Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Marcella Snyder. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Marcella thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with what makes profitability in your industry a challenge – what would you say is the biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge to profitability in the drive in industry is adapting to changing generations.
A big part of the drive in experience is nostalgia. All owners know we are selling an experience, a chance to bring it back to a childhood memory or an evening spent with family or friends under the stars. What most refuse to admit is each generation wants a different kind of nostalgia, that we can’t and shouldn’t limit the experience to our own or those who came before us. Bringing nostalgia to the new generation is going to look a little bit different, but can still offer the joy of the experience to a new customer.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Marcella and I own a drive in movie theatre.
I started at Tibbs Drive In, a wee 14 year old at her first job, in 2000. This was the job I worked each Summer from 2000 to 2019 when my partner and I purchased the theatre from the previous owners and first bosses I had the pleasure to work with. We sell movie magic under the stars and deal in a lifetime of family memories. Running new releases and vintage classics, we offer a little bit of theatrical flair to just about any audience. It’s an experience you can’t get at home, in an indoor theatre, or most countries in the rest of the world. With less than 300 drive ins left in the United States, we are a unique experience.
We are most proud of our ability to adapt to the changes in generations. Still offering the nostalgia of the 60’s when our theatre opened, we have brought the experience into the 2000’s with digital projection, FM broadcast sound, and innovative concessions.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

2020 was difficult for every business. Having just purchased the business in 2019, we were certainly scared of what closure for an entire season would mean, and didn’t know how to best serve the community with the venue we had.
As an outdoor venue, we had the unique opportunity to open to the public earlier than most, and could host large groups of people safely. Having never hosted a private event to date, we pivoted to serving folks who needed space to celebrate! We hosted over 70 private events in 2020, ranging from middle school graduations to live Fashion Shows. We showed up and showed out for those folks needing space to be creating and the public needing space to connect as a community.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

We are a big part of the Indianapolis community and most of that was built on community engagement. We host community events, participate in local government, and are a welcoming venue for any number of minority groups within Indiana.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tibbsdriveintheatre.com
• Instagram: @tibbsdriveintheatre
• Facebook: The Tibbs Drive-in

Image Credits

Marcella Snyder (all photos of screen), Violet Short (photo of couple (Jon Parkin and Marcella Snyder) on roof with projection beam)