There’s something to be said about the teamwork that happens in an ideal partnership.

The behind-the-scenes duo Jeff Mattox and Virgil Cardamone of the Mahoning Drive-In Theatre rely on the teamwork which has led to part of the drive-in’s success since the pair became business partners in 2014.

After seven decades in business, the Mahoning Valley Drive-In opened this past weekend to its 71st year in operation, perhaps a bit differently from in the past, yet never so anxious and eager to do so.

One of the local businesses that’s survived COVID-19 related closures, the drive-in sold out Friday and Saturday nights.

After being forced to delay the regularly scheduled April season opener, staff and attendees alike were happy for a night out under the stars.

The feature films were family classics. “The Wizard of Oz” kicked off the evening, and the second feature, “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” pleased children as well as parents.

Mattox, the projectionist, spoke a bit with regard to the timelessness some people feel while attending drive-in theaters.

“Our drive-in is the only one in the nation to officially be dubbed retro and classic while exclusively operating and maintaining its original equipment,” Mattox said proudly.

Considered outdated to some and rivaled as one-of-a-kind to others, the theater shows movies on projectors that were manufactured in 1949. Consequently, all films are shown on 35 mm tape reels, which is in and of itself a rarity in today’s high-tech, digital world. Mahoning is the only 100% 35 mm film drive-in left in the United States.

Alongside Mattox, Cardamone sat behind a small mixing table adorned with a headset and a mask, wearing a grin from ear to ear and cheerfully announcing to the crowd.

Sounding very much like a radio personality, Cardamone is the voice that informs and jokes around with the crowd from within the small operating room inside the concession building, intermittently playing music before dusk descends to night for show time.

Off season he decides which movies to show, and maintains the drive-in’s social media presence like Facebook, by updating information and posting pictures online.

Being recognized as the only retro and classic drive-in from coast to coast, it’s not surprising that a documentary was made about the theater in October 2017, directed by Alexander Monelli. The documentary about a group of film fanatics in rural Pennsylvania who fight to keep a dying drive-in theater alive won an award at the Philadelphia Film Festival for best locally made film. “At the Drive-In” is available on DVD and is available on Amazon Prime Video.

At the busy concession stand, Nancy Clark, said they offer typical quick foods and snacks but strive for quality.

Clark said the burgers and chicken nuggets are of a higher grade, and they even offer a veggie burger.

Popcorn remains the top seller, and hundreds of bags are sold on a typical night.

From April through October, the drive-in is open two nights, Friday and Saturday, and sometimes Sunday evenings as well, depending on how holiday weekends fall. On occasion, three-day events are held such as the zombie fest.

After Carbon County entered the yellow phase, the staff at the drive-in took certain steps and safety measures seriously by implementing online ticket sale purchasing in advance. Additionally for the sake of precaution, masks were mandatory while on the grounds.

Perhaps the largest measure taken for safety was the theater operating at just half its potential capacity, admitting 500 vehicles as compared to its maximum capacity of 1,000 vehicles.

Carbon County enters the green phase Friday and the drive-in will begin to admit more vehicles.

“I (we) want to send a message to the great people of Carbon County and beyond to know that we are committed to staying here. We know we have a specific purpose and will do everything we can to remain open and save the drive-in, for the people … we know how much it means to the people,” Mattox said.