Thailand opens drive-in cinema with cooling system for film fans wary of coronavirus

By Athit Perawongmetha

 

Vehicles are parked at the first drive-in movie theatre for people to enjoy movies while keeping social distancing amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangkok, Thailand, July 2, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Keen for the big screen but wary of the coronavirus, Thai film fans flocked to a new drive-in cinema on Thursday, which offered a novel cooling system to help combat the discomfort of being confined to cars on a hot and stuffy night.

 

About 80 vehicles pulled up in a car park to attend Bangkok's inaugural outdoor screening of the "Trolls World Tour", part of a special four-day offering for moviegoers who want to avoid indoor theatres.

 

To beat the tropical heat, organisers created a network of plastic pipes in the parking lot connected to dozens of smaller, flexible tubes, to channel cool air into cars through gaps in the windows.

 

With evening temperature of 28 degrees Celsius (82.4°F) and 78% humidity, Sasanan Thanasankulang said she wasn't sure what level of comfort to expect from the makeshift theatre.

 

"I came with my mother, I wanted to bring her to experience the new drive-in movie theatre," she said.

 

"We were curious about how this drive-in movie theatre could deal with the hot and humid weather, and we didn't turn on the engine."

 

Thailand has emerged as one of Asia's COVID-19 success stories, with no domestic transmission in the past 38 days and only 58 deaths among its 3,179 confirmed cases.

 

It has eased most restrictions to try to revive an economy badly hit by the pandemic, with bars, karaoke and massage parlours the latest businesses allowed to reopen.

 

Though Thai cinemas have been open for one month with limited seating and regular disinfection, Apitchaya Doungsuwan said she felt safer in her car and was willing to pay the 1,200 baht ($38.63) fee per vehicle, which includes popcorn and soft drinks.

 

"I want to try new things and I worry a bit about the spread of the COVID-19 in the movie theatre," she said.

 

"If the experience from tonight is good, sure we will come back."

 

(Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-07-03

 

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So you interviewed someone before and not after so they could share their experience?

What a bunch of pussies, 37 days without a local case. Sit in car and get hot or air con cinema in a mall, no contest.

Wow. Drive-In cinemas and back seats of cars. So many memories.

7 hours ago, webfact said:

To beat the tropical heat, organisers created a network of plastic pipes in the parking lot connected to dozens of smaller, flexible tubes, to channel cool air into cars through gaps in the windows.

Sounds like a perfect way to spread Covid. If there was any here that is.  

I bet 1,000 baht the cooling system does not do jack to keep all the cars cool...

I thought the idea at drive-ins was to keep the windows closed and fogged up so nobody could see what was going on inside ?

8 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

I bet 1,000 baht the cooling system does not do jack to keep all the cars cool...

Some photos of the cooling system would have helped.

$38! I remember $1 a carload nights. Bring your own popcorn. 

  

The blue plastic pipes look more like a sewer system

On 7/3/2020 at 3:37 AM, webfact said:

Bangkok's inaugural outdoor screening of the "Trolls World Tour",

 

On 7/3/2020 at 3:37 AM, webfact said:

willing to pay the 1,200 baht

I don't understand why anyone would pay that money to see a movie that's been available for download for months already, and at a distance in a car park with a pipe sticking in your car window? I expect the popcorn and soft drink waiters were masked up to hide their blushes at the extortion.

Now when are they going to have drive up go go bars? Short time is in your back seat.