SACO — The Saco Drive-In has been a community fixture since it opened in 1939, treating movie buffs to the singular experience of cinema in the comfort of one’s car. Now Ry Russell, who has operated the drive-in since 2011, is hoping it won’t have to shut down after 74 years of service.

For the drive-in to have a future, it needs updating ”“ major updating. With the movie industry slowly phasing out film reel releases in favor of a more cost-effective digital format, the Saco establishment will soon need to retire its current projector in favor of one equipped to handle the ones and zeroes of the new era. The cost of a new projector, added to the costs of upgrading the facilities to accommodate it, could cost as much as $90,000, said Russell.

On Friday, Russell joined with Rep. Justin Chenette, D-Saco, to make a case for a fundraising campaign that both hope will allow the drive-in to continue screening movies after the 2013 season.

“We’re going to do everything we can to pull out all the stops,” said Russell. “The end of this season might be the last if we don’t accomplish this.”

As technological advancements prompt the film industry to slowly phase out the film reels played by the Saco Drive-In’s current projector, Russell has been ordering movies ahead of time, in anticipation of difficulties securing new releases. Orders have been made for films slated to debut in September; even in 2012, the drive-in found that it often had to wait longer than desired to procure the summer’s top movie draws, in some cases missing certain films entirely.

“This isn’t something we take lightly,” said Russell.

When Russell became the drive-in’s manager as a University of Southern Maine student two years ago, he anticipated that the switch to digital would occur over the ensuing decade. As it turns out, the transition is happening faster than expected. Russell fears that the drive-in won’t have a life beyond this season if the digital conversion doesn’t take place before the end of  the year.

The desire to retain this significant part of Saco culture is Russell’s prime motivation for launching the fundraising campaign, but as someone who frequented the theater when he was a child, it’s also a personal mission ”“ he wants to make sure the drive-in, which offers low prices on both admission and concessions, stays available to those families looking for inexpensive entertainment in a shaky economy.

“I remember the stresses that my own family was under during tough economic times, and this is what we looked forward to,” he said.

To raise the necessary funds, the drive-in has posted an announcement on its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/sacodrivein, asking people to donate what they can. Those without Facebook accounts can contact Russell at sacodrivein@gmail.com for information on how to donate.

Additionally, a number of fundraising events are planned, including a comedy show with a date yet to be determined. Announcements on the times and locations of future fundraisers will be posted on the Facebook page, and announcements will be made through newspapers and social media.

Chenette, for his part, is using his profile as a representative to help spread the word about the fundraising efforts, guided partially by his own experiences going to the drive-in throughout his youth.

“It’s one of those cultural icons I think of when I think of Saco,” said Chenette. “It doesn’t take a policy in Augusta to make a difference. You really don’t appreciate something like this until it’s gone.”

Aside from the cultural status of the theater, which Chenette said is the second-oldest drive-in in the country, and the oldest in Maine, he cited economic reasons for keeping the venue open: It employs young people and keeps them in the state, he said.

To involve himself further, Chenette is teaming with Russell to create an e-book, for which they’ve solicited stories from people willing to share their drive-in memories and experiences. Since the establishment has been around for more than seven decades, there have been no shortage of people willing to come forward with their personal stories.

“It’s a range of people who have grown up with this place,” said Chenette.

Russell and Chenette are hoping the needed funds can be raised by May. About $1,000 has been raised so far after an initial posting was made on the Facebook page, with families and individuals contributing small amounts, ranging from $5 to $20.

That’s encouraging, said Chenette, since the full-fledged fundraising campaign has yet to begin.

Russell said donations of any amount will be accepted with gratitude.

“Anything but silence is a help,” he said.

— Staff Writer Jeff Lagasse can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 319, or at jlagasse@journaltribune.com.