时代周刊:疫情之下 汽车影院迎来新的生机(2)（在线收听）

Some 300 independent drive-ins operate across the U.S.

全美大约有300家独立的汽车影院。

They typically make most of their money during the summer,

通常，他们的大部分收入都是夏季赚到的，

when students are on break and blockbusters roll in every weekend.

那时学生们都已放假，每个周末都会有大片上线。

But this year's tent-pole films, from Mulan to Wonder Woman 1984, have been repeatedly delayed,

然而，由于AMC、Cinemark等大型连锁室内影院的持续关闭，

thanks to the continued closure of major indoor-theater chains like AMC and Cinemark.

今年的票房支柱，《花木兰》、《神奇女侠1984》等，已经一再推迟上映。

As drive-ins opened for the season,

随着汽车影院复业，

they first turned to throwback classics like E.T. and Jaws, hoping to capitalize on nostalgia.

他们首先推出了《E.T.》、《大白鲨》等经典老电影，希望能将怀旧情绪变现。

Such films have produced mixed results for theaters.

这类电影上映的成效可谓好坏参半。

At the 66 Drive-In, the average number of cars on a given night has dropped from 225 to 120.

就拿66号汽车影院而言，每晚接待的平均汽车数量已经从225辆下降到120辆。

"You can easily sit from the comfort of your couch and watch these films," McDonald says.

“这些电影大家舒舒服服地躺在自家沙发上就能看，”麦克唐纳说。

Instead of waiting for new blockbusters to salvage their businesses,

与其等待新的大片来拯救自己的营业额，

many theater owners have taken advantage of other event-space closures.

许多影院老板都打起了停业的其他活动场所的主意。

"We're trying to substitute those new films for concerts or comedy shows so we can bring in relatively similar revenue,"

“我们在尝试用演唱会或戏剧表演来补新电影的空缺，这样也能赚取和新电影大致相当的收入，”

says Joe Calabro, president of the Circle Drive-In near Scranton, Pa.

宾夕法尼亚州斯克兰顿附近圆圈汽车影院的老板乔·卡拉布罗说。

The stream of a Garth Brooks show, aired at hundreds of drive-ins across the country, sold out.

加思·布鲁克斯的一场演出在全国数百家汽车影院上线后，门票迅速销售一空。

So the Circle turned to local musicians, whose normal gigs have been stripped away.

圆圈汽车影院便将目光转向了正常演出已经被下线的当地音乐人。

Chris Shrive, a singer-songwriter from Old Forge, Pa., opened his band's show from the concession-stand roof.

克里斯·施里夫，来自宾夕法尼亚州老福奇的一名创作歌手，就在圆圈汽车影院放置货摊的屋顶上揭开了乐队演出的序幕。

"To overlook 450 cars; to see people barbecuing on the tailgates of their trucks, laughing, meeting people parked 18 ft. away—it was awe-inspiring," Shrive says.

“看着底下的450辆汽车；看着大家在自家卡车车斗里烧烤，和停在18英尺外的朋友一起有说有笑——会让人特别惊叹，”施里夫说。

"This just might be the new normal."

“这种社交方式说不定还会成为一种新常态。”

Basking in the crowd was Sherry Sakosky, who was seeing her first live concert since the start of the pandemic.

陶醉在人群里的有一位叫雪莉·萨科斯基的姑娘，这是她在疫情以来观看的首次现场表演。

"There's been a lot of built-up frustration and animosity,"

“大家的心里都已经积攒了很多的不爽和敌意，”

says Sakosky, who estimates that some 95% of the concert goers followed proper social-distancing protocols.

萨科斯基说，据她估计，当晚大约95%的观众都合理遵循了保持社交距离的规定。

"To be out amongst friends in a safe manner and to be able to experience the same show with them totally brings the community together."

“能够和朋友一起出来，以一种安全的方式出来，还能和他们一起观看同一场表演真的会让你们的心贴得更近。”

In Kings Mountain, N.C., the Hounds Drive-In has also thrived in its newfound role as a concert venue,

北卡罗来纳州国王山的猎犬汽车影院新开通音乐会场地服务后生意也开始颇为兴隆，

especially because artists pay up front to use the space.

尤其是，艺人们会提前支付场地费。

"They set up everything, we get our money, we get to keep all the concessions," owner Preston Brown says.

“他们会自己安排一切，我们只管收钱，还能保留所有的特许经营，”老板普雷斯顿·布朗说。

"I love it."

“我简直爱得不行了。”