Speaking of Drive Ins?

[Foofoogal]

http://www.outdoor-movies.com/index.html

this is the only thing I could find remotely about this but I saw a news story somewhere the other day about popup movies that people have contests to attend.
Someone gives clues on the radio and people sort of solve the clues and meander over when they figure out the clues to meet at portable places to watch drive in movies. Anyone know anything more about this. I found it amazing.
I have tons of memories about drive in movies including getting caught trying to sneak in one inside the trunk of a VW bug with radio blaring in my ear. Not funny.
Mosquito coils and all it was a blast.

 

[Undertow]

The story you're referring to was featured on Inside Edition earlier this week, or late last week. It as an interesting story and I have seen similar "contests" held for other products here in Iowa (although unrelated to movies).

I loved drive in movies! Currently there are 4-5 theaters still open in IA and one of them is only (only?!) 45 minutes away from me.

 

[Foofoogal]

I cannot find it but thank you.
Wouldn't it be cool to have popup FL movie nights with old movies running and everyone dressed in their [huh] movie watching clothing. ? Pedal pushers come to mind. lol

 

[Undertow]

Yeah, I looked for it and came up with nothing. I even tried a Google search with no results. Not sure what happened there but apparently that was just a figment of our imaginations. [huh]

 

[Foofoogal]

thanks anyway. I thought it was amazing.

 

[C-dot]

I've got one Drive-in near me, the 5 Drive-in, complete with a classic Diner:

I just went there the other night. The movie I did not enjoy, but the atmosphere I did!

 

[Edward]

One of the things nominally on my 'bucket list' (I must actually commit that to paper) is to go see a film in a drive-in cinema. It's not something I've ever encountered.... any idea what it was that gave birth to these in the US? Was it simply a product of a high level of car-ownership culture?

 

[Undertow]

One of the things nominally on my 'bucket list' (I must actually commit that to paper) is to go see a film in a drive-in cinema. It's not something I've ever encountered.... any idea what it was that gave birth to these in the US? Was it simply a product of a high level of car-ownership culture?

I believe you're correct here. Much of America's recreational options in the 50's and 60's hinged on the fact that everyone was purchasing and driving new cars. We had Route 66, for instance, as well as numerous tourist traps, diners, fast food chains, etc.

Unfortunately, drive-in theaters became more of a nuisance to their owners because upkeep was difficult and costly, movie theaters were improving and services such as HBO and Cinemax were introduced to American homes. Also, and probably most importantly, VCRs became popular and a whole new type of movie watching was introduced.

Let me tell you one of the main "problems" (or charms, as I prefer to call them) regarding the drive-in theater: the speakers. When you arrive, you can either tune your radio into a locally broadcast station with the movie's audio, or you can attach a little speaker to your car. The quality of the sound depends on how well the managers keep the place up. "Why do that," some may say, "when I could just sit at home and watch the movie myself, or go to a theater."

There's all sorts of excuses not to go to a drive-in these days, which is one of the reasons they've fallen so far. However, if it's on your list of things to do, I highly recommend it as it is a wonderful experience from my past that I miss greatly!

 

[skyvue]

The Wikipedia drive-ins page has the story:

The drive-in theater was the creation of Camden, New Jersey, chemical company magnate Richard M. Hollingshead, Jr., whose family owned and operated the R.M. Hollingshead Corporation chemical plant in Camden. In 1932, Hollingshead conducted outdoor theater tests in his driveway at 212 Thomas Avenue in Riverton. After nailing a screen to trees in his backyard, he set a 1928 Kodak projector on the hood of his car and put a radio behind the screen, testing different sound levels with his car windows down and up. Blocks under vehicles in the driveway enabled him to determine the size and spacing of ramps so all automobiles could have a clear view of the screen. Following these experiments, he applied August 6, 1932 for a patent of his invention, and he was given U.S. Patent 1,909,537 on May 16, 1933. That patent was declared invalid 17 years later by the Delaware District Court.

