The Mahoning Valley Drive-In Theater, located on Seneca Road in Lehighton, celebrated its 77th opening weekend Friday and Saturday.

The country’s only all-retro film projection theater, showing films exclusively in classic 35mm format, drew a large crowd for opening weekend. Crowd favorites “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (1971) and “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) were shown in all of their old-school glory. Both films were shown Friday and Saturday in reverse order.

A mural was being painted on the outside of the snack bar, with one of the artists being drive-in superfan Gene Barretta, who traveled from Bryn Mawr to attend. The mural honors former drive-in owner and projectionist Jeff Mattox.

“It is an honor to carry on tradition and preserve the magic of 35mm film,” said projection manager Rob Humanick. “Protecting this film and its equipment is of the utmost importance to us. It can be enjoyed for years to come.”

Barretta was not the only superfan in attendance. Another was Dave Osgood, who travels from Reading with his family each year.

“We are here as much as we can possibly be. I’m jealous of people who can come every night, because I’d never leave,” Osgood said.

Osgood said his son gifted him a Patreon membership to support the drive-in and help preserve the art form in the offseason.

For him, the experience is about more than movies.

“When you go to the movies, you probably don’t know who is taking your ticket or selling you popcorn. But here, everyone treats you like family. That, coupled with the nostalgia and retro technology, this is the place to be,” Osgood added.

Opening weekend festivities included costumed characters from “The Wizard of Oz” and “Willy Wonka,” photo opportunities and a Golden Ticket contest, with winners receiving a “swag bag” of drive-in merchandise.

One of the biggest crowd-pleasers was Rico, mascot for Rico’s Products, which invented concession nachos.

Celebrating its 50th year, Rico’s first sold concession nachos at a Texas Rangers game at Arlington Stadium in 1976.

Rico’s products have long been a staple for drive-in moviegoers, with the company’s advertisement appearing on screen for decades. Representatives sold nacho chips and cheese, air-popped corn, dill pickles and chamoy pickles, along with branded merchandise.

Company representatives said they were excited to bring the Nacho Truck out of Texas for the first time, with the drive-in as its destination.

“It’s a big deal that we’re here,” said brand marketing associate Claudia Moran. “We left San Antonio on Monday, stopping to meet a lot of fans, see a lot of retail stores, and so on. But the Mahoning Drive-In is our favorite destination.”

“It’s mind-bending that Rico’s is here, all the way from Texas,” said owner Virgil Cardamone. “We’d also like to thank our partners at Exhumed Films for their part in opening weekend.”

Concession lines stretched out the door until showtime.

“We always try to do cool little movie-themed names of foods and incorporate that into what we’re serving. But Rico’s sells itself,” said concession manager Beth Muller of Albrightsville, also known as Mama Cheeseburger.

“I first came to the Drive-In as a kid, and I haven’t left since. We really are one big happy family,” Muller added.

The drive-in will operate through the summer and into the fall for its 77th season. For more information, visit the Mahoning Drive-In website at www.mahoningdit.com.