An iconic drive-in cinema – as soon as topped the most important in Australia – has been demolished after nearly seven many years of operation.
Onlookers captured footage of the second an excavator tore down the big cinema display on the Lunar Drive-in, situated in Melbourne’s southeast.
The video, posted to Reddit with the caption “End of an Era”, was met with an outpouring of disappointment on-line by former patrons of the Dandenong cinema.
Earlier this 12 months, the cinema took to Facebook to disclose it will be closing out many years of operation, citing price of dwelling pressures.
The cinema’s ultimate present aired on July 9.
“We’d like to thank all of our loyal patrons, our wonderful staff, past and present and all of our supplier friends in the industry for a fantastic 21 years,” the corporate stated.
“Over six weeks we’ll be running the latest blockbuster movies along with some drive-in classics. We look forward to seeing many of you before we close.
“Thank you for being a supporter of Lunar Drive-in, Dandenong.”
The cinema was reportedly nonetheless welcoming 400,000 visitors a 12 months previous to closing.
Owner David Kilderry instructed 7 News the price of preserving the doorways open had change into too excessive.
“Fifteen acres of land … that’s hard to justify when there’s no one here in the daytime,” he stated.
“And, we only operate a few hours each night.
“We’re particularly sad for our customers and our staff but also some of our long-term suppliers.”
Among the rising prices was land tax, which reportedly ballooned to a staggering $1000 a day, and was anticipated to double inside a 12 months.
The closing out of the long-lasting date-night spot was lamented by many locals and former patrons alike on-line, a few of whom weren’t conscious it had shut in any respect.
“Ah man this makes me sad,” wrote one consumer on web site Reddit.
“The hours I have spent watching that screen.”
Another wrote: “So sad, gutted we didn‘t go see a movie in its last few weeks.
“That’s what you get when council charges ridiculous rates.”
One consumer wrote: “Still hurts to see it”.
Others shared reminiscences from the cinema’s a few years of operation.
“First Drive-In when I got my license,” one consumer wrote.
“I watched Mad Max on the big screen – (it) was great.”
Over the ultimate weeks, the cinema play a raft of latest blockbusters and traditional movies.
Among the long-lasting movies aired over the ultimate days have been American Graffiti and Jurassic Park.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