Hollingshead's drive-in opened in New Jersey June 6, 1933 on Admiral Wilson Boulevard at the Airport Circle in Pennsauken, a short distance from Cooper River Park.[1] He advertised his drive-in theater with the slogan, "The whole family is welcome, regardless of how noisy the children are".[2] It only operated for three years, but during that time the concept caught on in other states. The April 15. 1934, opening of Shankweiler's Auto Park in Orefield, Pennsylvania, was followed by Galveston's Drive-In Short Reel Theater (July 5, 1934), the Pico in Los Angeles (September 9, 1934) and the Weymouth Drive-In Theatre in Weymouth, Massachusetts (May 6, 1936). In 1937, three more opened in Ohio, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, with another 12 during 1938 and 1939 in California, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Texas and Virginia. Michigan's first drive-in was the Eastside, which opened May 26, 1938 in Harper Woods near Detroit.

One of the reasons that drive-ins were so popular with families is that it allowed the entire family to go to the movies and not have to hire a babysitter or worry that their children would disrupt the entire audience. This became a modern pastime; now the entire family for a per-person cost, the same as a sit down theater, could come and enjoy a movie in the privacy of their own vehicles, children and all. Before the war, there had been approximately 100 major drive-ins nationwide; the drive-in craze began to build very strongly following the end of the Second World War. Many GIs had traveled the country and seen the new and unusual things it had to offer. The drive-in was no exception. Enterprising businessmen realized that this segment of the population could be tapped and spend some of their earnings to enjoy themselves, a date, or an evening with the family.​

By the way, Shankweiler's, the second drive-in ever built, is still in operation in Orefield, Penn., just outside of Allentown.

 

[skyvue]

I believe you're correct here. Much of America's recreational options in the 50's and 60's hinged on the fact that everyone was purchasing and driving new cars. We had Route 66, for instance, as well as numerous tourist traps, diners, fast food chains, etc.

Unfortunately, drive-in theaters became more of a nuisance to their owners because upkeep was difficult and costly, movie theaters were improving and services such as HBO and Cinemax were introduced to American homes. Also, and probably most importantly, VCRs became popular and a whole new type of movie watching was introduced.

Let me tell you one of the main "problems" (or charms, as I prefer to call them) regarding the drive-in theater: the speakers. When you arrive, you can either tune your radio into a locally broadcast station with the movie's audio, or you can attach a little speaker to your car. The quality of the sound depends on how well the managers keep the place up. "Why do that," some may say, "when I could just sit at home and watch the movie myself, or go to a theater."

There's all sorts of excuses not to go to a drive-in these days, which is one of the reasons they've fallen so far. However, if it's on your list of things to do, I highly recommend it as it is a wonderful experience from my past that I miss greatly!

I have to respectfully disagree with much of what you say here.

First, drive-ins started in the early 1930s, not the 1950s (so did Route 66, for that matter, and drive-in restaurants). The '50s was the heyday, it's true, and that had to do with families buying second cars, as you said, and the rise of youth culture.

Another appeal of drive-ins is that you could bring the kids, saving money on baby-sitters, and also that you could "come as you are." Folks used to still dress up a bit to go to the movies, and at the drive-in, they felt they could wear more casual attire.

It wasn't movie theatres "improving" that hurt drive-ins. In fact, movie theatres were getting worse in the '70s, when drive-ins saw their greatest decline, not better. That's when the multiplex shoebox was born, after all.

The main thing that hurt drive-ins was urban sprawl. As large and medium-sized cities grew, the real estate on which drive-ins sat became more and more valuable, until DI owners received offers that were just too good to pass up and sold their land.

That's why drive-ins are still doing quite well in many rural areas, where the real estate values haven't climbed to such a degree.

As for the sound quality, few drive-ins offer in-window speakers any more, and most of those few that do also offer radio sound, which is very high in quality. The sound at the great majority of drive-ins today is vastly better than it has ever been.

The picture quality at most drive-ins is better than ever, too.

What's more, at the drive-in, you get more food options at better prices (and, often, more healthy options, too) than at a hardtop theatre.

Also, you also usually get two (or more) movies at a cheaper price than you'll pay for a single movie at your local mutliplex. Some drive-ins run single features, but the vast majority offer double-features (and sometimes triple-features).

For every reason that can be offered NOT to go a drive-in, there's another reason that's just as compelling to go.

 

[LizzieMaine]

My first theatre job was at the drive-in managed by my aunt and uncle in the late '70s. What killed that business was the decline of family films over the course of the '80s -- I don't mean necessarily Disney-type stuff, but movies the whole family could see as an outing, rather than things that might appeal only to the kids, or only to the parents. Those films were the very bedrock of the drive-in business -- the "$5 a carload" crowds that came in and bought a ton of concessions, which were -- and are -- the lifeblood of any theatre. When the movie market became ever more genre-defined and fragmented, in response to the multiplex culture of the 80s and beyond, there simply weren't enough something-for-everybody films left to sustain a drive-in for a season.

