Birth of the Drive-In

Can you guess where the first outdoor movie theater was created? It was right in the backyard of Richard Hollingshead in Camden, New Jersey. Richard mounted a 1928 Kodak projector on the hood of his car; he used it to project onto a screen he nailed to trees in his backyard. He placed a radio behind the screen for sound, and then began to test his idea. Richard tested sound with the windows up, down and half way. He experimented with the various weather conditions; using his lawn sprinkler he replicated a rainstorm. Richard liked what he saw and heard. After receiving a patent for his idea, Richard opened the first drive-in theater in Airport Circle, New Jersey on June 6, 1933.

Since Drive-In Theaters were new to most people, drive-ins would host an “Open House” during the day to let people know what to expect. They would show the customers how to park, how the sound systems worked, and what food was available in the concession stands. A few theater owners even gave the customers the ability to order from their car and have a car hop deliver. This attracted a lot of customers to the drive-in movie.

Although most drive-in theaters have closed down since the 1990s, people have been experimenting with their own backyard theaters. Depending on the space available, it may simply be a temporary version with foldable screen, a projector and couple of speakers, or a permanent fixture with huge screens and dedicated audio set up in the back. Due to the outdoor nature, it is quite popular with BBQ parties and pool parties. Just like the crowds of the 1930’s through the 1950′s, it seems that a new generation has taken an old concept and discovered a new approach to outdoor movie theaters.

Let Fun Flicks help to host your next outdoor movie party. We bring the screen, projector and an awesome sound system! All you have to do is supply the movie. We even have old fashioned popcorn machines.

Fun Flicks Rolls Out in Style!

We are super excited about our new Fun Flicks trailer!

Brands Imaging did an amazing wrap on our little guy and we couldn’t be happier with the results!

Keep an eye out for the Fun Flicks trailer rolling out to your next event!

Hello Goodbye

Last night the GO FESTIVE! team said goodbye to our first class of graduating interns (Brittany, Graham, and Tina) and hello to our new summer interns, Ashley and Abby. In a competitive bowling game series the interns reminisced about their time at GO FESTIVE! and chattered about what the future holds. Although Christine and Abby were missed, the night included piles of the best tater tots we’ve ever had, videos of flash mobs, photos to remember the night and personalized gifts for all the graduates! We wish Brittany, Graham and Tina all the best as they move on…although it’s rumored there may be a reunion for a Philly flash mob dance! Brittany, Graham, and Tina will all be missed here at GO FESTIVE! and the new interns have big shoes to fill!!

GO FESTIVE! Goes to the Dogs!

Everyone, it’s time you met the youngest member of the GO FESTIVE! team: Agda!

Agda is a 7 month old Yellow Labrador Retriever. Her duties around the office include napping, snarfing up crumbs, locating various inedible bits of stuff to put in her mouth, and charming visitors. She excels at her job. Agda’s name comes from Swedish culture and means “pure”. She is a card-carrying member of the AKC and in her spare time enjoys visiting the dog park, playing with her Kong, and following her owners (GO FESTIVE! team member Christine and boyfriend Todd) around the house.

Rumor has it that eventually the doggie-division of GO FESTIVE! will expand, once company owner Natalie and her husband Matt decide to take the puppy plunge!

Until next time…

Keep it Festive, everybody!

BATTLE BLAST! Mobile Laser Tag Launch Party

Hey Festive Friends! We hope you all got a chance to stop by our launch party last Friday – it was a real treat! As you may have heard, we are now offering mobile laser tag parties! We bring the inflatable obstacles and the guns, and you provide teams of people ready to have fun! Our laser tag parties can take place indoors – in a gym, cafeteria, even in an office, amongst the cubicles! Of course we can also bring the party outdoors (day OR night!) to play on an open field, in your backyard, or around a community park!

To introduce this great new service to the public, we had a launch party on March 5 at our building, 2424 Studios which has a space just perfect for large gatherings and good times – the Skybox! We set up our inflatable laser tag obstacles and ran laser tag games all evening long. To keep our guests entertained while waiting their turn, we also had a photobooth and a JUMBO 21′ tall inflatable screen where guests played Wii Fit and Guitar Hero!

