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The Route 66 Drive-in Theatre has long been a popular regional draw. After last night, due to a nearly 10-minute segment on a new NBC reality show, the Carthage icon received nationwide exposure.
The show — The Great American Roadtrip — centers around real families cruising down Route 66 inside recreational vehicles, stopping at unique attractions along the way to participate in equally unique contests to determine which family stays and which family goes home.
Filming the segment — a two-day, 36-hour ordeal — in Carthage was a great experience, said Route 66 Drive-In Theatre owner Mark Goodman. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, really. It’s now going to be interesting to see what the response will be like.”
Last night’s episode began in St. Louis, wound its way over to Branson before wrapping up at the popular drive-in.
Goodman said he began negotiating with NBC on April 15, where he sat down with the producers of the series. The actual footage was shot over Memorial Day Weekend, mostly on the Sunday.
“They came in here that Sunday morning and when they work, they worked,” he said. “They’d been up 36 hours before but they were all professionals and there was no trouble at all.
“I’d say they were here at 5:30 a.m. Sunday, and the cameramen were filming until 10-11 p.m. And then they were up at 6:30 a.m. and gone by 7:15 a.m. on Monday, headed for Kansas.”
Sixty-five sheets of plywood were used to cover up advertising. Aside from the director and producer, there were three assistants and a crew of roughly 60, Goodman said.
“There were cameras everywhere. They used a helicopter — I think they went out and took some (footage) of the courthouse, and of (RVs) traveling down 66. They also had a camera on this 30-foot boom.”
There were so many cars and crewmembers, Goodman said, “That they had to be told how to leave — they couldn’t get out of the driveway.”
In the episode, three of the families competed in a contest inside the drive-in where the fathers were electronically led, via helmets, through an obstacle course of 30 antique cars, each holding trays of large popcorn boxes and Cokes. Their children, standing atop the concession stand roof, maneuvered their dads via handheld devices, similar to something used to control model airplanes. The winner received a trip to Hollywood.
Later, the families were given front-row seats to watch several movies, including the new Star Trek movie. One of the contractual agreements made, Goodman said, was to show a trailer the upcoming movie, “Aliens in the Attic.” Scenes of the families watching this trailer were shown in the final cut.
The Route 66 Drive-in Theatre has long been a popular regional draw. After last night, due to a nearly 10-minute segment on a new NBC reality show, the Carthage icon received nationwide exposure.
The show — The Great American Roadtrip — centers around real families cruising down Route 66 inside recreational vehicles, stopping at unique attractions along the way to participate in equally unique contests to determine which family stays and which family goes home.
Filming the segment — a two-day, 36-hour ordeal — in Carthage was a great experience, said Route 66 Drive-In Theatre owner Mark Goodman. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, really. It’s now going to be interesting to see what the response will be like.”
Last night’s episode began in St. Louis, wound its way over to Branson before wrapping up at the popular drive-in.
Goodman said he began negotiating with NBC on April 15, where he sat down with the producers of the series. The actual footage was shot over Memorial Day Weekend, mostly on the Sunday.
“They came in here that Sunday morning and when they work, they worked,” he said. “They’d been up 36 hours before but they were all professionals and there was no trouble at all.
“I’d say they were here at 5:30 a.m. Sunday, and the cameramen were filming until 10-11 p.m. And then they were up at 6:30 a.m. and gone by 7:15 a.m. on Monday, headed for Kansas.”
Sixty-five sheets of plywood were used to cover up advertising. Aside from the director and producer, there were three assistants and a crew of roughly 60, Goodman said.
“There were cameras everywhere. They used a helicopter — I think they went out and took some (footage) of the courthouse, and of (RVs) traveling down 66. They also had a camera on this 30-foot boom.”
There were so many cars and crewmembers, Goodman said, “That they had to be told how to leave — they couldn’t get out of the driveway.”
In the episode, three of the families competed in a contest inside the drive-in where the fathers were electronically led, via helmets, through an obstacle course of 30 antique cars, each holding trays of large popcorn boxes and Cokes. Their children, standing atop the concession stand roof, maneuvered their dads via handheld devices, similar to something used to control model airplanes. The winner received a trip to Hollywood.
Later, the families were given front-row seats to watch several movies, including the new Star Trek movie. One of the contractual agreements made, Goodman said, was to show a trailer the upcoming movie, “Aliens in the Attic.” Scenes of the families watching this trailer were shown in the final cut.
His wife Dixie and daughter Mallory were filmed handing the popcorn and Cokes to the competing fathers. Asked why he wasn’t filmed with the rest of his family, Goodman chuckled — “I didn’t want to.”
The producers told Goodman they first learned about his drive-in in a Route 66 book, and were intrigued by the possibilities it could play in their show.
The 66 Drive-In now has a Facebook page which has more than 3,000 fans. Thirty-six comments were left on the page during and after the show.
“This drive-in is located where I graduated high-school,” wrote Raja Chellappa. “It was a blast back in the early 80s.”
Said Grace Sandy-Barnett, “My dad’s truck (was) in the crowd of old cars that they asked people to bring and park at the drive-in that day.”
Added Tiffany Reeves Fink: “Watched it — enjoyed seeing our area on national TV.”
The Route 66 Drive-In Theater is located at 17231 Old 66 Blvd. and is open from 7 p.m. to midnight on Fridays/Saturdays and 7 a.m. to Noon on Sundays.
