Drive-in Movie Theatres

I used to love going to the drive-in movie theatre when I was growing up.  I have such fond memories of those big nights out with my family, watching movies on a screen larger than life.  Although movies portray drive-ins more for couples dating, that was not my experience with them.  Let’s take a peek back to the late 1950s and early 1960s when drive-in movie theatres were at their peak.

With over 4,000 drive-in theatres in the U.S. in 1958, I should start with why the outdoor screens were so popular.  First of all, they were a bargain for families.  For a relatively low price, adults would see two full length feature films without the expense of a babysitter.  Parents would load pajama-clad kids into the car, along with extra folding chairs and blankets, and arrive early for a good parking spot.   Everyone would jockey for their seat positions in the car, with older kids sometimes sitting outside the car in folding chairs or lying on the car roof.  They would stay out there until the mosquitoes or chilly night air got to them.

Many drive-ins also included playgrounds for the kids to enjoy before the movies. Getting out excess energy was good thinking.   If kids were bored with a movie, they could also retreat back to the playground. 

One of the most popular parts of the evening was going to the concession stand.  During the intermission, employees were quite efficient at quickly serving up hamburgers, hot dogs, drinks, ice cream, candy, and popcorn.  Since most of the revenue was made on the food sales, it was advertised really well.  There was generally a clock counting down the time until the second movie started.  “ONLY 5 MORE MINUTES TO GET YOUR POPCORN”… “THREE MINUTES UNTIL SHOWTIME – HURRY AND GET YOUR ICE CREAM”… you get the idea.  It was an exciting count down for the start of the second movie.  

If you went to drive-ins growing up during their popularity, perhaps you have one your family went to frequently.  For me, it was one both the Hollowbrook Drive-in on Oregon Road in Cortlandt, NY and the Mahopac Drive-in in Mahopac.   We would arrive early and seek out a good spot near the concession stand and playground.  We would run around and socialize a bit on the playground, then jockey for our positions in the car.  I liked to sit outside with a blanket until I couldn’t take the chilly night air any longer.  Then I would reenter the car and find a nook to nestle in to finish watching the movie.  My other favorite spot was the roof of the car, which provided the best view.  Sometimes we bought snacks at the concession stand, to supplement what my mother packed for us.  Either way, watching the clock count down the minutes you had to buy your snack was entertaining.

In my opinion, the second movie was generally not as interesting as the first.  As my memory recalls it, the first movie was geared more for children while the second one was more for adults.  A few minutes into the second movie, the kids were either tired or bored or both and were soon fast asleep in the back seat.  Either that or you would see a stream of cars leaving after the second movie started, generally those loaded with children.  If you came late and missed part or all of the first movie, they generally ran it again after the second film.

Experts cite three main reasons for the decline of drive-ins in general.  First and foremost was the introduction of Daylight Savings Time, which pushed darkness and the start time of movies too late for many families.  Second, cable TV, VCRs, and indoor multiplex theatres were too much competition.   Third, many drive-in owners thought they would be better off financially if they sold their land to commercial developers.  To show this point, the Hollowbrook closed in 1984 and there is a residential housing development where the big screen once towered tall at the Hollowbrook.  The Mahopac closed in 1976 and that land now houses Key Foods Marketplace, CVS, and a K-Mart.

According to www.drive-ins.com, there are only 367 drive-ins open today.   Some people feel they are making a bit of a comeback with the new generation’s discovery of them.  Although I have not been to a drive-in in many years, I would guess that the quality of the sound has greatly improved along with the quality of the movie itself.  If you are looking for a different experience for a movie, find a drive-in and give it a try.  

Click here for a classic example of an intermission film from a drive-in. 

Here is another good one. 

 If you have a drive-in operating near your home today, I would love to hear about it.  Over a half a century later, I would imagine the technology has improved and that it is still a bargain compared to the multi-plex theaters.  I paid $14 per ticket for a 3-D movie just two weeks ago, but that is another story.

Photo by Peter Notarianni