One of the best things about GO FESTIVE! is our team – they’re all great people who love to have a good time. And they have great friends and family members who  came to pitch in for setting up the party. Of course, we wanted them to enjoy as well! From our owner Natalie’s husband Matt to the friends and family of our team members, people turned out to enjoy and make the party a success! Check out the pictures below from this great night of fun!

Of course, a GO FESTIVE! party wouldn’t be a party without the photobooth that started it all! Christine and Todd finally got to jump in the booth together for the first time…

To top off this great evening, GO FESTIVE! held a drawing – the winner won a free two hour BATTLE BLAST Laser Tag Party for up to 24 people. The lucky winner was Jess Croll, a teacher in Chester School District. So congrats to Jess, and thanks to everyone who came out to join us!

Our Blushing Bride

Natalie, the owner of GO FESTIVE!, got married on January 2, 2010! She did not want to make a big deal about it on our blog, hence the blushing bride, but I think it is a huge deal. I’ve been hearing tidbits about the wedding throughout the planning process and since the special day (but I won’t say too much).

Natalie and her new husband, Matt, were married at the Sheraton Society Hill and hired Synergetic Sounds and Lighting for lighting, Tanti Lina at Papertini for floral décor, Smokin’ Section for entertainment, Susan Stripling for photography and Christopher Rodgers of Xposedfilm as her videographer. Her friend and colleague, Mark Kingsdorf of Queen of Hearts Weddings acted as her day-of coordinator to make sure that everything ran smoothly! Of course they had a photobooth and flipbooks station as well. Having the flipbooks station set up for the wedding party between the ceremony and reception was a great way to keep everyone busy and having fun while pictures were being taken!

After the wedding, Natalie and Matt went on what sounded like a very relaxing honeymoon cruise. Upon their return to reality we had a GO FESTIVE! Holiday Party at North Bowl. It was a pleasure to meet Matt and bowl with the entire GO FESTIVE! team. Then, in an office meeting last week we took a 5 minute break to look at some of Natalie and Matt’s pictures and a video of the wedding and reception. The couple looked so happy and in love but it was even more adorable to hear her giggle and see her smile while we all looked at the footage together.

GO FESTIVE! Has new interns!

GO FESTIVE! has a few new interns! They’ve joined our team in order to get a taste of what running your own small business is all about, as well as to help us serve our customers better. They’re all hard workers, and having them around is a big help – and great fun! They’ll be introducing themselves one by one here on the blog, so stay tuned to meet the newest members of the GO FESTIVE! team. Everyone, meet Tina!

Hi there!

My name is Tina Khaladze which is derived from the Georgian name Tinatin, meaning the reflection of a sunray on the morning dew. As you would probably guess I am originally from Republic of Georgia. I came to the United States a year ago to attend the Temple University Fox School of Business, where I major in Entrepreneurship. I will be senior in January, 2010. I am Director of Marketing for the International Student Association and a Secretary of the College Council at Fox School. Most importantly, I am a part of the marketing team at GO FESTIVE!

Besides my interest in business, I love acting, dancing, movies, theater, photography and generally deeply appreciate art. I also like to read, have interesting conversations with people, think about existence or enjoy the sunset and daydream. Oh and I love rain.

Gaining experiences in personal and professional life have been one of my top priorities… Being an opportunist, I did not want to miss the chance of interning at GO FESTIVE! I could certainly say that I am proud of my choice. I hope to contribute greatly to the company and would love to assist you!

GO FESTIVE! has New Interns!

GO FESTIVE! has a few new interns! They’ve joined our team in order to get a taste of what running your own small business is all about, as well as to help us serve our customers better. They’re all hard workers, and having them around is a big help – and great fun! They’ll be introducing themselves one by one here on the blog, so stay tuned to meet the newest members of the GO FESTIVE! team.

