a walk-up window," Lammes said. "You'll be able to walk up and still see the movie, and we'll put speakers here so you can hear it so you're not missing out while you're waiting for your popcorn."

The theater was built in the late 1950s, and will now be something a whole new generation can enjoy.