Thursday, June 14, 2012

The South Drive-in Theater

Imperial Beach, California

Yesterday morning I left the Imperial Valley (89° at 7:30 in the morning) headed for Imperial Beach, near San Diego, a very different place. At 10:30 it was just 66° and under an overcast so heavy it seemed more like ocean fog. The theater's name probably has something to do with its location one mile from the Mexico border. Several days a week, including Wednesday, there's an enormous swap meet on the theater grounds. Over 300 vendors/booths. This is one of the survival mechanisms that many drive-ins have adopted to cope with the need to expand the use of expensive commercial land to create a viable cash flow. But what a successful plan! The place was packed, the parking lot full to overflowing. I was glad I had advance contact with the manager of the DeAnza theater chain who had cleared the way over the phone for me to get into the place. The theater's manager then let me have access to the concession roof for a shooting position. But what I really loved was spending over an hour wandering around the wonderful carnival atmosphere of the swap meet with a couple of small cameras.

Imperial Beach, California


 Imperial Beach, California

Juxtaposing the swap meet activity with the three giant screens looming here and there in the background was a wonderful visual game. I could have happily spent the day and made a zillion captures, but I needed to move on to Santee, CA, and then up to Riverside and Rubidoux.

Imperial Beach, California

1 comment:

lyle said...

Carl, Having seen a lot of the pt/pd prints of Drive_Ins in use, active but idle during the day, and in total abandonment; this new color work showing the flea market is very exciting. The white tent tops with the white screen in background is wonderful. I think this work visually combines the DI project with the best of your street work in NYC.