It wasn’t the Elvis impersonator at our daughter’s 1st birthday, my potty training methods, the imaginary monster extermination ideas, my obsession with KFC/Spice Girls/Golden Girls/Circus Midgets/Real Estate Agent Pictures/Lionel Richie’s Mustache, or 98% of the weird stuff I've done and then write about.
Nope, none of that!
It was the 12-foot inflatable screen I got to play classic 80’s/70’s drive-in movies in the backyard for my daughter, friends, neighbors, and family.
(so awesome…)About a month ago I came across a website which showcases crazed parents (primarily dads) that have created all kinds of cool drive-in theater setups in their backyards. These guys have huge screens, fancy projectors, nice sound systems, and even edit their own old classic drive-in intermission bumpers and cartoons. Amazing.
I don’t think I ever wanted anything this bad. Ever.
OK, except maybe ‘the Omnibot’ when I was 8.
Anyhow, it arrived on Friday just a day after scoring a great deal on a really nice projector (Sharp XR-32S – which works beautifully with my Macbook Pro.)
Now I have plans to do backyard showings of “Star Wars”, “E.T.”, “The Muppet Movie”, “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, “The Dark Crystal”, “Back to the Future”, “Gremlins”, “Ghostbusters”, “The Goonies”, “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure”, “PS3 Guitar Hero Playoffs” and all other kinds of cool classic drive-in movies.
While the 3 of us were watching Pixar’s Cars, holding my daughter with the biggest smile ever, my wife turns to me with enthusiasm and said, “We should totally watch Xanadu!”
I think my wife is crazy.
O... M... G.. !
ReplyDeleteHurry home, husband, hurry home - i've got this website to show you !
We jist gotta git us one o dem !!
( but Xanadu ? ... err, that's a bit NO in anyone's language )
bit = 'big'
ReplyDeleteduh.
You're wife doesn't think you're crazy, she's right there with you! I giggled when I read her comment cause I would've come up with the same thing.
ReplyDeleteSo where's my invite? I'll bring the KFC.
Xanadu?
ReplyDeleteAnd you're the crazy one?
Seriously though, that thing is huge. What kind of blower (power wise) does it take to maintain it for the movie? (Also: doesn't it get really loud? I ask because we have a Little Tikes inflatable "jumping castle" that is quite noisy while the blower fan is running.)
How can you NOT watch Xanadu on your huge inflatable drive-in movie screen? I mean, come on. Rollerskates! And that guy is dreamy in a sort of nightmarish kindof way.
ReplyDeleteOfficial. You guys are nuts.
Xanadu on the big screen? BRILLIANT!!
ReplyDeleteI wanna live in your neighborhood.
Dude, you're awesome. If I had a backyard big enough I'd buy one too. Luckily our neighborhood park does that on weekends.
ReplyDeleteThis is SO COOL! If I weren't so cheap, I'd do this myself. Maybe I can just come hang at your house.
ReplyDeleteDear sweet lord in heaven, are there any houses for sale in your neighborhood? Because I want to move there and become super neighbor friends with you! Dude...I'll bring the Blazing Saddles, the Young Frankenstein, the John Hughes collection of perfection...
ReplyDeleteOMG, I just recently put several songs from the Xanadu soundtrack on my iPod...I completely remember going to see it in the theater, who I was with, what our hair was like, what the tickettaker said to us (which was, "You look like Xanadu people," and I'm sure not meant as a compliment, lol.)
ReplyDeleteMight I suggest "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo" as a future backyard feature? And/or "Grease 2" (...What's the story, Steph?")?
Ack, sorry, typed the address in the wrong place above...didn't mean to be all "Look at Me!"
ReplyDeleteOMG!! I need a ticket back home ASAP! Dude, you're my new hero!
ReplyDeleteYou HAVE to show Grease too! Truly awesome.
:)
Oooo, Xanadu! Love that one. Gotta love the duet with Gene Kelly. Olivia was great back in the day...
ReplyDeleteI wish I was your neighbor. That backyard theater is a great idea :) Once I saw someone projecting the Ohio State Buckeye game on their garage door. Totally NOT as cool as Xanadu.
You do realize that, by law, you are not allowed to charge your friends and neighbors admission to view these movies?
ReplyDeleteBut hey, nobody's stopping you from charging them $20 for a tub of popcorn!
Cha-ching!
Um... yeah. You KNEW she would be okay with it if Xanadu were shown.
ReplyDeleteWe'll be invited, right? I can hang from a trapeze or something like that chick at the very end who is spinning around, hanging by her neck, and wearing roller skates. I'll also wear shot shorts. Promise.
O. M. G. That is so fucking awesome. If only I lived in your 'hood. Or more to the point, if only I did have a TREE in the exact MIDDLE of my backyard... sigh.
ReplyDeleteRick Andreoli --Yeah, she pretty much said Steve/Rick/Vodka/Xanadu.
ReplyDeleteAnd I think our homeowners insurance says something about shot shorts.
steph -- Xanadu people! That's hilarious.
And YES to the "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo"
for a different kind of girl -- I like those recommendations.
Chag -- Just sell one of the kids, that's what I did.
iVegasFamily (Jason) -- I wish my park did that; it would definitely be cheaper.
Jenster -- I think the real estate agents are going to start using that as a selling point.
