A Drive‑Thru Story: Rhode Island’s 1992 Condom Hut Film

A new movie called “Rubber Hut” is in production, telling the tale of a 1992 drive‑through condom shop that once stood in Rhode Island. The original idea came from Emanuella DelVecchio, a former flight attendant who wanted to fight the AIDS crisis by selling condoms from a repurposed photo‑booth. The shop, painted pink and white, drew worldwide attention but also faced backlash from local Catholic groups. It shut down after a year because sales were low. The film crew is filming in Rhode Island, building an exact replica of the original booth and recreating a 1990s parking lot with public payphones. Production began on June 1 in Warwick and is expected to last about two weeks. The story is written and directed by Hanna Gray Organschi, a Connecticut native living in New York City. She also co‑authored the script.Grace Van Patten, who previously appeared in a television miniseries, stars as DelVecchio. The character’s journey shows how she turned an abandoned photo‑development drop‑off into a bold public health venture. The movie also touches on DelVecchio’s other business—a nail salon in the same shopping plaza. “Rubber Hut” aims to give viewers a fresh look at an unusual chapter in Rhode Island history, highlighting how one woman used creativity to address a public health crisis. The film will explore themes of innovation, community reaction, and the personal risks involved in challenging social norms.