WOODLAND- Visitors to the Super 322 Drive-In Theater Monday had a “howling” good time viewing unique vehicles, watching a special movie and meeting Munster’s star Butch Patrick, a.k.a. Eddie Munster, the young werewolf son of Herman and Lily Munster.
Patrick’s odyssey with The Munsters began when he was eleven years old and offered the role of Eddie in 1964, out of hundreds of boys vying for the role.
The show lasted two seasons until 1966, had a few spin-off films and then found a following in syndication.
Patrick moved onto other roles over the years until joining his father’s work in 1975, though he still has kept his foot in the business, writing music and making guest appearances on shows and movies.
Patrick has said that he began to embrace the Munster “mayhem” years later after reconnecting with Al Lewis (Grandpa Munster) and then later reconnected with Yvonne De Carlo (Lily Munster), keeping in touch until their respective deaths in 2006 and 2007.
Now Patrick is touring drive-in theaters as part of his Summer Scream tour, designed to bring attention to a part of American culture that has seen a downfall in the past few decades: the drive-in movie experience.
Patrick said on Monday that he has always loved living in small towns and going to drive-in theaters, many of which struggle to stay open now.
He said he wants kids today to experience the fun of a drive-in and is touring theaters and trying to set up a network and encourage other stars to come and visit and draw attention to this unique form of entertainment.
During it’s height, the drive-in theater craze saw over 4,000 theaters. Though that number has dwindled to closer to 400, interest is starting up again and Pennsylvania is lucky to have the most open theaters in the nation.
The Super 322 was number three on his summer tour, Patrick said, and he is planning on visiting 30 “east of the Mississippi and north of the Mason-Dixon” this year, ending in his home state of Arkansas after traveling around the mid-east and then west.
Owners Bill and Barb Frankhouser were very happy to have Patrick visit, noting that they had to do some work to figure out when would be the best time to have him come due to some rules the movie studios have.
“People are having a good time,” Bill Frankhouser noted, looking around the parking lot at the people, especially young adults and children.
When asked if they would welcome other stars as part of Patrick’s plan to bring more attention to drive-in theaters, he said part of it would depend on scheduling, but they would be happy to welcome whoever wants to come and visit.
“We are always up to trying something new,” he remarked, recalling the summer of 2020 when they showed Blazing Saddles and served beans in the snack bar. “People loved that!”
Patrick also brought with him a replica of the iconic Drag-U-La car featured in The Munsters show and also in the movie Munster, Go Home!, which was shown at dusk Monday.
According to Wikipedia, the “coffin car” was “…designed by prolific show car designer Tom Daniel while working for George Barris and Barris Kustom Industries.”
The original featured a Ford Mustang V-8 engine and four speed stick shift.
Patrick’s special motorcycle, “Eddie’s Chopper” was also on display. Patrick explained that he designed the motorcycle 23 years ago and it was built by USA Choppers, and he gave it to a friend, then later bought it back from him.
Patrick also visited Mid-Penn Bank and Bob’s Army-Navy store in Clearfield.
If you missed your chance to see Butch Patrick and Drag-U-La and to pick up some fun Munster’s merchandise, Patrick is making a few more stops in Pennsylvania, including Thursday at the Silver Drive-In, Johnstown, Saturday at It’s a Car Cruise-In (Bellville, OH), and then June 30 he’ll be back in PA for the Sunset Drive-In in Waterford.
The sponsors were Mid Penn Bank, Bob’s Army & Navy, Visit Clearfield County, CNB Bank, Larry’s BBQ & Catering, State Farm Ins.–Lindsie Wisor, Jim’s Sport Center, Action Graphics, Central Mts AACA, Sherick Financial, Holiday Inn Express & Suites-Clearfield, and Curtze Food Service.
