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The Drive-In Theater Turns 75Explore more photos from the story |
On June 6, 2008 the flag flying over the U.S. Capitol will commemorate the 75th birthday of a distinctive slice of Americana: the drive-in movie theater.
It was on that day in 1933 that Richard Hollingshead opened the first theater for the auto-bound in Camden, N.J. People paid 25 cents per car as well as per person to see the British comedy Wives Beware under the stars.
The concept of showing movies outdoors wasn't novel; people often watched silent films on screens set up at beaches or other places boasting an abundance of sky. However, it took an auto-parts salesman such as Hollingshead to see the genius in giving a car-loving society one more activity they could do in their vehicles.
He first conceived the drive-in as the answer to a problem. "His mother was—how shall I say it?—rather large for indoor theater seats," said Jim Kopp of the United Drive-in Theatre Owners Association. "So he stuck her in a car and put a 1928 projector on the hood of the car, and tied two sheets to trees in his yard."
Hollingshead experimented for a few years before he created a ramp system for cars to park at different heights so everyone could see the screen. He patented his concept in May 1933 and opened the gates to his theater the next month.
The second drive-in, Shankweiler's, started a year later in Orefields, Pa. A few others followed, but the concept didn't really get traction until the advent of in-car speakers in the early 1940s. By 1958, the number of drive-ins peaked at 4,063.
"Drive-ins started to really take off in the ‘50s," Kopp said. "They offered family entertainment. People could sit in their cars, they could bring their babies, they could smoke. Drive-ins offered more flexibility than indoor theaters."
The indoor theaters were more flexible about scheduling, however, and could show one film five or six times a day instead of only at night. So to sell as many tickets as possible, the movie studios sent their first-runs to the indoor theaters. Drive-ins were left to show B movies and, eventually, X-rated ones. And being naughty helped some drive-ins survive.
Comments
I remember many a night at the drive in at Paramus NJ
Posted by Fred Nungesser on June 3,2008 | 01:19PM
The "Twin-Aire" drive-in in Indianapolis holds many childhood memories from the 60's for me.
Posted by Bill Mundy on June 5,2008 | 04:32PM
I still love going to the Warwick Drive-In in Warwick, New York. It's great on weekends, especially when the weather is nice, to sit outside and watch a movie on the big screen.
Posted by Jessica Carlin on June 11,2008 | 12:48PM
Our children love the Shankweiler Drive-In! It is a wonderful place to watch movies.
Posted by Leandra Stoudt on June 22,2008 | 08:16PM
Cloverleaf Drive-In at the bottom of the hill and next to the Canal in Valley View, Ohio...of course there was a Big Boy Restaurant across the street which was a great after show stop in our muscle cars...and gas was cheap!
Posted by Zipexec on July 1,2008 | 01:29PM
GOING TO THE 88TH DRIVE-IN IN COMMERCE CITY,COLORADO IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE SUMMER. YOU CAN'T BEAT THE DOUBLE FEATURE DEAL,TAKING THE DOG,THE KIDS, AND WATCHING THE PEOPLE SET UP FOR THE MOVIE. GETTING READY FOR THE MOVIE IS HALF THE FUN!
Posted by ERik Hegstrom on July 5,2008 | 12:48PM
There is a drive in theater on the naval base in Rota, Spain, that I used to go to as a teenager when my mom was stationed there. My friends and I had some of our best times there! I understand it's still used on weekends. Some of us are wondering whether it's the only drive in theater in Europe, but I can't seem to find that information via any search engines. Does anyone know or have ideas where to find out? Thanks!
Posted by Michelle Hauser on August 12,2008 | 08:34PM
are town may be one of a few that still has a drive in.
Cere's,CA
Posted by jim on September 29,2009 | 07:51PM
There are two on either side of my hometown (Gasport NY)... one is in Middleport NY and the other is in Lockport NY, both within ten miles of my house. I didn't know this was weird until after I graduated high school!
Posted by Beth on November 12,2009 | 01:26PM