A funny thing happened on my way to see Tom Brady play in Tampa against the LA Rams….
Actually, it wasn’t funny but I found it interesting. Instead of taking I-4 from Orlando to Tampa (which is usually slow and go with tourists coming and going from the Central Florida theme parks), I decided to take the backroads. One of the small towns I drove though was Dade City, Florida and I found this jewel: The Joy-Lan Drive In Theatre & Swap Shop. It’s one of the few working drive ins in Florida and has been in operation for more than 70 years.
So if you need a drive in for a movie or production, I’ve done some free location scouting for you. And while you are able to listen to movies on your radio, I love how Joy-Lan left the old school speakers in place.
According to the history page on their website, the theatre opened “March 9, 1950, with the showing of Challenge to Lassie, starring the legendary collie. Admission was 35 cents per person.” That screenplay was written by William Ledwig (1912-1999) based on a book Greyfriars Bobby by Indiana-born Eleanor Atkinson. Ludwig, along with Sonya Levien, won an Oscar for their script Interrupted Melody (1955).
And according to Wikipedia, in Dexter episode “Father Knows Best,” Dexter Morgan goes to Dade City after he father dies. And part of Edward Scissorhands (not sure if it was a scene with Johnny Depp or not) was filmed in Dade City. See what what kind of things you find when you take the backroads.
Scott W. Smith is the author of Screenwriting with Brass Knuckles
Screenwriting from Iowa 