
Drive-In Memories Didn’t Fade During a Blackout
The Santee Drive-In Theatre Site lost power during a July heat wave just as families began arriving for a double feature. Temperatures hovered near 102°F, the projector sat dark, and the ticket line stretched past the old snack bar. Without electricity, the night’s nostalgic event—and the theater’s reputation—was at risk of melting away before sunset.
We rolled in with a 100kW portable unit and had it online within two hours, syncing with the projector and sound system just in time for the opening credits. Our crew stayed onsite through the first film to monitor voltage stability. The show went on, kids laughed under the stars, and the theater owner kept his promise of ‘movies rain or shine’—even when the grid failed.
Tony’s team saved our summer screening series—we didn’t lose a single customer that night.
Linda M., Santee Drive-In Operator



