Up to His Old Tricks

Prologue: 1975

The movie was scary. But she felt safe in the car, snuggled up close to her guy.

Then she saw it; first only from the corner of her eye but then full in the horrifying face that was only inches from hers.

She screamed.

He cackled, still shuddering with laughter as he ran from the car, tugging on the monster mask.

Her outraged boyfriend hauled her by the elbow as they rushed to the office to complain. They demanded to see the drive-in manager.

After a wait, he stepped out.

It was ... him.

And it's still him.

Only now, The Amazing Johnathan is up to his old tricks inside a warehouse replicating the drive-in of his misspent youth. His classic cars are now parked under a faux starry sky, with murals reproducing the outer fence line of the bygone Gratiot Drive-In of Roseville, Mich.

The comedy magician worked at four different drive-ins during his teen years, climbing the ladder from Guy Who Guarded the Exit (occasionally taking a little payola not to guard it) to projectionist. "I watched the movie 'Tommy' over and over and practiced my card tricks," he recalls.

And just as the young John Szeles and his manager-cousin loved to slip on the monster masks to sneak up on people, the almost-50 entertainer and his accomplices are still "crawling around the floor like ninjas," if it means they can sneak up on David Copperfield's party and scare the bejabbers out of them.

The comedian and scenic artist Richard Ruby have worked eight months on their pet project. It might someday turn a buck from party rentals, but its use so far has been limited to groups of his friends. He admits it's an ongoing labor of love.

"We're not even close to being done yet," Johnathan explains. Oh sure, the sound is coming from -- and only from -- pole speakers salvaged from real drive-ins (surviving outdoor theaters, including the Las Vegas Drive-In, now broadcast a weak FM signal through your car radio).

There's a concession stand stocked with White Castle burgers and vintage candy such as Coffee Crisp. But he and Ruby won't settle for less than the truly amazing touches, such as LED lights in a slow-moving pattern behind the mural, to simulate cars driving in from the box office.

Drive-in fans almost inevitably trace their deep-rooted obsessions to teenage nights of underage drinking, or even further back to dozing off in pajamas in the back seat while Mom and Dad sat up front.

But Johnathan combines nostalgia with his love of the prank. The warehouse near Sunset Park already has quite the reputation for The Amazing Johnathan's haunted Halloween parties. And before he shows off his new toys, the Amazing One first subjects visitors to a trick elevator and 3-D maze.

There will be bugs. Giant critters will tumble from the rafters into the vintage Porsche or Pontiac GTO, and zombies will pop out of the screen if party planners desire such.

But all that will come in time. For now, it's time to watch "Night of the Lepus," the 1972 horror opus about giant killer bunnies. The Amazing Johnathan stretches out on the hood of one of his classic cars and throws back some popcorn, a man content.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.