DRIVE-IN CALVERT FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT FOR OVER 65 YEARS The Harrington Family has been in the movie business for over 68 years. Evelyn Harrington, now 110, and her late husband, Paul, built the Calvert City Drive-in. Prior to building their own theater, Paul worked for Ruffin Amusement Company and traveled all over the region building movie theaters and performing maintenance. In 1950, Paul and Evelyn purchased the Calvert Theater that was located on the west side of Main street where Industrial Process Equipment Group is located now. Bobbie Foust recalls one memorable performance in the mid-1940s was Jimmy Ritter, who sang, spoke and performed western rope tricks. He billed himself as the brother of Tex Ritter, a popular cowboy movie star of the era. Tex Ritter was the father of John Ritter, television star of the late ‘70s and ‘80s. After building the Drive-in theater in Benton for Ruffin Amusement Company, Paul and Evelyn decided to build their own drive-in and closed the Calvert Theater on Main Street, opening it for special occasions like school field trips. The Calvert Drive-in opened in 1953. However, living in Covington, Tennessee, over two hours away from their business, the Harrington’s quickly realized it was too difficult to run a business living far away. So, in 1954, the Harrington’s moved to Calvert City. Many things have changed over the last six decades for theaters. The process of movie showing has drastically changed. “Projectionist had to manage changing of carbons and the reels. They had to be in the projection room during the entire movie. Now it’s all digital. You push a button and it plays,” said Steve Harrington, Evelyn and Paul’s son and now chief executive officer of Calvert Drive-in. Drive-ins became popular with the baby boomer generation in the 1950s and 60s. They became popular as a space for families and were an affordable date night. With over 4,000 drive-ins throughout the U.S. Now there are roughly 325 drive-ins remaining. Paul died in 1983, but Evelyn Harrington, at age 110, still owns the drive-in and still makes sure her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and even great-great-great- grandchildren are running the show just like she and her husband, Paul, did for many years. Steve’s son and daughter, John Harrington, and Pam Schott, co-manage the drive-in now. Many visitors come for the outdoor movie experience, but MOST visitors come back for the famous drive-in cheeseburgers. If you have not experienced this nostalgic entertainment, head on over to Calvert Drive-in this summer, grab a large popcorn, a cheeseburger, and an old fashion cherry cola. You will not regret it.
