Wex Drive-In Series Kicks Off June 18 with The Wolf Man

Free Movie, Free Jeni’s, A DJ, and More

Now a summer tradition attracting hundreds of visitors, the Wex Drive-In outdoor film series kicks off Thursday, June 18, on the Wexner Center Plaza, 15th Avenue and High Street, with the 1941 monster classic The Wolf Man. Admission is free.

The evening kicks off at 6:30 pm with a pre-film Warm-Up thrown by GenWex (the Wexner Center’s young patrons group), where moviegoers can come early, enjoy free Jeni’s Splended Ice Creams and Pam’s Market Popcorn, grab a cold one from the cash bar, stake out some blanket space, listen to some tunes provided by local DJ trueskillz, and mingle with other film fans. As night falls, The Wolf Man—starring Lon Cheney as a man bitten by a werewolf, and also featuring Bela Lugosi and Claude Rains—will be screened under the stars (the film runtime is 70 mins). In the event of rain, the screening will move inside to the Wexner Center Film/Video Theater (but the Warm-Up party will be cancelled).

As in previous years, Wexner Center members will receive a Wex Drive-In mug that entitles them to drink discounts at the Drive-Ins. New members that sign up at the Drive-In will be treated to a mug, a film/video T-shirt, and two free film passes to regularly priced Wexner Center films (a $34 value).

LINKS:

The Wolf Man trailer

Selected images from Wex Drive-in (zip)

Podcast on summer films at the Wex

UPCOMING WEX DRIVE-INS:

Thursday, July 23: American Graffiti* (George Lucas, 1973, 110 mins., 35mm), the hit-filled coming of age film set amid the sock-hops and drive-ins of Modesto, California, in the pre–Vietnam War era, with DJ Wolfman Jack spinning the records that set the mood.

Thursday, August 20: O Brother, Where Art Thou?* (Joel Coen, 2000, 102 mins., 35mm), a Depression-era comedy that led to a resurgence in the popularity of American bluegrass, with George Clooney, Tim Blake Nelson, and John Turturro .

*These films are also part of the Soundtrack Available: Music in American Film series.

EVENT AND SEASON SUPPORT

Significant contributions for the Wexner Center’s 2008–09 film/video season are made by the Rohauer Collection Foundation. Wex Drive-In is presented with major support from Orange Barrel Media. Additional support provided by ZenGenius and Reed Arts. In-kind support is provided by Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams and Pam’s Market Popcorn. Promotional support is provided by CD 101, ColumbusUnderground.com, The Other Paper, and WOSU: Public Media. The preferred airline of the film/video program is American Airlines/American Eagle. All film/video programs and events also receive support from the Corporate Annual Fund of the Wexner Center Foundation and Wexner Center members, as well as from the Greater Columbus Arts Council, The Columbus Foundation, Nationwide Foundation, and the Ohio Arts Council.