they were so cool. a great way to spend a summer night. as a kid we used to put our pals in the trunk and get em in for free
I always enjoyed watching the sun set over the big screen and cuddling under a blanket as the night air turned cool then I was being awaken to go into the house and go to bed. I was never one to stay up late.
It has become too easy for people to watch movies from the comfort of their homes, either through cable TV, DVDs, streaming, Netflix, etc. I think a combination of these things has led to the demise of movie theaters in general. I know when my wife and I go, it is not at all unusual for us to be the only ones there, and rarely are there more than a half dozen people watching the same movie as we are. I don't know how they stay in business that way. I know that a lot of the older classic theaters went out of business due to the move to digital because it was a large expense, and one that came at a time when theaters were already on a decline. Probably, drive-ins began to wane due to multi-screen indoor theaters that were simply able to offer more move options. Those that are still open, and those that are reopening or even starting new, are probably hoping to cash in on the nostalgia angle.
I remember being stuffed in the trunk many times! And I also remember forgetting to remove the speakers from the windows once in a while...did I pay for the damage or just drive like crazy to safety? I don't remember! LOL
Richard, I bet you were not the only one who drove away with the speakers still attached! When I was younger, a bunch of of kids would get to go with the adults. We would load up the station wagon and hide under blankets. There was nothing like seeing a movie on the big big screen! We did not buy any food there. We popped up the Jiffy Pop and made marshmallows dipped in chocolate. Oh yeah, it was a gooey mess by the nights end. Ha ha,Von, I would fall asleep, too! As Ken mentions, I think, the drive-ins will make a come-back by striking a chord for those seeking some nostalgic entertainment. A good way to do this would to bring back some of those good old fashioned classic movies. I know, my parents first date was to go see an Elvis flick at a drive-in! I would like to go see the Sound of Music.
I've had the opposite experience. I used to go during the day, and be the only one in the audience, or one of just a few people. Nowadays, it seems no one works 9-5, because regardless of what time I go (it's been a while, though, maybe 6 months), the theater and parking lot are crowded! And, everyone seems to have tons of money to spend at the concession stands. I don't know where they're getting their money, but I wish some of it would flow this way, because both the movies and the snacks are outrageous these days. I think there are a few drive-in theaters in this section of Texas, but none nearby. It was always such a thrill to pile in the car when we were little and go, and our drive-in had swings, as well, so that was an extra treat. As teenagers, we would all pile in the car, sneak our snacks in, as well as some alcohol, and have a blast. We also drove away a few times with the speakers attached. Eventually, it seemed about half of the stands didn't have speakers, but by then, we were able to turn in the radios, and hear the show that way.
We don't have a drive-in movie here but I can relate from what I had seen on tv and olden movies on cable channels. There was a plan to put up one here but the cost of land had stymied the investor. And now that the movie industry is on the downslide, I don't think the drive-in movie will be a reality.
That's a shame. I hope someone steps up and is able to buy some land there and build one. I don't know about the process, or how much the place would have to charge, but perhaps they could show old movies, not the newer ones, which should lower the cost significantly. If the movies were popular, there should still be fairly large audiences, and there are some older movies, such as cult films, that would really thrive. I'd love to see drive inns flourish again, especially since the economy is abysmal here, and people could use another low cost source of entertainment. In addition, there's a social aspect, as long as people would open their windows, or step outside of their vehicles. So many drive pickups here that I'm sure the backs would be filled, and that would foster interactions with others in different vehicles. Maybe drive inns could make arrangements with local small business vendors to provide unique snacks, which could help attract patrons and improve both businesses. The dinner theaters seem to be popular, but I'm thinking more along the line of tamales and tacos, slushes and snowcones, which should be popular in this area, or local specialties there in the Philippines, that people crave, and would be willing to pay for.
It was a totally big deal when our drive in got little heaters to place in our car. We thought this was as advanced as it can get. Yea, sure.
Wow, I was looking around and found this. Talk about a blast from the past. Luxury powder room, nursery comforts, refreshment service in your car, that sounds nice. I don't recall if they had the in car refreshment service when I used to go, but I remember it was a big deal to walk up to the snack stands. http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/11460/photos/72861
In my city drive-in theaters were extinct in the early 1970s, when I was still too young to attend such a kind of venues. Later, in the 1980s, there was an attempt to revive one of the oldest in the city. I was already in my 20s and didn't want to miss the chance, but was so deceptive! It was not like drive-ins portrayed in magazines, but a mix of nightclub set in a parking lot with fast food serving and TV screens with beta-format videoplayers. Unsuccessful venture, it closed doors less than one year later, and no drive-in theaters here since.
Hmm, I guess they were trying to modernize it, but that doesn't sound like the shared social experience of the old time drive-in theaters. Ours was around at least until the late 70s, because I recall going with friends when we were teens.
@Diane Lane, the cost of land is not worth the projected revenue of a drive in movie. That's what a film director said in an interview. Land is expensive in Metro Manila and if you go to the suburbs where land is cheaper, there are no moviegoers there to patronize your business. And to think that the tv and the internet is replete with shows, movies and even documentaries, it is much too difficult to compete. A famous theater owner here was also asked one time about a drive in movie. Her answer was that it is not economically feasible since space in the Metro is expensive. Even car parking will cost you 100 pesos (around $2.50) in whole day parking and that parking has no roof, mind you. So the question is how much would you charge a car for the drive in? The estimated cost, as per the ballpark figure of that movie producer, was 400 pesos or roughly $10 per person. That's quite expensive here since the ticket in the theater is just half of that amount, roughly. The difficulty of the drive in theater boils down to one thing - the cost of the land inside the city.