Hi all (mostly anyone on Bonaire).

I just got word via e-mail that The Movies Bonaire is closing as of Monday, July 30th, apparently for good. Attendance has been dropping off, and costs have outpaced revenues.

For us movieholics, this is pretty tragic news... I guess we'll have to increase our investment in DVDs from this point forward. Sigh.

Jake

Jake,

I remember talking with Arthur when he first opened it and asking him why he was charging so much. He said, it was because it was the going rate. After discussing high volume at low prices vs. lower volume at high prices, he told me - and this on numerous occasions - that he wasn't in it for the profit.

Movies were his hobby and he just loved movies and seeing people entertained.

Too bad he changed his mind about the profit. It is a loss for Bonaire. Three cheers for VCDs...being here in Jakarta, it's hard to find a VCR, it's almost exclusively VCD - mostly pirated going for about a dollar.

The new released feature movies here in the theaters have gone from $2 to $3 since I've been here. But, they fill the seats - which I might add are 10x more comfortable than Bonaire's.

Where was the movie theater that was still open? I could have sworn we saw a movie theater in May but it was already closed and/or being converted into something else. Was there more than one? I would guess not by the gist of Jake's sadness. I, too, think this is a sad moment. I recall when New Jersey lost its last Drive In movie theater to the offers of a developer....a time and place to remember with fondness, now just a memory. So sad. Carole

What a perfect place for a drive In Theater...Bonaire ! if you build it they will come.. like the "field of dreams" ???...outdoor movie theater..under the stars...popcorn...goats..donkeys walking in front of the screen..I can see it now

At one time Bonaire had lots of open air movie theaters. Anyone care to hazard a guess as to where they were (still are). How 'bout it, Barry?

I remember Antriol and Terra Cora...there's a third one floating aroung my brain, but I don't think I can grasp it.

There is another one one near Ambona, near Niki boko North and a few more scattered around.

Has anyone started to freshen up the 'screens' with new paint?

I believe there was at least one in each village, and maybe two in Antriol.

I would love to see a movie at a Drive In theater in Bonaire! They still have one in Aruba....maybe we can start a campaign to get one of the old ones on Bonaire rolling the celluloid again!! Carole

Carole.... Great idea, but you might want to call it a 'drive-up' movie and bring a comfortable chair .

As you drive around Bonaire, you might see a vertical white wall, maybe 2 meters wide by 3 meters high, with open space (small field) in front (mostly weeds).

Those were the open movies that were provided for the residents. Then Hugo built a theater - across from Rendevous Restaurant - which somewhat 'closed' the outdoor movies. Then TVs and VCRs became cheaper and more widespread, alas, the theater and the open movies went by the wayside.

And they called it progress....

I thought they called it "population control".

More like a mosquito feeding station !!! If you wanna expose body parts to those vultures be may guest !!

Ok...put me in for stock in "Field of Dreams" drive in theater....sounds like a great idea....

How about showing Night of the Iguana?

How about " A Fish Named Wanda " ? or JAWS ! and then go night dive with Charlie the tarpon ! Yikes !
any movies with donkeys in the title ? any movies ever shot on location in Bonaire ? Has anyone ever seen the television coverage (thats a pun ) of the Carnival parade in Rio that is broadcast live in Feb ? quite the sight for us puritan New Englanders..no L.L. Bean turlenecks in that parade

how about the pre-movie cartoons? ...touche turtle?

just following up...
(touche turtle and his sidekick "dum-dum")

Hello all
There was one movie that I know of that was shot in Bonaire. "Sharks Treasure" starring Cornell Wilde. The props used in an underwater scene can stll be seen at Slagbaai.Two cannons and a length of chain, all cast in cement.They are straight out from the right hand building as you face the water, about 15 feet deep.I haven`t seen the movie in many years and don`t remember if any other scenes were shot in Bonaire.
Mickey

I guess the movies opened again. The folks were in line to see Pearl Harbour.

Annie
Cape Cod