The drive-ins that survive today have mostly had to subdivide their lots into what are essentially outdoor multiplexes to survive.

 

[skyvue]

Excellent points, Lizzie.

And many of the drive-ins that are doing well today draw especially well when they show strong family fare.

It's ironic, because that's contrary to the image many folks have of the drive-in experience.

 

[Inky]

We are very VERY fortunate to have two traditional drive-in theaters less than 20 minutes away, with one north and the other south of us - and we're in California where using property for something like a drive-in is virtually unheard of.

Our town also does some random movie nights during the summer when they screen films on the side of one of the buildings in the Village (old town). They're loads of fun actually, but no one dresses up vintage for anything around here.

 

[Fletch]

One moment...summing up an era

Hot Shot Eastbound, at the Iaeger* Drive-In, W.V. By O. Winston Link**, 1956.

*Iaeger is pronounced Yeager, a German name that became Scots-Irish in America somehow.
**If you don't know Winston Link's work, you should, especially if you like trains, photography, or just serious dedication to art and craft.

 

[Foofoogal]

"The whole family is welcome, regardless of how noisy the children are".[

the ones I remember even had swingsets set up for the kids to play on when the movies were rolling.

In defense of Undertow I think he was just simply stating what most would consider or think.

I think the last movie I saw at a drive in was something with Clint Eastwood in it or Burt Reynolds back in the 1970s.
I was a teenager and we all hopped from car to car having a blast though so not much watching. lol

 

[C-dot]

the ones I remember even had swingsets set up for the kids to play on when the movies were rolling.

My Drive-in has a full playground set up under the largest screen. Hey, if it keeps the kids quiet - I'm not parking at the front, so who cares!
They also have a beach volleyball area, and a Snack Bar in addition to the Diner.

I sure wish there were more of them, they are so much fun. If mine ever closes down I'll probably wail.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

There's a drive-in in the county I grew up in:

http://www.delseadrive-in.com/

It was unoperational for almost 20 years until it was re-opened in 2003 (if memory serves me correctly!) The screen faces a big open road (Delsea Drive) and the screen really held up well all those years!!

Last time I was in the area the line to get in was all the way down the road. I saw a film here when I was really little. Must've been the late 70s. I don't know what we saw and my parents can't remember, either, but I certainly remember experiencing it!


2004:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/23/nyregion/23drive.html

 

[Undertow]

I have to respectfully disagree with much of what you say here.

First, drive-ins started in the early 1930s, not the 1950s (so did Route 66, for that matter, and drive-in restaurants). The '50s was the heyday, it's true, and that had to do with families buying second cars, as you said, and the rise of youth culture.

Another appeal of drive-ins is that you could bring the kids, saving money on baby-sitters, and also that you could "come as you are." Folks used to still dress up a bit to go to the movies, and at the drive-in, they felt they could wear more casual attire.

It wasn't movie theatres "improving" that hurt drive-ins. In fact, movie theatres were getting worse in the '70s, when drive-ins saw their greatest decline, not better. That's when the multiplex shoebox was born, after all.

The main thing that hurt drive-ins was urban sprawl. As large and medium-sized cities grew, the real estate on which drive-ins sat became more and more valuable, until DI owners received offers that were just too good to pass up and sold their land.

That's why drive-ins are still doing quite well in many rural areas, where the real estate values haven't climbed to such a degree.

As for the sound quality, few drive-ins offer in-window speakers any more, and most of those few that do also offer radio sound, which is very high in quality. The sound at the great majority of drive-ins today is vastly better than it has ever been.

The picture quality at most drive-ins is better than ever, too.

What's more, at the drive-in, you get more food options at better prices (and, often, more healthy options, too) than at a hardtop theatre.

Also, you also usually get two (or more) movies at a cheaper price than you'll pay for a single movie at your local mutliplex. Some drive-ins run single features, but the vast majority offer double-features (and sometimes triple-features).

For every reason that can be offered NOT to go a drive-in, there's another reason that's just as compelling to go.

I must respectfully point out that you and I don't quite disagree on content so much as spirit.

