Comebacks we'd like to see: #14 -- Drive-in theaters
Filed under: Extracurriculars, Transportation
This post is part of our series ranking the top 25 bygone products and trends we'd like to see return.
The drive-in movie was born in the 1930s on a residential driveway in New Jersey, where Richard M. Hollingshead developed a workable combination of projection, screen, sound and vehicle position. The website www.driveintheater.com states that the very first drive-in theater opened on Tuesday, June 6, 1933, showing the movie "Wife Beware." By the end of the decade, 18 drive-in theaters were in operation in the U.S.. By 1958, nearly 5,000 drive-in theaters were in their twilight entertainment glory.
As a little kid, I saw my first movie on the big screen at the 41 Outdoor Theater on the outskirts of Appleton Wisconsin. It was there that I was introduced to the antics of Herbie in The Love Bug. I also thrilled to Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music, and fell immediately in love with her. I watched Kurt Russel grow up under Disney's watchful gaze in movies such as The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes. As I grew older, the outdoor still offered thrills such as Clint Eastwood's "B" westerns in the open air. Some of the first entries to the "slasher" genre also debuted on drive-in screens, including the first version of Texas Chainsaw Massacre (which far outclassed the recent remake of that film).
If I lived close enough to one of the few drive-in theaters still operating or a new one that has opened, I can assure you that I'd be attending it a few times a year. You see, although the viewing experience may be a bit shy of that which is offered in today's multiplexes, there's just something about sitting in the womb of your car with a big tub of popcorn and your best girl at hand that can't be achieved through any other means. In fact, it's my theory that the drive-in movie theaters were possibly the single largest contributor to the baby boom. Maybe you should find a drive-in theater near to you and see if my theory is right.
What coming of age joys would you like to see revived?
these related sites for: Maps, Driving Directions, Travel, and Cars.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-16-2008 @ 10:07AM
Wils said...
There are two drive-in theatres within an hours drive of Davenport, IA. One is to the North near Maquoketa, IA and the other to the south near Grandview, IA. Great fun on a weekend in the Midwest!
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6-08-2008 @ 2:04PM
Denise said...
Wils,
Do you know for a fact these two relics are still working? I would pay the near 4 bucks/gallon to enjoy an outdoor movie again.
5-16-2008 @ 10:16AM
robert weisberg said...
There is a Drive -IN in South Fla called the Swap Shop in fort lauderdale. They have a big flea market there during the day. Not a bad deal at $6.00 per head for adults and kids are $2.00.
Rob
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5-16-2008 @ 12:15PM
Judy said...
Those were the good old times in the drive in was in Pasadena Calif Hastings Drive-In wow the teen years There is a Drive In in Santee Calif it still shows movies but you have to tune in a radio station to hear the movie but the movies good and you dont care oh those old memories loved them will go someday to the drive inn when a movie I like comes in and hope we can get the channel on our raido lol In those good old days as a teennow a but baby boomer and remember those days very well trying to tell my mother the movie we saw at the drive in ha ha
5-16-2008 @ 2:46PM
robert weisberg said...
There is also a drive in in the las vegas area. I have not been there but I know they have a few screen. Swap Shop in Fla has many screens..I think 14
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5-16-2008 @ 10:38AM
Janine said...
I looooooooooooved the drive-in movies!! Unfortunately, there's only one left in my Las Vegas area (surprised?)
At least u didnt have to listen to some screaming undisciplined brat or someone kicking ur seat the whole time. Not to mention talking on their cell phones.
A generation of inconsideration?
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5-16-2008 @ 10:06PM
Lori said...
Oy, the last time my husband and I went to the movies, we had these teens kicking our seat and talking the whole time! Another reason why Drive Ins are so much better.
5-16-2008 @ 12:12PM
MOSES said...
I GO TO THE DRIVE-IN ALMOST EVERY OTHER WEEKEND, ITS CHEAPER AND MORE FUN ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMERTIME AND MY SON LOVES IT.
ITS IN LA PUENTE IN CA AND ITS CALLED THE VINELAND.
