Aschheim drive-in cinema opens despite curfew - special solution found

Bavarian drive-in cinemas have been closed for six months due to Corona - now they are allowed to open.

Because of the curfew, there is an alternative solution in Aschheim.

Aschheim -

Axel Wahmke, managing director of the Ascheimer drive-in cinema, sits lonely between the red chairs in the foyer of his own cinema snack bar. Dusty movie posters hang on the inside walls of the house. Most of the advertised strips would have long been available on DVD under normal conditions. But many of them are still waiting for visitors a year after their theoretical theatrical release. They can come back next week.

The 56-year-old drive-in cinema owner is in good spirits.

He reminisces about old times - and is happy that things are now looking up.

In the meantime it didn't look like it at all: All five drive-in cinemas in Germany that are under Wahmke's responsibility are currently still closed.

In Aschheim, the Starnberger locked the gates at the beginning of November - the Bavarian Infection Protection Act did not provide for any special regulations for drive-in cinemas.

So far, visitors have only been allowed to enter the area to get to the corona test station *.

They have been on the drive-in area since Easter.

Drive-in cinema Aschheim "approved regardless of incidence" - but the curfew prevents performances

That changed on Tuesday. Members of the Bavarian Cabinet decided: "Drive-in cinemas are permitted regardless of the incidence" - a hygiene concept and FFP2 mask requirement outside of the vehicles is required. But one problem remained: The late sunset collides with the curfew from 10 p.m. - a cinema screening in the dark would not be possible purely in terms of time.

Wahmke has therefore found a special solution for the Aschheim branch *: “As of Wednesday next week, we will have an LED screen available that enables presentations even in daylight,” says the managing director. He hopes that the trend from last summer will continue. “The drive-in cinema format has seen a huge boom,” recalls the 56-year-old. Many came for the first time because of Corona - and may stay as regular customers.

Stefan Mund, theater manager of the drive-in cinema in Aschheim, explains: "Thanks to the opening in summer, we were able to stay afloat very well." In his branch in the Munich district he used the time until now to improve the website and paint walls.

There will also be a novelty soon: "An app with which visitors can order their snacks and have them delivered to their car." Mund says: "This means that guests can forego any contact - they don't even have to get out."

Drive-in cinema Aschheim opens with a strict hygiene concept - "Guests want to forget Corona for an evening"

According to Wahmke, this has not been a problem so far: “I have never heard of guests who were infected in our branches.” Public toilets, restaurants to go and parking spaces - after all, all of this is also available in public spaces.

Only without the supervision of Wahmke's employees.

And without their infection protection concept.

"When it comes to hygiene, the most important time is shortly before the film starts," says Mund.

It is already getting dark outside.

The best spaces in front of the screen are occupied.

Visitors get out of their cars, freshen up and buy popcorn at the snack bar.

The mood is good.

"And the guests laugh and look forward to an evening where they can forget about Corona *."

At this scene, Wahmke only saw visitors who wanted to band together with other guests once. “Young adults, divided into three or four cars, formed a group.” Until they were approached by the staff. They showed their understanding and quickly redistributed. The manager says: "If they hadn't come to see us, they would have taken over Papa's party room." Because of such experiences, he is happy that the guests can come back next week.

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