[ Golden Gater Online - October 2, 1997 ]
Justin Grams
Staff writer
While Sutro baths look like a foundation for a skyscraper and most of San Francisco's classic landmark buildings have either been destroyed or turned into adult theaters, the Geneva Drive-In remains untouched by the sands of time.
Buried behind dozens of dead eucalyptus trees near the Cow Palace in Daly City, the drive-in is a vast industrial wasteland. It is the backdrop of every post-apocalyptic flick of the early 1980s.
Opened in 1955, the Geneva stands as a testament to a time in America when the country was afraid of Russia, bomb shelters were being dug in the backyards of suburban homes and scratchy "duck-and-cover" films were being shown in elementary school classrooms. Although the lot looks as if it hasn't been paved since World War II, and the screens seem to be one strong wind away from collapsing, the Geneva still manages to retain a unique nostalgic atmosphere.
"The drive-in is the heartbeat of America," Michael Greer, a web designer, said excitedly between a recent double feature of "Austin Powers," and Wes Craven's "Wishmaster." "[Geneva] is both desolate and dirty, but it's also a place where a lot of people still come even if it's not as full as it was in the 1950s."
Gone are the days when the nuclear family would load up the station wagon with blankets and soda pop. The metal speaker boxes that once filtered tinny, monotone audio through the car window have been replaced by FM radio waves that sound like they're being transmitted from some undiscovered galaxy.
"If you legalized drinking and smoking in indoor theaters," SF State cinema student Dustin Cartmill said as he lit up a cigarette in front of one of the Geneva's massive screens, "[the Geneva] would be hit by the same meteor that killed the dinosaurs."
"[Geneva] shows second-rate movies at second-rate prices," added Cartmill. "I wouldn't see any of these movies under any other circumstances."
These days, the Geneva drive-in only showcases horror movies, action films and comedies, just like it has in the previous four decades. After all, the Geneva opened with a premiere of "Killer Snakes" in 1955. Following the arrival of the mid-'70s Hollywood blockbuster, the Geneva went from a single-screen to a double-screen in 1976 and eventually added a third screen in 1977 when exploitation films first became popular. It was around this time when the Geneva began showcasing every kung-fu, harsh cop, and teen horror film. "Halloween II," "Sudden Impact," "Enter The Dragon"-- they all played at Geneva. Although indoor theaters had taken over, and while most of the Geneva drive-in's competitors had gone the way of the Betamax, a fourth screen was added in 1986 and opened with a double-bill of "Aliens" and "The Fly."
"It doesn't even matter what's playing," said Don Romesburg, a manager for a local non-profit agency. "I just love hanging out at the drive-in because you can talk during the movie, and you can bring dinner and alcohol."
The Geneva holds a "Family Fun Night" every Tuesday evening when the usual $5.50 admission is reduced to $3.50 per person for a double-feature. Ironically, on this particular "Family Fun Night," there were no families present, but rather a clientele that writer Hunter S. Thompson once described as "the generation of swine." Customers ranged from what looked like possible parolees in beat-up Cadillacs to bored, underage individuals with plenty of Mickey's Big Mouth's in tow. The only thing remotely resembling a family night out was a dimly-lit mini-van with a guy and three screaming kids.
"I don't like the people, they're psycho," said SF State broadcasting student Jennifer Jamin on her way out of the Geneva. Jamin found the Geneva to be dangerous, and a venue she probably wouldn't have attended had she not been accompanied by her boyfriend.
True, there are lots of dark corners, tall shrubs, bathrooms with backdoor entrances, and each lot seems to be about a mile apart in the pitch black night at Geneva. The snack bar lights resemble little Christmas tree bulbs when looked at from the great distances of the screening lots. But these qualities give the Geneva character and its customers a sense of adventure.
"Every time I go to [the drive-in] I see people pissing on the sides of their cars because they've been drinking," admitted SF State cinema student Scott Beardslee. "But the element of pulling up to a movie in your car is pretty sweet, and if you want to go hook up with your girlfriend that's fine."
Century Theaters, founded by Raymond J. Syufy, operates the Geneva as well as the Burlingame and the Capitol Drive-In located in San Jose.
"We really love the Geneva and hope to run it forever," Nancy Klasky, a spokesperson for Century Theaters said. "We like to keep the drive-in community happy and will continue to support it. It's a historical part of this company."
Klasky said that Century Theaters plans to repave Geneva's mortared parking lot later this year, which should make driving into the theater a much easier task and result in fewer neck breakings.
In his "Swine" piece, Thompson wrote that during a double-feature at the Geneva in the mid-'80s, he was "menaced by a pack of wild dogs that had gathered around [his] car to gnaw on the fresh chicken bones."
At "Family Fun Night" last week, there weren't any wild dogs. Instead, dozens of feral cats roamed the lot looking for scraps of food amongst crushed popcorn containers and broken Jim Beam bottles. When a car pulled up and shined its headlights, the furry mammals scattered back into the creepy eucalyptus trees that surround the compound. "Look," Cartmill laughed, as he glanced out across the dark lot. "There are more cats than customers."
The Geneva Drive-In is located at 607 Carter St. in Daly City. A recording of showtimes and directions can be reached at (415) 587-2884.
[ Golden Gater - October 02, 1997 ]