Midway Drive-In Theatre - Minetto NY - Rebuilding Fundraiser (Facebook photo)
MINETTO, NY – The Midway Drive-In in Minetto is opening for the 69th season with a two movie feature for the first week showing Transformers (PG-13) and Baywatch (R ) from Friday July 14 – Thursday July 20.
But first, the season will officially kick off with a memorial showing of “A Reason to Celebrate” a documentary by Peter Mahan in honor of Midway Drive-In’s long-time owner whose unexpected passing delayed the opening as family and community alike mourned a great loss.
John Nagelschmidt V had owned the Midway Drive-In in Minetto since 1986, a natural progression following twenty years previous of working and managing the theatre since his first day after picking up a job in high school that quickly turned into a developing passion.
The documentary will be shown on Thursday, July 13 with free admission.
“(We want to) give a chance to thank our Midway family personally before the crazy season gets under way,” John’s daughter, Heidi Nagelschmidt said.
Originally with an intended opening date in late April/early May, the untimely death of Nagelschmidt on April 23 halted all progression toward opening the Midway’s 69th season.
“So much that my Dad did that I was unaware of,” Heidi said, noting all the hard work her family and Midway staff have undertaken in preparation of opening.
Faced with the seemingly impossible task to open the Midway with such short time to prepare while simultaneously mourning the loss of their father, Heidi said her mom became a source of strength for them.
“My mom has been our cheerleader and guidance through this whole process, she knows her stuff as she too has many years at the Midway,” Heidi said.
Nagelschmidt’s passing at age 73 was the result of a backhoe accident at the very place he loved and devoted himself to for so many years.
The news shook both the Nagelschmidt family, especially John’s wife, Judy and their two children Heidi and John Nagelschmidt VI, as well as the local community who knew of the deep devotion of John Nagelschmidt V to continue providing the Oswego County area with a service that is becoming less and less.
While drive-in’s nationwide may have dwindled, the Midway Drive-In continued to flourish under John Nagelschmidt V. So much so, that the Midway was voted the fourth best drive-in theatre across the nation by a USA Today poll taken in 2016.
As part of a well oiled machine, the staff at the Midway Drive-In help year after year to continue the successful track the theatre has been on.
But, according to staff, the work at Midway came second nature as the entire Midway staff and theatre became a “home away from home,” as Jenna Hotchkiss put it, a six-year Midway employee.
“The staff was like a second family,” Hotchkiss said. “John wasn’t a very open or talkative person, but we all knew that he cared about us in his own way.”
As part of that unspoken understanding, Nagelschmidt V was able to show his heartfelt appreciation for his staff and the continuum of care they provided to the Midway Drive-In and its patrons.
“He definitely appreciated his staff and because of that appreciation most of us kept coming back to work for him, even when we found second and third jobs or went to college,” she said.
She fondly remembered Nagelschmidt’s friendly demeanor, how quickly he would offer to buy food for staff on particularly long nights after patrons for the concession stand lined throughout the building and out the door.
His family, too, remembers John Nagelschmidt V as the dedicated person that he was, lasting a 30-year career as a science teacher in Fulton, nearly a lifetime of devotion to the Midway Drive-In, and a well balanced life as a father and husband.
John’s legacy at the Midway Drive-In will live on through his children as they open for the 69th season, keeping the tradition alive in Minetto, a sentiment that Heidi best describes as “bittersweet.”
“My father was always the person I looked to for guidance. I find myself frequently saying to myself, I need to call Dad and ask him this or that. What I wouldn’t give to hear ‘Nice job, Maria.’ I miss my hero. There was so much we all had to learn from him still. But one thing we definitely learned is ‘the show must go on!’ And it will… thanks to everyone, especially our Midway community that have been so patient and unending in their support,” Heidi said.
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So many memories over the last forty years! And now, keeping your Dad’s (and husband’s) legacy alive…making many more memories for young and old! Esp. all those youngsters who never knew who the guy was behind all that fun!
Thank you for taking on your Dad’s lifetime devotion to movies…and summer fun! Great pizza (I can smell it from here!), great popcorn (hmmmm)…everything except the long lines to the bathrooms, ha ha, which are also memories, of the ‘friends’ you make while you wait…
I had your father as one of my jr high teachers and even though I moved from Fulton for family illness I came home every year with my own family and kept the midway drive in as our tradition and I always said hi to your dad…my family is very sorry for your families and our loss of such a great man. Thank you for all you are doing. Stephanie Busler(Rennie)