VOA慢速英语2014 Will Technology Drive the Drive-In Out of Business?

 

Will Technology Drive the Drive-In Out of Business?

More and more movie theaters around the world are replacing older equipment with modern technology. The new equipment heightens¹ the movie-watchers’ experience. The images are sharper, the sound is clearer.  But what is happening to the less wealthy and much rarer drive-in theaters around the country? We go to the central state of Indiana to find out.

It is Friday and the sun is setting² over LaSalle County³. The sunset signals that it is time for another show at the Route 34 Drive-In. A drive-in is an outdoor theater, where people watch movies while sitting in their cars. Thousands of such theaters existed in America in the middle of last century. 

The Route 34 theater opened in Earlville, Indiana 60 years ago. Its owner, Ronald Magnoni, says now only a few drive-ins are still in operation.

“At one time there were 5,000 drive-ins. Right now there’s about 388 left.”

The popular Route 34 Drive-In appeals to hundreds of moviegoers a week in the summer. The property has about two hectares of space for cars. 

Mr. Magnoni first started working at the drive-in in 1987. In 1994, he bought the business. He says Route 34 has survived a lot in the last 60 years. There have been major repairs.

“That’s the third screen right there behind me. The first one blew down. The second one, half of it blew down when they were running a movie. And I had a tornado⁵ here.  It  almost took mine down again.”

But what a windstorm did not claim, technology might.

The movie magic appearing weekly on Route 34’s huge outdoor screen comes from an old film projector⁶ built in the 1950s. The equipment soon may be unusable as more companies stop providing movies on film. Many movies are now played with digital technology.

Ronald Magnoni says that may be too costly⁷ for him and his business.

“The machine that I need costs $70,000. I don’t have the kind of resources that these big chains have.”

It is a problem many independent theater owners face. The move to digital technology places many of them in difficult positions. It can threaten the design of old buildings and historically important structures. The Patio⁸ Theater in Chicago is an example. Demetri Kouvalis is the owner.

“The Patio Theater is an old school classic⁹ movie palace from a bygone era⁴ where you don’t see many of these theaters left, not only in Chicago but in the whole country.”

The Patio Theater now has a digital film player thanks to donations¹⁰ of $50,000. The change helps ensure the theater’s future.

But drive-in owner Ronald Magnoni does not support digital technology. 

“There’s no flicker¹¹ to it. The people look too good. It doesn’t look like a movie.”

But he knows he will have to accept the new system if he wants to stay in business. Most movie companies plan to stop providing film by next year.  So, Mr. Magnoni has been seeking donations to buy the equipment.  He says he has received about 30 percent of the money he needs.

1 heightens   

（使）变高， （使）增大( heighten的第三人称单数 )； （使）提高； （使）加强[重]

参考例句：

• This only heightens our admiration. 这只能使我们更加敬佩。
• The automation line heightens the effect. 自动线能提高效率。

2 setting   

n.背景

参考例句：

• The play has its setting in Vienna.该剧以维也纳为背景。
• Where and when a story takes place is called the setting.故事发生的地点和时间称为故事背景。

3 county   

n.县，郡

参考例句：

• When the good news reached there,the whole county rejoiced.喜讯传到那里时，全县的人都欢欣鼓舞起来。
• In that year county after county fell to the enemy.那一年一个又一个的县城沦入敌人手中。

4 era   

n.时代，年代，纪元，阶段

参考例句：

• We are living in the information era.我们生活在信息时代。
• We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。

5 tornado   

n.飓风，龙卷风

参考例句：

• A tornado whirled into the town last week.龙卷风上周袭击了这座城市。
• The approaching tornado struck awe in our hearts.正在逼近的龙卷风使我们惊恐万分。

6 projector   

n.投影机，放映机，幻灯机

参考例句：

• There is a new projector in my office.我的办公室里有一架新的幻灯机。
• How long will it take to set up the projector?把这个放映机安放好需要多长时间？

7 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

8 patio   

n.庭院，平台

参考例句：

• Suddenly, the thought of my beautiful patio came to mind. I can be quiet out there,I thought.我又忽然想到家里漂亮的院子，我能够在这里宁静地呆会。
• They had a barbecue on their patio on Sunday.星期天他们在院子里进行烧烤。

9 classic   

n.经典作品；adj.经典的，一流的；古典的

参考例句：

• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。
• The football match was a classic.那场足球比赛堪称典范。

10 donations   

n.捐赠( donation的名词复数 )；赠送；捐款；捐赠物

参考例句：

• The hospital receives a good deal of money in donations. 这家医院收到捐赠来的大笔款项。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The charity is completely reliant on public donations. 这一慈善团体完全依靠公众捐款。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 flicker   

vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现

参考例句：

• There was a flicker of lights coming from the abandoned house.这所废弃的房屋中有灯光闪烁。
• At first,the flame may be a small flicker,barely shining.开始时，光辉可能是微弱地忽隐忽现，几乎并不灿烂。