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5-16-2008 @ 12:34PM
Janet said...
There is a drive-in on the Tennessee/Kentucky state line and it's $9.00 a carload! I take my kids a lot during the summer. And they always show first run and weekend means double feature. So for $21.00, I can get 3 McD's meals and entry to the drive-in and see 2 movies. Can't beat that deal!!
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5-16-2008 @ 12:53PM
Sandra said...
I so miss the drive-ins, especially since they've closed them down in the Los Angeles area. Thank you, Moses, for you post about the Vineland in La Puente - I have to check it out soon, since I'm only about 45 minutes away!
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5-16-2008 @ 12:57PM
mrtann9 said...
I cherish the memory of all-night marathons especially Halloween and Biker flics !!!
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5-16-2008 @ 1:18PM
Scott said...
What ever happend to Royals candy? They were basically mint flavored M&Ms and it was a bag of green and brown bits. I used to get them in the mid 80's all the time.
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5-16-2008 @ 1:21PM
Clicktrick said...
My sister & I were snuck in, in the trunk! I was VERY
young & the movie was, "Bonnie & Clyde", w/ Warren
Beatty & Cybill Shephard, & it was VERY violent then.
I think that was ONE of the things that made, "Happy
Days", so popular at the time because they were about
gone totally then, & people missed them. They ARE
coming back & I wish I had the $ to start my own. (Of
course, these days it, like everything else, would just
be vandalized! THAT'S ANOTHER great memory about
them; things were so much more innocent.
(Except for you, JIM says...!). ;)
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5-16-2008 @ 2:04PM
melissahengst said...
I love the drive in! We I grew up in the Bay Area, we used to go to the Union City drive in, which of course is gone now. Now I live in Sacramento, and we go as often as we can...especially since it is closing down in July :( :( :( :(
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5-16-2008 @ 10:07PM
Lori said...
I recently moved out of state, and to my surprise, there's still a working drive in right down the road! At twenty four years old, I finally went to my first drive in movie. It was a wonderful experience, and really wish that these would bring more business.
And it was so cheap! Six dollars for a double flick. You can take the kids without worrying about them getting all ancy in a dark movie theater.
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5-17-2008 @ 1:37AM
Gary E. Sattler said...
Hey Scott, try looking for your candy here!
http://www.groovycandies.com/
http://www.oldtimecandy.com/
Happy munching!!!
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5-17-2008 @ 9:02AM
Kimmi said...
There's a drive in movie theater in scranton, pa... yout know, where The Office is filmed?!? well this drive in is about he best place in town. the snack station is so clean, and the food is great. and the best part is- $10 a car load! it's only open on the weekends in the summer, but during the spring and fall it's an outdoors farmers market!
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5-17-2008 @ 10:11AM
Shelley said...
As a kid growing up in a farm community, the big thing for us teenagers on weekends was to all go to the drive-in movies! The one in Findlay OH was called Millstream Drive-In. I have lots of fond memories. Then to my surprise, when i moved to Toledo, OH 16 years ago, there is a drive-in out on Navarre Ave. I take my kids and grandson there atleast once each summer, I was just thinking about it since the weather is getting nicer! I am thankful my children can experience a teen tradition that i got to! The price is good to compared to going to the movie theatre as well.
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5-18-2008 @ 9:31AM
nushka said...
I remember in the 50's here in Ky we had 8 drive in's in our town.. Now we still have 1.. They were always crowded and cars lined out to the streets.. sometimes even got turned away because it was too crowded... Such wonderful times.. With 7 children it was the only place I could afford to go... We took our own popcorn and sodas...Sure do miss those times...
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5-18-2008 @ 11:24AM
BD said...
Cinderella Twin Drive-in in Englewood, Colorado closed late last year to be replaced by (ugh) condominiums! Cinderella Twin Drive-in was the last vestige of the old Cinderella City Mall in Downtown Englewood (long since gone and replaced by a multi-store shopping/housing complex). Only one drive-in in the Denver area now, in Commerce City. What a shame.
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