Wallis Cinemas’ Mainline Drive-in at Gepps Cross will close by the end of summer

Was it backseat snogging? The mad rush to leave after the movie? Hiding mates in the boot? Mainline Drive-in is closing forever – we want to know what you remember.

In its heyday, 800 cars piled through the gates at Wallis Cinemas’ Mainline Drive-in on a Saturday night as families and friends flocked to watch the latest blockbusters.

But the Wallis family is announcing the difficult decision to close the city’s last remaining drive-in following falling attendances and challenges facing the film industry, exacerbated by the pandemic.

The Gepps Cross venue will close in February, on a yet-to-be-decided date, leaving Coober Pedy with the state’s only remaining drive-in cinema.

The company says weekly Sunday markets at Gepps Cross will continue indefinitely, and a long-term plan for the site – including decisions about whether it may be sold – are yet to be made.

Branding manager Deanna Wallis said on Monday the business had been debating the future of the drive-in, which she affectionately referred to as “the old girl”, for some time.

Lorna, Michelle and Deanna Wallis at their Mainline Drive-In in Gepps Cross, which is set to close in February. Picture: Brenton Edwards

One last choc-top for the road? Picture: Brenton Edwards

“Being the last metropolitan drive-in, it wasn’t an easy decision at all,” Miss Wallis said.

“We’ve tried our best as a family to keep pushing through and fighting because it’s such a special piece of SA history.

“There’s been multiple issues over time, the main one being Covid and the impact that’s had on the broader film industry – that pushed it over the edge.”

The cinema opened in 1955, and its heyday continued through the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

Now on a good night, the attraction hosts 300 or 400 cars, but on quiet nights, fewer than 100 arrive.

Cars parked at the Wallis Mainline Drive-In at Gepps Cross. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Remember the drive-in days?

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While the venue is popular in summertime, daylight savings means films must start late.

Attendances dwindle in winter, and like other cinemas, it was also hit hard by the arrival of streaming services and illegal film downloads.

The drive-in reopened after a huge fire in 2017 caused $400,000 damage.

Discussions with the 20 staff would focus on their future options, Miss Wallis said.

“At the moment, our main priority is our staff, our customers and the amazing product that we do have lined up between now and February,” she said.

Projectionist Dan Klaebe working at Mainline Drive In Theatre at Gepps Cross in 2009.

The company is labelling the drive-in’s last line up as “Our last summer; memories that remain”.

Among major films to be screened is Ghostbusters: Afterlife, scheduled for an advanced screening on New Year’s Eve, along with Spider-Man: No Way Home, The Boss Baby: Family Business, Sing 2 and Venom: Let There Be Carnage.

Miss Wallis said her “absolute favourite” memory of the drive-in was when Wallis hosted a carnival at Gepps Cross, after the Royal Adelaide Show was cancelled in September.

“It was so lovely to see so many families and children having fun – that was really special,” she said.

Wallis previously operated the Hiline drive-in at Panorama, Blueline at West Beach, Parkline at Mitchell Park, Valleyline at St Agnes and Oceanline at Christies Beach.

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