"Within view of outdoor backyard movie theater, playing sleeper hits such as Xanadu and Labyrinth"
SciFi Dad -- It has two base blowers that are propped up by 6-inch retractable legs. It's not too loud. when the movie is on you can't really hear it.
But then again, we were blasting the sound since there's a main street near us.
i want to hang out in your backyard!
ReplyDeleteWow. You are living my daddy dream. Do you have any crabby neighbors who fight you? Man. Someday, someday.
ReplyDeleteWow what luxury to have your own drive-in theater
ReplyDeleteA Bugs Life is the greatest Pixar movie ever. Don't even argue with me because you will be wrong. It is totally underrated. Perfection.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have never seen Xanadu. I am so uncool.
OK, I admit, I would have rolled my eyes if I hadn't seen the picture... but that is fricking cool!
ReplyDeleteThat is fantastic. I want one. Now.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know there isn't a single drive in movie theatre type thing in the entire of the UK. The weather I'm guessing.
I will arrive by way of trunk, just like the "olden days"!
ReplyDeleteI think I luv your wife.
ReplyDeleteXanadu is a roller skating dream come true!
I'm so not a Xanadu girl but The Goonies on the big screen...*sigh*! I think good a Christmas choice would be Santa Claus Conquers the Martians...how great would it be to see that on a big screen!
ReplyDeleteOMG OMG OMG You're not that far from me!
ReplyDeleteCan you see that thing from space?
Just imagine that 80's hair on a 12 foot screen!!! SWEEEEET!!! That is one cheese-tastic movie.
ReplyDeleteYou think your wife is crazy....dude, take a look in the mirror! I thought I was nuts for collecting old LaserDiscs....but you are over the top, even by my standards.
ReplyDeleteThat rules. I've seen people use the side of the house or garage to project movies onto also.
ReplyDeleteYou just made my Xmas list.
That is the coolest thing ever!
ReplyDeleteOur son just found out that he can play Pac-Man on the DVD in our van.
Playing Guitar Hero in the back yard would make him explode.
Adrienne -- Yes. And Iowa too.
ReplyDeleteSasparilla Sue -- I've never heard of that movie, but after looking it up I'll definitely have to check it out.
April -- My daughter watches that movie weekly, just to yell at the Grasshoppers.
lotus07 -- LaserDiscs?! Yes, you are nuts.
I have a feeling Mr. Octopus is gonna want one of these!
ReplyDeletep.s. I just posted pics!
Holy kraut! That's cool!!
ReplyDeleteI want to live with you I think. That is awesome! I will cook the brownies, I promise.
ReplyDeleteHey thanks to you (or your wife), the kids got initiated to "Xanadu" tonight. It was awesome. ;)
ReplyDeleteFollowed by "Ice Castles," but I really wanted "Sgt Pepper's"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEwZ68vWYQo
Steph
Ohhhh with a screen that big, wouldn't it be nice to send your daughter to a care center while the two of you watch something else (ahem, I don't need to say the titles out loud, do I?)? Maybe all of your neighbors can see the shows too.
ReplyDeleteThen everyone will be merry and make more babies!
I absolutely LOVE this idea! What is better on a summer night than a movie outdoors?
ReplyDeleteWe actually went to a birthday party a couple of years ago where they had an ocean theme and showed "Finding Nemo" on a big screen (okay, it was a white sheet) outside. My kids STILL talk about it to this day. VERY COOL!
Absolutely incredibly cool! You need to show some Elvis flicks...or at least Grease.
ReplyDeleteWe see this on The Price is Right all the time (they give them away) and think we need it.
ReplyDeletesari -- Wow, I'm surprised. I thought they only gave away Piano's, Cruises, and Hyundai's
ReplyDeleteThe Real Mother Hen -- I don't think the neighbors would appreciate a large version of "Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding" for all to see.
My first visit to your blog - looks great!
ReplyDeleteTo tell hubby about this site or not??? That is the question!!
I loved that movie when I saw it. Ok, I was 8 at the time, but I remember LOVING it. I watched that whole video clip, with not a thing about it ringing any bells, other than that it starred Olivia Newton-John.
ReplyDeleteOMG, if only, if only...
ReplyDeleteI think I'll be having dreams of hosting a drive-in in our backyard now, thank-you-very-much.
But definitely NOT of Xanadu. *shiver*
BTW, I added you to my blogroll!
Very cool my husband wants one of those to. He got a projector and as of now he shows his movies on the wall in the living room.
ReplyDeleteDude. I didn't even know they made those things.
ReplyDeleteI'm so buying one for my husband. I'm gonna win wife of the year award now.
Heh.
I'd kiss you. But I'm a married woman.
How do you inflate those puppies?
ReplyDeleteIf my husband saw this he'd be asking you for your address and an invite---
LARGE MARGE THERE IS NO ALAMO! :)
Just came across your blog...am VERY impressed!
ReplyDeletethose people who dissed Xanadu need to fuck off.
ReplyDeleteELO and ONJ together?
genius.
dude you are awesome.
ReplyDeleteOh man Tony! Can I move next to you! I promise to bring a bucket of KFC to the movies!! Man, you're so cool!
ReplyDeleteWe have been trying to take the kids to the drive-in movies for the whole summer (there's only 1 left in Mass) but we haven't gotten around to it.