Have a night of old-fashioned fun at ‘Big Mo’ drive-in
The Monetta Drive-In Theatre isn’t just an alternative outlet for watching movies: It’s a place to experience, a place to make memories.
Located in the small town of Monetta, a roughly 45-minute drive from downtown Columbia, the Big Mo – as it is fondly called – draws fans from well beyond its Aiken County home.
“It’s kind of like a carnival, or a fair kind of experience,” said Richard Boaz, who owns the drive-in with his wife, Lisa. “It’s the quintessential private experience, or communal experience.”
Some folks stay secluded in their cars with windows rolled up. Others tailgate and mingle before movies, while kids frolic on playgrounds. They play trivia between movies – because there are always double features at the Big Mo.
Since the Big Mo draws big crowds on most weekends, Boaz recommends that folks arrive 1 1/2 to two hours before the movie begins at dusk. Folks can bring their own food (no alcoholic beverages or glass bottles) or buy some “pretty good” hot dogs, hamburgers, corn dogs, pizza, chicken sandwiches, nachos and, of course, popcorn at the concession stand.
The couple bought the Monetta Drive-In in 1998 and re-opened it a year later. The theater, built in 1950, had sat abandoned since 1986.
When Richard Boaz first saw it, vines, overgrown trees, and briars shrouded what it had once been – and what it could become again.
Now, the Big Mo – one of just a handful of drive-ins in South Carolina – shows popular movies on three different screens on the weekend. Folks listen by tuning in to FM radio.
You’ll find newly released movies at the Big Mo, too. A recent weekend included “Star Trek Beyond” and “The Legend of Tarzan.” “Jason Bourne” opens Friday, July 29.
“It’s a pretty good night out,” Boaz said. “You can enjoy a laid back, relaxing evening.”
Drive-in rules and etiquette
▪ While listening to the movie, make sure your key is in the accessory position, or bring a portable radio.
▪ Admittance is cash only. One transaction per car: Pool your money before you get to the ticket booth. Exact change appreciated.
▪ No readmission, no refunds once show has started, and no rainchecks for bad weather.
▪ No grills, laser pointers, alcohol, illegal substances or glass containers.
▪ Park conversion vans and other high clearance vehicles on the last two rows. Hatches must be no higher than the top of the vehicle and do not sit on top of your vehicle.
▪ Use parking lights when driving in theatre. Turn off all vehicle lights when parked. Check your owner’s manual regarding daytime running lights. Be prepared to cover your headlights if they can’t be turned off.
▪ During extremely hot or cold temperatures, if you plan to run your engine during the movie, please park in the rear of the field.
▪ Your ticket buys admission to one screen only. You may walk around all three fields before the movies start, but once the movies begin, you must stay on the field for which you hold a ticket.
For more rules and hints – and to see what’s playing – go to www.thebigmo.com.
Summer Break
No big vacation plans this summer? No problem. Look for this occasional Go Columbia series to find ideas to keep boredom at bay.
This story was originally published July 27, 2016 at 4:18 PM with the headline "Have a night of old-fashioned fun at ‘Big Mo’ drive-in."