Marcella Snyder has dedicated years to modernizing the Tibbs Drive-In Theatre for today’s audience. She’s introduced broader parking spaces, vibrant new artwork, and an enhanced vegan menu, aiming to ensure the survival of Indianapolis’ sole remaining drive-in cinema.
Since 2019, Snyder, aged 38, has taken the helm as the primary owner and operations manager of the theater. Her journey with the drive-in began in the late ’90s when she started working there every summer at the age of 14. This year marks her 25th season, and her enthusiasm for the drive-in experience hasn’t waned.
Snyder describes the sense of community and joy felt when movie-goers gather before the show starts, engaging in fun activities like frisbee. It’s a feeling of warmth and camaraderie shared with around 1,200 others.
Snyder’s connection to drive-ins is personal; it was the first job for her and her two brothers. They grew up close to the theater, and after finishing high school, Snyder juggled multiple jobs to fund her college education, eventually earning degrees in communication and biotechnology from IUPUI.
In 2018, she took a position as a quality assurance specialist at LabCorp but continued to be drawn back to the drive-in. By 2019, she and her partner took ownership of the theater. Snyder now spends three hours nightly preparing for the reopening, driven by a desire to share the unique drive-in experience with more people in Indianapolis.
Her ownership opportunity came from her dedication and the impression she made on the previous owners, Ed and Agnes Quilling. They trained Snyder and her partner to take over, covering everything from inventory management to navigating the complexities of movie studio negotiations.
Tibbs Drive-In Theatre offers two movies per screen each night, a selection process heavily influenced by studio preferences and pricing strategies. Despite these challenges, Snyder strives to keep prices affordable, especially for concessions, to maintain the drive-in as a family-friendly venue.
This season, visitors will notice several improvements, including upgraded projectors, a repaired concession stand roof, and wider parking spots to accommodate modern vehicles. The vegan menu has expanded, and new murals by Jon Stommel of Rather Severe adorn the concession stand, celebrating both Indiana and the drive-in culture.
As the opening week approaches, Snyder is focused on enhancing the drive-in for a new generation, aiming to improve the community experience and the overall atmosphere of the venue.
Tibbs Drive-In Theatre, located at 480 S. Tibbs Ave., will open its season on March 22, with shows running from Friday through Sunday. The lineup includes “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” Bong Joon Ho’s “Mickey 17,” and “The First Omen,” among others. For more details, visit their website.
Mirror Indy reporter Enrique Saenz covers west Indianapolis. For more information or to get in touch, you can contact him via email or follow him on Twitter @heyEnriqueSaenz.