📽 Growing up I was lucky to have a Drive-in Theater just down the street from me. Located on the shore of Lake Ontario with just an open field between the two.
According to http://drive-ins.com/ there are still close to 5000 still operating in the USA
The very first drive-in theater opened in New Jersey in 1933, A new inventive idea was born and by 1958, 4000 Drive-in theaters were in operation.
Pictured below is the Lake Shore Drive-in near my childhood home, Constructed in 1952 until demolished in 1978 for a new residential sub-division.
📽 In my search to source credit for the photo that a facebook friend had posted found this site which had a good write up about St.Catharines drive-in's and to my surprise, One in a nearby town still operates.
Being right on the lake this was a great place to hang out during summer vacations, having parties and beach fires and when a good movie was playing moving up to the field to watch. One of us would sneak in and turn up all the unused speakers near the fence line so we could hear as well, no one ever bothered us.
To the right is what they looked like spaced 2 car widths apart to be placed on the drivers or passengers windows.
At the end of every movie was a warning to please replace the speaker before driving away. ( wonder why? )
The last time I went to a drive-in over 20 years ago found out that speakers were a thing of the past and found a picture of the very booth at the Hillcrest Drive-In, Langley British Columbia where it happened.
📽 What a great idea but my car had no radio! I had an idea and went in any way, it paid off wonderful because right in the front row with a space between them were 2 cars with kick-ass sound systems, lawn chairs setup in front of their cars and external speakers.
I also found out that the Hillcrest Drive-In could accommodate 571 cars, was opened in 1955 and demolished 2003 for a housing/mall development.
Also, a brand new drive-in was constuncted not far away in 2005 and claims to be the Vancouver areas only drive-in: http://www.twilightdrivein.net/ Very cool 📽
📽 So while drive-ins are nostalgic to me, I learned doing this blog that they are alive and well today making fond memories for others to remember down the road.
I have no idea if drive-in's caught on in places outside of North america, but imagine they must have.
Let me know in comments if you have anything to add or stories to tell.
Thanks for reading and supporting my blog, I 💗 Comments...
Nice nostalgia mixed with info! Thanks for the inspiration and links to find one near me!
I see that some have events in the day, like show and shine or swap meets followed by a movie or 2 after dark. Plus now that it's broadcast over am & fm the sound is great depending on your system :-) Or share others by parking close like I had to do.
I organize special events as a major portion of my living, but had never thought about doing a day into night event at a drive-in. Thanks for another tip!
Right on. hope it works out for you :-)
In my hometown we used the local speedway. another large controlled area with lots of parking, followed by an evening of racing.
Cheers
We have a drive-in theater in Fayetteville, Arkansas and I love taking my fiance to it! It's also nice to bring as many of your own snacks that you want haha.
It's a great way to see a movie from the comfort of your car. good call on bringing food from home and saving a bunch not buying from the snack bar.
I think most have closed in Canada because of the limited time of year they can operate, so much nicer in warm weather. lots of people used to back in with vans or pickups with mattresses or other comfortable chairs, couches etc.
Yes! Bring a pickup truck and it makes everything amazing!