First introduced in 1933, at their peak there were over 4,000 drive-ins across the country, but only 368 remain open today, representing less than 2 percent of screens in the United States. In less than three months, the majority of American drive-in theaters will face closure as the movie industry switches from film to digital format. Upgrading to digital projection costs roughly $80,000.

Steve and Danielle Wakham recently purchased the High-Way 50 Drive-In and plan to restore it, hoping to reopen by March 2014. Now they may be able to get a digital projector for free, thanks to the Honda Motor Company which is giving away five digital projectors.

"We want to preserve this iconic part of American car culture. So we're taking the first step by starting a drive-in fund and donating five digital projectors," states Honda on a special website.

Which drive-ins get the free projectors depends on how many votes are cast for them. You can vote once a day, through Sept. 9, so pass the word and vote daily -- get your local drive-in up and running sooner rather than later!

Vote by going to http://projectdrivein.com/vote_56 and voting for the High-Way 50. You can also vote by text: see instructions on the website.

Honda will be donating five projectors itself, and has set up a website where moviegoers can vote for which theaters will get them and pledge additional money that will go towards helping out the others. The fundraising campaign will continue indefinitely.

The Lewisburg Downtown Alliance is proud to support this local effort.