Michael Blackson

Comedian and actor, Michael Blackson.

At the Drive-In, Philly, Part 2: Sparing a Square

After last week’s dedicated dosage MAGAZINE feature toward Peoples Light theater company in Malvern, PA, and its move toward drive-in concerts for the C-19 summer, I promised something focused on the drive-in buzz for Philly. As I saw my first-ever film at a drive-in theater in Southwest Philadelphia (I guess my folks didn’t think I was too young to see “The Godfather”), I’ll dedicate this one to my parents, Eda and Al.

Live Nation has finally figured a way to make some concert cash by partnering with the Phillies and presenting a “Live-In/Drive-In” series at Citizens Bank Park’s parking lot commencing August 16.

Bert Kreischer
Comedian Bert Kreischer.

Starting with Sunday’s Bert Kreischer gig and ending (so far) with a September 7 Labor Day Comedy Jam featuring Michael Blackson and Friends (Capone, Talent, Turae, Skeet Carter, DJ Jazzy Jeff and his son, Corey Townes), the series at CBP allows car-fulls of fans to sit, watching and listen to each show via an audio simulcast on an FM frequency. The concert-comedy events will also feature large-video LED screens to aid the viewing experience, and-or, stand in a “dedicated buffer space” around each vehicle to ensure social distancing. It ain’t sexy but it’s an answer.

Tickets will be sold in the form of a group car pass. Each car will purchase just one ticket, good for a maximum of four (4) people per car. Tickets are on sale now here where you can also get the full event date list (including AJR, Mt. Joy, Smith & Meyers, Lotus and two dates with Dark Star Orchestra).

PFS Drive-In at the Navy Yard – the Philadelphia Film Society back on the block offering – just popped-up to the rescue of cineastes across the Delaware Valley. Plus, I love the wide-ranging, long-stretching Navy Yard. Since we missed out on Marc Vetri’s annual Great Chefs Event for Alex’s Lemonade Stand at the N-Yard this drive-in is the next best thing. Plus, they’re doing late-night screenings (11:45 pm, starting with August 14’s “The Fast and The Furious” (Spiderman: Into the SpiderVerse” is also August 14, but, starts at 8:30 pm). Plus, the PFS joint will start screening, on August 17, “Force in Focus: the Black Experience on Film,” featuring modern Black female filmmakers. Its first film? Tanya Hamilton’s filmed-in-Philly “Night Catches Us,” with music from The Roots. Check here for additional screenings, prices, etc.

night catches us Anthony Mackie Kerry Washington
“Night Catches Us.”

Lastly, the City of Philadelphia, with its Department of Parks and Recreation presents The Philly Drive-In Movie Nights in front of the Mann Center for the Performing Arts in West Fairmount Park. With surprisingly daring screening curatorial vision, the City is working with BlackStar Film Festival for an opening salvo of POC films – Friday, August 21 through Sunday, August 23 – with “Be Water” (a doc on Bruce Lee’s life, August 21), the debut B&W film from writer/director Radha Blank (“The Forty-Year-Old Version,” August 22) and the pageant driven “Miss Juneteenth,” (August 23).

miss juneteenth
“Miss Juneteenth.”

Check www.philaenvirofilmfest.org for more info.


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