To say that drive-ins started in the early '30's, while true, is misdirection; it would be like claiming self-propelled automobiles were created in the late 1700's and therefore automotive recreation necessarily began thusly. In any case, it makes no difference when drive-in theaters were created so much as why they became popular. These outlets didn't really take off until the post-war 40's and early 50's when America fell in love with automobiles. To further exhaust my point, one could take McDonald's for instance. Although founded in 1940, it did not become popular, thereby worth discussion on a public forum, until it was purchased by Ray Kroc in 1955 and turned from restaurant into standardized fast food. We do not quibble over diner vs. fast food because we simply allow for the current description that is McDonald's.

Secondly, my sweeping statement regarding movie theaters "improving" should have been tipped off by my inclusion of HBO which didn't even become a 24hour network until '81 and didn't see popularity until the mid 80's and early 90's (along with Cinemax, etc). Granted, many theaters had begun to fall by the way side in the 70’s, but then they "improved" by opening multiplex facilities, thus the statement. I'm not a movie theater aficionado, so I don't have exact dates for you, but I believe my previous description should have sufficed. Moreover, as someone who personally knows a previous drive-in theater owner, I can tell you with certainty that maintenance was always a difficult, time consuming, expensive issue. Additionally, I don’t disagree with you that urban sprawl was a major factor in the drive-in decline, however, I believe that could be more or less circumstantial. In Iowa, for example, many owners either already owned their sites or some, at the least, had spots so completely out of the way that urban sprawl wouldn’t have mattered. Instead, the VCR, as I’d mentioned, helped kill off much movie watching, and it continues to eat away at the number of movie goers, I imagine.

As far as sound quality, I’ve been to three different styles of drive-ins: 1.speaker 2.ambient 3.radio tuning. In each case, the sound quality wasn’t perfect. You bring up the current innovations in the field and I agree that these are vast improvements, picture included. Unfortunately, this is a rebirth in many cases, not necessarily an evolution, and as such doesn’t mean the drive-in you attend will have stepped up to the newer equipment. In fact, the “drive-in theaters” foofoogal and I were discussing had an ambient picture with a projector placed on a car. Not exactly your “high tech” production.

I also don’t disagree that for every reason not to go to a drive-in there could be another reason to go, but of course this is based on subjective preferences. For instance, some people don’t want to sit through 3 movies, and this could be a very big drawback if the movie you want to see plays last. Sure, you could wait until the third will play, but why not see it on Netflix, or in your multiplex theater if that’s the case? The food may have been improved, but that’s not necessarily a draw, in this economy, to go to a movie. Again, why not stay at home and eat your own things? Why not go to a theater and eat their things? I know of two theaters in my area alone that offer a huge selection of food, wine, beer, candy, etc. that a drive-in could never afford to stock.

In any case, I believe you and I were approaching this subject from different perspectives. I believe what you added may have been more supplemental rather than oppositional.

 

[skyvue]

I have no problem with my post being viewed as supplemental, but I do disagree with some of your points.

The poster we were both responding to asked, "Any idea what it was that gave birth to these in the US?" So my pointing out that DIs were born (his term, not mine) in the 1930s was not, in fact, misdirection; many people mistakenly think that drive-ins did, in fact, originate in the 1950s, so it's always worth setting the record straight.

As for your question, "Why not go to a theater and eat their things?", the fact that two theatres in your area offers a variety of food offerings is the exception. Most hardtop movie theatres don't offer nearly the variety of food that drive-ins offer -- you may have a couple of those "dinner theatre"-style-movie theatres near you, but the food offerings at the vast majority of indoor theatres are significantly more limited than those offered at the average drive-in.

Regarding the upkeep issue, it's not as though that suddenly became a problem in the 1970s (or, if you prefer, the early '80s). That issue has been there from the jump for drive-in owners. So it hardly explains the decline of the drive-in.

It was the rise in real estate values and, as Lizzie pointed out, programming challenges that caused the decline in drive-ins. The rise of cable networks and the availability of video rentals could be said to have played a role, but no more for drive-ins than for hardtop theatres.

I've operated a drive-ins internet mailing list for fifteen years, so like you, I have heard plenty from current and former DI owner-operators. As they will attest, most drive-ins are replaced not by a vacant lot (as happens when an ozoner goes out of business) but by a Wal-Mart or a shopping center, which means their owners got a sweet deal they simply couldn't resist.

 

[Undertow]

skyvue, I appreciate your thorough response.