BUTLER, Pennsylvania — Last Monday was supposed to be a celebration, a coming together across the ages and across the country to mark the day in 1984 that Ghostbusters debuted, a film that made movie executives cringe but won the hearts of moviegoers, and it was going to be shown at drive-in theaters from coast to coast.

John Mason, the owner of the Starlight Drive-in Theater, said he was thrilled to be part of the first-time-ever simultaneous showing of the iconic film in drive-ins. To get into the spirit of things, he even booked a local group that was going to come out in full ghostbusting gear to add some kitsch to the local version of the nationwide event.