If you're a fan of the drive-in / grindhouse era, there's a good chance you've seen films that Sam Sherman was involved with. Sherman worked in the publicity department of distributor Hemisphere Pictures, then started his own production and distribution company Independent-International Pictures, and he was strongly associated with filmmaker Al Adamson. Seeing that drive-ins, the venues that gave him most of his success back in the day, are now the only venues keeping the box office going during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sherman is looking to contribute to a drive-in resurgence by bringing films he distributed back to drive-in screens.
Sherman is teaming with veteran drive-in distributor Mel Maron, David Sehring of Drive-In-Sanity Films, drive-in promoter George Reis, and David Gregory of Severin Films to take the newly restored reissue of the Independent-International Pictures library on a roadshow tour, screening the films at drive-ins across the United States. The tour begins at the Circle Drive-In Theatre in Dickson City, Pennsylvania on May 26th with a showing of Al Adamson's 1971 film DRACULA VS. FRANKENSTEIN.
Other events will include a screening of the BLOOD ISLAND franchise at the Riverside Drive-In in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania this fall.
Sherman describes himself as "the P.T. Barnum of drive-in movies" and will be providing drive-in owners with gimmicks, gags, and limited edition souvenirs. Screenings will also feature special guest appearances and raffles. Sherman says,
As an exploitation pioneer, I know how to recapture the magic and campy fun that my films brought to drive-ins during their heyday with good old-fashioned ballyhoo and showmanship … something that has been missing for years in the film business. I think kids and their folks will get a big kick out of seeing something you rarely see today."
I love the drive-in moviegoing experience, and was lucky enough to grow up in an area where there are still multiple drive-ins in operation. While there were around 4000 drive-ins showing movies in the United States in the late '50s, that number has dwindled down to around 330 at this point. I would be very happy to see that number start climbing back up.