The Winking Moon Crusaders

"The Winking Moon Crusaders" follows the action/ comedy/ coming-of-age adventures of four male teenage patrolmen, reluctantly called "bouncers," as they toil through another epic season at the wildest drive-in movie theater ever to have existed in the year 1979. Set in a suburb of Rochester, New York, the story takes place over the course of one summer, where rumors fly of the drive-in perhaps shutting down due to its supreme hijinks, outrageous stunts and hilarious horseplay taking place night after night. Not only do the quartet of "Crusaders" - upholders of civility and B-movie entertainment - have to deal with the moronic patrons inside, referred to as "yahoos" and "rowdies," but they defend the grounds against impish invaders from the outside: the "punks" and "hooligans." The Winking Moon used to be a place like any other drive-in. Now it's a grindhouse movie backdrop for nocturnal unruliness and vulgar behavior. The landmark has pressures squeezing it. On the other side of the fence is Roller Town: roller-skating rink where many of the pre-teen monsters originate from, trying to sneak into the drive-in after that place closes at 11 pm. Directly behind the theater is The Edgewater Home: a major retirement complex and community for irate seniors, eager to see the venue go away permanently. On the other side of town exists The Smirking Star: sister drive-in to The Moon but nowhere near as crazy. This "rich" side is sedate, and not half as fun. Here, the "Avengers" patrol just like their westside rivals but have few of the problems. And finally, something called a "home-video market" is emerging. The Bluestone Corporation, owner of both The Moon and The Star, has heard of it and is considering looking into possibilities. This satirical series uses actual grindhouse titles of the times to frame the monkey business and delves deeply into its cast of characters making up the workforce. The Crusaders' leader is 17-year old Alex Carver. Steve Laneske, George Jocavelli and John Tambone are his faithful and hormonal cohorts. Working the concession stand are classmate Vicki Richards, also 17, mother hen to all; Emilio Varentez, meek cook and father to an enormous family; and cantankerous old Stanley Mason, longtime employee hoping to hop aboard a UFO one night and disappear. The sole box office girl is philosophical 18-year old Kathy Berenger, classic beauty inside and out, and object of Alex's affections. Jim Barenta is the hardened-but-lovable projectionist, recent Vietnam vet and hero to all. And the hapless, spousal team of Lee-Willie and Gail-Lill Stuckerson round out the club as co-managers. If they could get out of their own way maybe there would not be half the problems. Each volume covers approximately a month of mayhem, each month bringing higher stakes to The Moon. Will it and its crew survive? Buy your ticket, drive on in and join the fun! Just don't leave your lights on.