Latest news with #KnoxvilleHorrorFilmFestival
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Enjoy movies with the stars at Parkway Drive-In, a premier summer pastime in Maryville
You can watch movies from a recliner or on an IMAX screen in Knoxville, but you don't have to drive far to enjoy a blast from the past with movies under the stars at the Parkway Drive-In in Maryville. The Parkway Drive-In theater calls back to a time many modern moviegoers have forgotten or never experienced before: sitting in your car or lawn chair watching a movie under the night sky. Basking in the warm summer nights while watching the latest blockbusters is a great way to watch movies with friends and family without breaking the bank on concessions. Parkway is operating all summer long at 2909 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway. The drive-in also has been used as a venue for Knoxville Horror Film Festival. April began the new Parkway season, which lasts into the fall. Tickets are cash-only with no refunds, and they cover admission to both halves of the scheduled double features: Adults: $10 per person Children 5 to 12: $5 person Children 4 and under: Free For special events, the theater may charge per car. Readmission is not allowed, so be prepared to stick around once inside. If you do leave, you'll need to buy another round of tickets for reentry. Hold onto your ticket stub just in case a staff member asks to see it. Audio from the films is broadcast on 100.9 FM. You can use the radio in your car or bring your own if you plan to sit outside. The theater has a limited number of radios that you can rent for $3. You just have to hand over your ID until the radio is returned. Gates open at 7 p.m., and the movies start at dusk or dark, about 40 minutes after sunset. For example, the theater is showing the new Disney live-action remake "Lilo & Stitch" at 9:15 p.m., followed by "Karate Kid Legends" at 11:20 p.m. May 30-31. Moviegoers who arrive when gates open at 7 p.m. should have time to grab concessions, chat with family and play with friends in the field before the first movie begins. The theater shows newly released films every Friday and Saturday. The theater will show a major new release first, followed by a film that premiered a few weeks prior. Movies always play in the order on the marquee. The drive-in usually sticks to family-friendly films but will have weekend showings that target an older crowd. The theater releases a schedule each week on Facebook and on its website at The theater sells classic movie snacks like popcorn, candy and soda. Additionally, the drive-in has a full menu that includes burgers, chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, fries, onion rings, chicken strips, nachos and ice cream. The best part? No concession item exceeds $10, so you can order a lot without feeling like you're breaking the bank. The concession stand accepts cash and cards. The theater does not allow food delivery, cooking, grilling or food preparation on the property. Concessions are the main revenue source for the drive-in. The movies play "rain or stars," as the theater notes on its website. The only exception is if there's a tornado warning, in which case, the theater will post about the closing on its website and social media accounts. Each vehicle can park in a 10-foot-wide spot, and there are two spots between poles in the ground. Guests need to park within two feet of a pole to keep the grid organized. Parking attendants will guide vehicles. The speed limit is five miles per hour. Guests can't have anything above their vehicle roof that would block someone else's view, though parking accommodations can be made for motor homes or larger vehicles. Guests can bring chairs to sit outside their vehicle, but only within their spot. Tents, popups or anything else that obstructs someone else's view are not allowed. The drive-in has a list of prohibited items and activities: Illegal substances or activity Laster pointers Fireworks Riding bicycles, skateboards, roller skates or scooters Obscene language Vehicle lighting including headlights and brake lights Underage tobacco use Talking loudly during the movie or using horns and radios playing loud music Bass amps Smoking is allowed for people are of legal age, but the drive-in does not sell tobacco products. East Tennessee has four other drive-in theaters: Sparta Drive-in - 220 Roberts Matthews Highway in Sparta Swingin' Midway Drive-in - 2133 Highway 30 East in Athens Stateline Drive-in - 3690 Highway 19 East in Elizabethton Twin City Drive-In Theatre - 2512 Volunteer Parkway in Bristol Keenan Thomas reports for the Knox News business growth and development team. You can reach him by email at Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks at This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Parkway Drive-In shows new films at classic Maryville movie experience
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Cinematary is 'one of Knoxville's better kept secrets' for movie buffs after 11 years
