Entertainment for the New Age

Words by Bethany Wales photos by Ashley Bowling

A night out that allows patrons to remain sealed in their car has, unsurprisingly, been a huge hit in the COVID-era. But for Josh Frank, founder of the Blue Starlite Drive-in Movie Theater, the business’s “overnight success” has been 10 years in the making.

Blue Starlite Drive-in has had many homes in the last 10 years. Its original venue—a tiny, rustic affair tucked away in East Austin—began screening movies in 2009 and gained a cult following thanks to its kitsch aesthetic and art house values. According to founder Josh Frank, Blue Starlite’s premier venue was “cute, but a bit of a joke,” more reminiscent of an art installation than a working movie theater.

He explains, “Our neighbor on one side was a Spanish church with very thin walls. Two to three nights a week, the house Mariachi band would hold its rehearsal, and you were lucky if you could hear the movie over them. I thought I’d go out of business because of it. Funnily enough, our customers thought it was charming.”

One of the secrets to Blue Starlite’s success has been its ability to adapt and, crucially, to move locations. Founded on what Josh describes as “vagabond values,” the drive-in has packed up and re-invented itself more than five times in the past 10 years, sprinkling its unique brand of cinema across the Austin area.

“[Blue Starlite] is like a cross between a tank and a water bear. It’s indestructible because it’s flexible. It can be reborn again and again,” Josh grins.

This resilience has attracted attention from talent agencies across the globe. Since the start of the pandemic, Josh has received calls from businesses as far away as Belize, looking to learn from his pandemic-proof business model. For Josh, sharing his expertise has been a way of dealing with the guilt of his own COVID success.

“The success we’ve experienced feels like winning the lottery, but in a really terrible way. It’s been painful watching so many of our great institutions wiped out, places that have been here for decades,” Josh explains. But looking to the future with hope, adds, “I believe in this town, in the people, and when this is all over, I think we’ll be seeing new things from those who have lost their businesses due to COVID. It will look different, but that base Austin spirit will still be there. If people can support a maniac showing movies in his backyard, then they will be there for the recovery.”

Contact:
(512) 850-6127
2015 E.M. Franklin Ave.
bluestarlitedrivein.com
@bluestarlitedrivein