Drive-in theaters … where families and couples could watch their favorite movies under a starlit canopy in the privacy of their automobiles. Although the number of drive-in movie theaters has dwindled in the past several decades, the genre continues to live on.
In the Beginning
In 1932, Richard M. Hollingshead of Camden, New Jersey created the first outdoor theater by nailing several movie screens to trees in his backyard and placing a movie projector on the hood of a car. To determine if audio could be heard clearly in a vehicle, Hollingshead put a radio behind the screen to test the sound. He put ramps and blocks in his Thomas Avenue driveway to see how well cars could view the movie screens. In June, 1933, Hollingshead opened a drive-in movie theater with a 40-by-50 foot screen in a lot big enough for 500 cars.
More Drive-in Theaters
Although the United States was in the Depression of the 1930s, more drive-in theaters cropped up in America, including; Orefeld, Pennsylvania (1934), Los Angeles, California (1934) and Weymouth, Massachusetts (1936). Drive-in theaters opened in Ohio, Maine, Florida, Rhode Island, New York, Texas, Michigan and Virginia throughout the decade. In 1941, in-car speakers with volume controls were installed in most theaters, improving the movie’s sound quality.
The Heyday of Drive-in Theaters
The late 1950s and 1960s were peak times for drive-in movie theaters. Built mostly in rural areas, the theaters advertised themselves as family-friendly places to bring children; most drive-ins had playground areas. Couples also enjoyed the drive-ins as places to watch movies and watch each other. Although in areas where cold weather exists and theaters could only operate up to six months out of the year, more drive-ins cropped up around the country; about 4,000 to 5,000 were operating in the United States through the 1960s.
The Declining Years
Although the genre began to fade later in the decade, drive-in theaters were still popular in the 1970s. Historians say the popularity of drive-ins lessened with the emergence of new forms of entertainment such as video games and VCRs. Increasing real estate prices meant landowners were losing money if they used valuable properties for theater operations, thus, many drive-ins were closed with the land sold for housing, business and office complexes. Daylight Savings and the availability of first-run films were also factors contributing to drive-in theater closings.
Intermission!
During their peak of popularity and today, drive-in theaters ran/run more than one feature each evening. Then and today, along with general operating expenses and because business owners must pay percentages to film studios, snack bar revenues make up the bulk of a drive-in’s income. Theaters advertise their concession stand goodies before, during and between features by what is called a “snipe”… a cartoon or live action clip. Some early concession stand “snipes” include "Let's All Go to the Lobby" as well as other classic clips and vintage advertisements of the 1950s and 1960s. Newer snack bar “snipes” are shown at drive-ins today, but many theaters continue to show the nostalgia clips from the 1950s and 1960s.
Drive-in Theaters of Yesterday
During the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and even in the last 30 years, movie-goers from all over the United States could see their favorite flicks at the drive-ins. In Ohio, for example, there were more than 270 drive-in theaters in operation; most are closed now but a couple dozen or more remain open. In New Jersey, more than 50 outdoor theaters were popular among movie-goers in past decades; only one is known to be operating today (Delsea drive-in, Vineland, NJ). Known statistics show 19 theaters were built in the 1930s, more than 390 in the 1940s, more than 570 in the 1950s, 160 in the 1960s, 68 in the 1970s and five in the 1980s.
Drive-in Theaters Today
Drive-in theaters are still popular today! There are about 4800 drive-in movie theaters around the world; more than 430 in the United States and Canada. 21 drive-in theaters were built in America in the 1990s and about 40 were built or re-opened between 2000 and 2011. Many theaters are online; providing location directions and information on movies and show times, admission fees, concessions menus and radio frequencies,
Is There a Drive-in Theater Close to Home?
Information is right at your fingertips; a database which has information on currently operating and forever closed theaters. Some theaters allow pets, some do not. Some theaters are open only on the weekends.
Many drive-in theaters have areas for patrons to set up lawn chairs. Bring a portable radio, extra batteries and some mosquito repellent.
Most drive-in theaters allow you to bring in your own food but, as a sign of the times, you must pay a fee to do so, typically $4 or $5 per car. Theaters must pay a percentage of their ticket sales to the movie studios; owners depend on income from concessions to help balance the line between operating costs and profits. Snack foods brought in from the outside mean fewer sales at the concession stand. Fewer sales cut seriously into business revenue (and the bottom line is that, among other reasons, if a drive-in movie theater cannot make money, the business may shut down).
Drive-in Theaters Live On!
From generations of yesterday to movie-goers of today, drive-in theaters are a part of Americana!
Sources
United Drive-in Theater Owners Association
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