Drive-ins forced to change or close - 21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio -

WARREN, Ohio - Years ago, there were thousands of drive-in movie theatres around America. But today, there are just a few hundred and soon there may be even less.

New technology will likely force many drive-ins across the country to close.

The Elm Road Triple Drive-In has shown movies in Warren for 62 years. It's one of the last remaining drive-in theatres anywhere.

While many other local drive-ins have closed due to high operating costs and competition with newer technology, Elm Road has survived. Now they are trying to survive the biggest technological transition since movies got sound.

They have to go digital. Thirty five millimeter film will soon be history.

Manager Sheri Hovevar says, "There will soon be a shortage of 35-mm prints, so if you don't have the digital projectors you won't get the digital prints of the movies. No prints no movies, no movies, no drive in any more."

So Elm Road is relying on its concessions to buy the new equipment needed to get three new digital projectors. It's so vital to the drive-in's survival; they are charging five dollars for people who bring their own food into the drive in.

Manager Mark Hocevar says, "The lifeblood of the drive in is the concession stand. A large percentage of the gate goes to the movie companies. We never see that in order to finance our year around expenses we are dependent on the quality of our product."

And the owners put a lot of that quality in their concession stand. It's grown over the years from just popcorn and snacks to restaurant items like pizza, fried food and sandwiches. There's an ice cream parlor to. And the prices aren't movie theatre prices.

Elm Road hopes to make the digital changeover next spring in time for their 63rd season.