Brittany Julian:

Hey all! My name is Brittany… I’m an Army brat so I say I’m from “everywhere” but the last place that I settled was Clarks Summit, PA. I attended the University of Scranton for 2 years before transferring to Temple University. I hated Philadelphia for the first year and frequently escaped back to the “country.” Now that I am experiencing what city life can offer… I love it!

Most people look at me funny when I tell them I’m an Entrepreneurship major. Just the other day I was talking to an entrepreneur who said, “Isn’t entrepreneurship about going into something blindly and figuring it out as you go? I think Temple is razzing you.” In all honesty, I am really only learning things that will benefit my personal life. However, I am enjoying my second internship in which I’m learning things that will benefit my future career. Over the summer I interned at The Inn at Nichols Village and got a feel for in-house event planning. Now, at GO FESTIVE! I am learning the ins and outs of growing a new business. After I graduate in May I plan to be an event coordinator.

I hope to work with you as you plan your next festivity!

~Britt

GO FESTIVE! has New Interns – Meet Graham

GO FESTIVE! has a few new interns! They’ve joined our team in order to get a taste of what running your own small business is all about, as well as to help us serve our customers better. They’re all hard workers, and having them around is a big help – and great fun! They’ll be introducing themselves one by one here on the blog, so stay tuned to meet the newest members of the GO FESTIVE! team.

Graham Hunter:

I’m originally from Los Angeles, California but moved to Philadelphia to study Entrepreneurship. When not in school I help to run the local swing dance organization Lindy and Blues. Also, I am fairly involved with the local Barbershop Chorus chapter.

Give us a call and maybe I’ll be the one to help you!

-Graham

GO FESTIVE! Off To A Running Start In Our New Office!

It’s been quite a busy week here at GO FESTIVE! At the beginning of the month we took occupancy of our brand new office space at 2424 Studios, located at 2424 E. York St. in Philadelphia. The building itself was originally a warehouse, right in the heart of one of the oldest industrial neighborhoods in the nation, Fishtown. The development group of 2424 has done a great job renovating this behemoth building into large, airy studio and office spaces. The building also includes “The Skybox” a 6,500 square foot event space available to rent for gallery openings, parties….even movie nights like the ones we at GO FESTIVE! specialize in!

Moving day was Monday, August 3. Thankfully our former office space is very near to 2424, so we accomplished the move all by ourselves. Owner Natalie, assistant Christine, and photobooth attendant-turned-helping hand Katelyn gathered to pack up the old office. Natalie’s mother Sue joined us to help move boxes, computers, and office equipment over to 2424. Once there, we had a furniture assembly party – you can’t take over a beautiful brand new office and not get some swanky new furniture for it!

Once all the furniture was together and most of the unpacking done for the day, we realized that our nice new office had gotten rather messy! Parts of 2424 are still under construction, so we had tracked in quite a bit of dust. It was almost 7 o’clock, and we really wanted to enjoy a post-move celebratory meal. But we didn’t want to leave the office looking dusty. Thankfully, there was an easy solution! The newest member of the GO FESTIVE! team is a little guy we call Zoomba the Roomba – one of those vacuuming robots! We all had a good laugh when we saw Zoomba scurrying around the room cleaning up after us for the first time.

Free from the toil of clean-up, we enjoyed a drink and an excellent meal at The Memphis Taproom, a gastropub located only a few blocks from 2424. Excellent wings and enormous burgers, in case anyone’s looking for a good place for a meal!

For the rest of the week, we settled into our new home. There’s still some decorating to be done in the new office, but our operations are up and running. And a good thing too: this week alone we booked over a dozen movie events! September’s calendar is filling up quickly with back-to-school parties, weddings, end-of-summer bashes and other events, so if you’re thinking of booking for September, you’d best call soon!

Check out the pictures of our great new office space below. We look forward to continuing our great service to our customers from our new location. Stop by and see us sometime, at 2424 or online at our new website: www.gofestive.com!

Pictures from Moving Day: