Uncovering Nevada’s Drive-In Theater Past—Reno Market KRNV News 4
Did you know there was once a period of time when each county across Nevada had a drive-in movie theater?
Nevada has been home to 13 drive-in theaters, with only two of them, the El Rancho Drive-In in Sparks and the West Wind Drive-In in Las Vegas, currently operational. As the country begins to reopen, drive-ins nationwide have resurged in popularity and many have opened their doors again as a way to offer residents a form of entertainment that facilitates social distancing requirements.
In May, the Trosper team worked closely with archaeologists at Broadbent & Associates and KRNV News 4 in Reno to produce an installment for their weekly series, Knowing Nevada. This story took our team further than many stories have before, Yerington, Nevada, a town that was once home to the Sagecrest Drive-In Theater.
As PR professionals, most of our job is done behind the scenes, before the curtain is pulled back and the final production is premiered. We have the opportunity to work on a piece from its start and coordinate the various steps in between that ultimately result in a finished media story. Check out the images below that give a behind the scenes look at the interview with Broadbent archaeologists Margo and Kaitlyn, during which they explained Nevada’s interesting drive-in history as well as explored the remains of what was once a popular spot to spend a weekend evening in Yerington.
One of the greatest joys we PR folks get to experience is seeing a media piece published and shared with the community. If you click on the link below, you can view this Knowing Nevada story, which we must say, turned out great and is quite informative.
As Miles notes at the end of the segment, “while couch surfing is now customary, going to a deserted site like this lets you interact with the past the way a history book may not let you.” We loved being a part of putting this together, seeing a piece of history in person and sharing the story behind it with everyone. Thank you to Broadbent for working with us on this endeavor and providing all the insight and expertise on the subject. For a moment, watching the drone footage at the end of the segment, you really get a feel for what this drive-in looked like in its heyday.
Whether it is your first time meeting with a reporter or your 100th time, here are some tips to ensure you are camera ready! Watch below for an example of a great media interview from PFFN president Todd Ingalsbee.
• Be enthusiastic and upbeat.
• Follow the 4 Hs: Be happy, honest, helpful and humble.
• Never lie to or mislead the media.
• Don’t speculate. Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know,” then find out the answer and get back to media promptly.
• Avoid saying “no comment,” which sounds guilty. If you can’t answer a question, explain why you can’t release that information.
• Be brief. Talk to TV reporters in sound bites of 10 seconds or less. Don’t feel compelled to fill an awkward silence.
• Be aware of your body language. Keep your hands out of your pockets, use gestures to help make your points. Body language and tone of voice are more memorable to TV viewers than what was actually said.
• Use “flagging” to highlight your key points. Use buzz words to emphasize an important point you want quoted by using phrases like, “the key is…” or “the bottom line is…
• Watch what you say in front of reporters at all times, even when you think the camera or tape recorder is not rolling.
• Avoid going “off the record.”
Remember – you are the expert and share any point you may have missed as you close out the interview. A simple thank you to the reporter is the perfect way to end and very much appreciated!
