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Hometownj
Heroes,
When the big screen at Hull’s
Drive-in remained dark in the summer of 1999,
moviegoers were disappointed. After all, Hull's had been
showing films off Route 11 north of Lexington, Va. (pop.
6,867), for more than 40 years.
"It was disheartening," recalls Sam Newcomer,
51, a longtime fan of the drive-in theater. "I'm very
nostalgic and this was something I could relate to my
childhood—happy times. No matter what was going
on, I felt I could come to Hull’s and slow down.”
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Members of Hull’s Angels saved and purchased America’s only community-owned drive-in theater in Lexington, Va.
The fate of the theater—
owned and operated by Sebert
Hull and his wife, EfFie, for four
decades—became uncertain when
Hull died before the drive-in
opened for its 1998 season. At
first, locals were encouraged when
Effie sold the business to W.D.
Goad whose auto body shop is
adjacent to the drive-in. Goad
kept the drive-in going that
summer, but the following year,
the cost of needed technical
upgrades prompted him to close
the theater and look for a buyer
who would run the business
in the family-friendly wav of
Sebert Hull.
Enter Eric and Elise Sheffield.
The Sheffields moved to Lexing
ton in 1993 and Hulls, Elise says,
“was our weekend date." In their
30s, the Sheffields had a new baby
and Eric had started a woodwork
ing business. The drive-in, with
its $4-a-person, double-feature
tickets (children under 12 free),
was affordable entertainment.
In June 1999, the couple orga
nized a meeting to see what could
be done to keep the theater open.
More than 50 people—from all
walks of life—attended. Sharing a
- fondness for Mr. Hull and a love of
The silver screen at HulTs Drive-in has attracted moviegoers since the 19505.
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Photos l> | I Wilier
-
the outdoor theater, they formed
a non-profit organization called
Hull’s Angels and re-opened the
theater on July 7, 2000.
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at www.americanprofUe.com
At first, the group leased the
theater from Goad. But after
two years of fund-raising, Hull's
Angels—today composed of 700
dues-paying members—amassed
$75,000 to renovate and purchase
America’s only community-owned
drive-in theater. With an annual
budget of $175,0CX), the drive-in
pays the bills primarily through
ticket and concession sales, but
also raises money with $5 mem
berships, raffles, and the sale of
T-shirts and hats.
“Mr. Hull had quite a follow
ing," says Eric, who along with
Elise are members of the elected
board that administers the drive
in. “He was very down-home.”
Preserving that spirit is impor
tant. Though tickets were raised
to $5, concession prices remain
low with 75-cent popcorn and
75-cent sno-cones. On an aver
age weekend, the theater sell S(X)