Drive-In Movie History

[dq409]

Anyone catch the special on PBS the other night about the history of Drive-in Movies?

It was great !!!
Brought back a lot of memories and was full of info on how they were started and what the owners did to draw crowds.

A very complete and in depth history on the drive-in. ,,,dq

[W Head]

Jim, We still have Drive Inns here in Texas, in fact there is one about 30 miles from where I live, in Gatesville. They are showing Tallagega Nights now. Anybody ever play "back seat bingo at the Drive Inn"?:brow

W Head

59 El Camino 348-3,2s
59 Impala 409-2,4s

[bobs409]

Didn't see it but the last drive in near me is currently being bull dozed flat for a housing development! :cry It's a sad sight everytime I drive by. :cry

Had some great times there. I haven't been to a drive in movie since the 80's when it closed.

[real61ss]

Bob,
There's a neat little drive-in over on Rte. 11 between Carlisle and Shippensburg, Pa.
They were open back in June during the GM Nationals.

[bobs409]

Tommy, I didn't know about that one but it would be too far to drive just for a movie.

The one I mentioned was located on Rt 61 in Deerlake, Pa. About 10 miles or so from me. There is one about 30 miles north of me in Hazelton, Pa. but they only seem to show kiddy movies. :dunno

I still have my memories anyway... :cry I really don't understand why more drive in's didn't survive. It's an experience all it's own. Wouldn't it be cool if one day they made a come back? :brow

[W Head]

It is my understanding that day light saving time had a lot to do with the disappearing of the drive in movie. Most $$$ is made in the warmer months of the year and day light saving begins in April and ends in Oct. The movies can't began until the sun sets which is 9:30-10:00 o'clock in the summer time. If it is a double movie, it would be 2:00 o'clock or so before the movie would be over. So folks stoped going. Read this somewhere.

W Head

59 El Camino 348-3,2s
59 Impala 409-2,4s

[dq409]

Tommy, I didn't know about that one but it would be too far to drive just for a movie.

The one I mentioned was located on Rt 61 in Deerlake, Pa. About 10 miles or so from me. There is one about 30 miles north of me in Hazelton, Pa. but they only seem to show kiddy movies. :dunno

I still have my memories anyway... :cry I really don't understand why more drive in's didn't survive. It's an experience all it's own. Wouldn't it be cool if one day they made a come back? :brow

They didn`t survive partly because of the land value rise.
There were other reasons also that they went into in that special.

The interesting part was how they got started.
Just about anyone with some land could open a drive-in with very little cash. Land back then was cheap, a lot of owners lived at the site and like all new things they drew people in groves.

It was fun to see how they progressed and what owners did to draw the crowds from adding the concession stands to the promotions!

So many things that you think you would remember but while watching the special you start to remember all the cool stuff you have forgotten.

They did say they are having a small revival as a few new ones are starting to open.

I`ll see if I can find out when it will be showing again. A must see for all of us !!,,dq

Here is a link to the special:
http://www.americandrivein.com/index.html

[W Head]

Jim, Did you notice what movie is on the screen of the drive in movie on your link.
Red River staring John Wayne. One of my all time favorite movies, must have seen it 30-40 times over the years. first time when I was about 5 years old.

W Head

59 El Camino 349-3,2s
59 Impala 409-2,4s

[tripowerguy]

I ate my first pizza at a drive-in in California in 1956. I think it was cardboard with sauce and a little cheese, at least thatwas what it tasted like. drive-ins were the place to take you girl because as the passion rose the windows steamed over and you were in your own world. Went to a lot of drive-in movies and couldn't tell you what I saw.:rofl Roy

[Tom Kochtanek]

We have one outdoor movie theater left in the area, about 30 miles away. Nice cruise up the four lane blacktop. Because of day light savings, it starts kinda late (but at twilight) and lasts past midnite. We try to go with a couple of older cars, take lawn chairs instead of what Roy used to do in the back seat.

Now there was a time when my best memories were from an instance in the back seat of a 1964 GTO at the drive-in theatre :) :) :).

Nowadays I take my Corvette, or maybe this year the Impala! We go once a year, my wife hates it, but she survives somehow :).

Cheers,
TomK

[dq409]

I ate my first pizza at a drive-in in California in 1956. I think it was cardboard with sauce and a little cheese, at least thatwas what it tasted like. .:rofl Roy
Because of day light savings, it starts kinda late (but at twilight) and lasts past midnite.Cheers,
TomK

Roy and Tom must have seen the special !!!

Pizza was brought to the west coast by the drive-ins,,,,and in the special they did bring up the fact that the pizza was a lot like cardboard !!!:rofl

The indoor theaters were a big part of daylight savings,,, they pushed for it for that exact same reason,,,, late starting drive-in movies hopfully to bring back customers that were going to the drive-ins,,,dq