Drive in movie theaters :)

[53' Stude]

Hello again folks. After doing my charity work or helping relatives this morning, got to talking to some uncles about drive in theaters. Anyone have memories of going to see great movies there? Also are there many around in the United STATES and CANADA? There is one about 30 miles away from my hometown but ticket prices are like $10 I hear.

 

[Darren270]

I remember going as a kid. Sadly, they tore it down many years ago. The last time I went we saw "The Cannonball Run" and "The Incredible Shrinking Woman" (the one with Lily Tomlin) double feature. Yeah. Its been awhile lol!

There's one still operating not too far from where I live, but I've never gone.

 

[UncleS2]

There's an old drive-in less than 3 miles away from here, it's been closed for more than 25 years. The framework & shell for the screen seem still good, though the screen probably needs to be replaced. The parking places are all grown up with pines, trees getting pretty big now, could be sold off for pulpwood. Projection house/concession stand would need complete re-do,maybe raze & rebuild. The one place they could save would be on speakers & poles, no longer needed! A small AM or FM transmitter would take care of sound. But our area is low in population & economically depressed, & it would take *years* to recoup the investment- if they ever got it back at all. The owners have shown no interest at all in trying to revive it, & sad to say that they're probably wise in that decision.

Central air conditioning, VCR's & cable TV all became common by the early to mid 1980's, & drive-ins became unprofitable. Too bad.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

There is one a few miles from here that's still in business.

Valle Drive In

 

[EdwardC]

Been years since I've been here, but glad to see that its still there in Kent, Ohio: http://funflick.com/midway.html

Another one I have't been to since I was at school in Champaign, IL: http://www.harvestmoondrivein.com/

 

[jimbrewer]

I remember going to "Tom's drive-in" I think it was called in Phoenix I'm the early sixties with mom and dad. I think it was on Missouri and 12th st. I remember we saw "Shane" "The Taming of the Shrew" and I think "A Man for All Seasons" I remember mom was disgusted with how much of a passion pit it was on The Taming of The Shrew". All the people in the cars were making out heavily, then after awhile they seemed to disappear from the cars completely.

 

[volk06]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
There is one a few miles from here that's still in business.

Valle Drive In



Thats what we have planned for the night! A double feature of fast & furious 6 followed by 7. All for $8.

 

[53' Stude]

Thank you Pop Rivit

. Volk06, have a good time also sir

 

[SLATRON]

We have great place about 5 miles from me, another one up in Alex bay NY by 1000 islands. I've seen a few more when driving around.

 

[53' Stude]

Thank you also SLATRON. I will google search that, so Thank You again

 

[bullwinkle]

We still have the one I went to as a teenager-Starlite Drive-In in Amelia, OH, starlitedriveinohio.com , had a lot of good times there in the early '80s!

 

[53' Stude]

Thank You bullwinkle, I may look that up

 

[dave1251]

I went here to watch Daytona Nights.

http://southbaydrivein.com/

I did not enjoy the "experience". Folks smoking pot and cigarettes along with the smell of non bathers mixed with stale beer and cheap liquor just destroyed the ambiance.

My oldest son took his Girlfriend here last week.

http://www.westwinddi.com/westwind/index.php?r=drivein/location&idtheater=3999

I doubt watching the movie was a high priority on their list.

 

[OneEyeJack]

When I was in high school there was the Ace Drive-In. It was an alternative to planned parenthood.

 

[skyactiv]

There's one still operating on the south side of Columbus, Oh. It also doubles as a weekend morning flea market.

 

[andrewg]

I used to love drive-ins!

When I was a young kid (52 now), my parents used to take us to a drive-in on the weekends. We had an old '67 Ford Country Squire station wagon that had a bed mattress in the back. It was great for kids to watch movies from. I hardly ever stayed awake long enough to see the second movie.

I recall seeing lots of films. "The Poseidon Adventure", "French Connection", "Paint Your Wagon"...and so on.

I remember seeing people getting caught hiding in the trunk of cars. That was always kind of exciting to see them get caught. Some guy would be standing there making them get out of the trunk, with a flashlight waving at them (because those dim fluorescents at the entrance were never bright enough).

I also remember the playgrounds in front of the movie screen. We used to play on the swings and stuff until those corny snack bar ads would start playing...we knew the movie would start soon and so we would head back to the car.

Used to tick off my parents because as I watched those snack bar ads (singing pop bottles and marching band candies)...I would beg them for a coke or some popcorn.

Hardly any exist around here anymore. Just this past year the only local one I am aware of was torn down. Another is just a permanent swap meet.

 

[kozanoglu]

Every year at least once I try to go to the nearest drive-in which is Keno in Pleasant Prairie WI. They are competitive with regular movie theaters.

 

[Chris142]

They just refurbished the one in Barstow ca.

 

[Al]

I am sure there was a movie playing when I dated my old gf in HS but the movie really wasn't the main attraction.

 

[eljefino]

We have at least three up here and they've managed to manipulate facebook and other social media to stay relevant.

My parents took 8-year old me to see "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" and "Mannequin" when they were out. They just wanted to go to a drive-in, the movies weren't anything they'd see in any other venue, and they were probably chagrined for me to be there as well.

All I remember about Mannequin was they had one of those push-button chrysler automatics, that didn't have Park, so you had to use the parking brake, and this was some major plot line that repeated over and over again.