No matter how you cut it, Knoxville is a movie town, from Regal Cinemas being headquartered here to the independent Central Cinema continuing to grow its Knoxville Horror Film Festival. But one of Knoxville's "better kept secrets" when it comes to film is a long-running movie podcast called Cinematary, which is celebrating its 500th episode and the start of a new era. It began 11 years ago in Knoxville, growing its audience internationally over the years with a variety of guests and four hosts who use the platform to share their opinions of movies new and old. They are: Zach Dennis, audience editor at The Charlotte Observer (Favorite movie: 'Night of the Hunter') Andrew Swafford, high school English teacher (Favorite movie: 'School of Rock') Michael O'Malley, high school English teacher (Favorite movie: "Babe") Grace Winburne, librarian and bartender (Favorite movie: 'Singin' in the Rain") 'Cinematary has been such a foundational part of my life for over a decade now," Dennis told Knox News. "It's been different lately, just kind of taking a step back and reflecting on that. Not only the movies that we saw − the movies that we talked about, the different episodes − but just the people that I met, the friendships and groups that we had through this thing." The hosts will gather at 8 p.m. May 3 to play Wes Anderson's film "The Grand Budapest Hotel" at Central Cinema, followed by a live podcast commemorating their 500th episode. They'll discuss the film, address the audience and reminisce with an interview conducted by Darren Hughes, co-founder of The Public Cinema and organizer for Film Fest Knox. The night brings together major players in Knoxville's cinema scene under one roof at 1205 N. Central St., and tickets can be purchased at Dennis was studying journalism at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville when he wrote an article about the UT Cinema Club and its presidents at the time, Dylan Moore and Andrew Swafford. One of Dennis' classes discussed the newer medium of podcasts, so he pitched an idea to the club presidents. The first Cinematary episode launched in 2014. "Podcasting was so new,' Swafford said. 'I think I had listened to some podcasts, but I wasn't quite sure what (Dennis was) asking of us. I thought (he was) maybe asking for us to be on the radio or something." It took a few episodes for them to find their footing, eventually settling into a groove and starting series that focused on specific film topics. One of the first was called "Young Critics Watch Old Movies," in which they pick landmark films from each decade to discuss, like "The Godfather" and "Blade Runner." The newest iteration includes 'The Phantom Carriage,' 'Pinocchio' and 'Repo Man.' Some of the other series are "Tennessee Auteurs," "Journalism in Film" and "Cinematary Re-Do," which reappraises films they've covered before. 'It's been kind of our excuse to continue film school to a degree,' Dennis said. 'Eleven years ago, I had such a small movie knowledge, and now I don't know if it's any bigger, but at least I've gone to more places with it." Since then, the hosts have launched a website and attended multiple film festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival and the Knoxville Horror Film Festival. The podcast has featured international guests, from film writers to scholars, and they even talked to the creators of Letterboxd before the movie reviewing app grew in popularity. 'It does feel like one of Knoxville's better kept secrets," Swafford said. "I don't know how big of a Knoxville audience we actually have. A lot of the people who have written into the show are from India or Spain or somewhere − people who are getting pointed our way through internet algorithms." Previous contributors include Dylan Moore, Lydia Creech, Jessica Carr and Nadine Smith, all of whom helped define the podcast. O'Malley joined in 2017, while Winburne is the newest addition, first appearing in 2020. 'It's been so fantastic to have people like Michael and Grace join because they bring new passion, new ideas, different ways of thinking about things that always kind of refreshes the group,' Dennis said. The hosts chose "The Grand Budapest Hotel" as their anniversary episode subject for two reasons: It's a big, vibrant film anyone can enjoy, and it's also the first film Cinematary dedicated an entire episode to discussing. It also fits in the "Re-Do" series, and Winburne has a special connection to director Wes Anderson. 'He was the first director for me where I felt like I was establishing my own film taste and aesthetics. I caught him in a pretty influential time," Winburne said. "That first movie for me was 'Moonrise Kingdom,' and then from there I went all the way back and then all the way forward, and I've been a loyal Wes Anderson fan throughout." The event caps off "Season One of Cinematary," Winburne said, as the group plans to take a brief hiatus afterward. The hosts are reconfiguring Cinematary to produce series that are more focused and that dive into different topics while giving themselves more time for research and stronger production. Instead of bi-weekly episodes, Cinematary will focus on one series at a time with one episode per week. Once the series concludes, they'll take a break and repeat the process. The length of each series will depend on "what we feel works," Dennis said. As the hosts prepare for their next chapter, they shared some of their favorite memories from the first 500 episodes. Favorite memory for Dennis: The first episode and attending the Toronto International Film Festival for the first time. Favorite memory for Swafford: Anniversary episodes like Cinematary's 200th in which they drunkenly summarized complex movies like David Lynch's 'Mullholand Drive' and Hideaki Anno's 'The End of Evangelion.' Favorite memory for O'Malley: Covering films screened during the Big Ears Music Festival or curating series, like the ones about international animation and Biblical films. 'Those kinds of series where we allow a main person to curate it is a good excuse to get people to go through your own obsession with you, and I had a good time with that,' he said. Favorite memory for Winburne: Inviting her dad on Cinematary to discuss David Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia" and flex his film knowledge. "That is definitely an episode I will cherish for the rest of my life, knowing that we got to share in something so special, share our love for cinema with Cinematary and with listenership," she said. Keenan Thomas reports for the Knox News business growth and development team. You can reach him by email at Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks at This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Movie podcast Cinematary based in Knoxville celebrating 500 episodes
