Constructed 1956
The Fort Union Drive-In has made the conversion to digital projection, but this was the story in 2013. New technology requires that the theater undergoes an upgrade to digital equipment and projection room. There are around 350 drive-ins left in the nation, and only two left in New Mexico. One is located in beautiful Historic Las Vegas, NM. The Fort Union Drive-In was built in 1958 and has been a much-loved summer tradition for Las Vegans both young and old. It was once referred to as the “Cadillac” of outdoor theaters because of the “State of the Art” film projectors. Today the projectors are becoming obsolete. Technological advances in the film industry are forcing Drive-In theaters across the country to switch from 35 mm Film to Digital Format as they are beginning to phase out 35 mm film prints in favor of digital. We estimate that the total upgrade could cost upwards of $80,000.
It is necessary to build a new more efficient, climatized projection booth and the idea is to preserve the old projection room as a kind of museum. It houses two statuesque film projectors with original carbon arc lamphouses and the original tube amplifier and backup amplifier. A short film was made by Brennan Foster to historically document the lamphouses. The film took honorable mention at the Taos film festival in 2009. Movie buffs are generally impressed with the projection room, and hopefully in the future it could make a great set for a film. The Fort Union Drive-In sits on nearly 7 acres on Highway 518 and could be used for a variety of outdoor events such as car shows, concerts, film location etc.
3300 Seventh St. Las Vegas, NM 87701
photo by Elmo Baca
