The Drive-In Movie

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 7:05 am

I was just reading that Buffalo New York closed its 58 year old drive in movie theater.

From the NY Times this morning:

Drive-ins have been disappearing for decades, declining to about 400 today from a peak of more than 4,000 in 1958, largely because of rising property prices and changing movie-going habits. After today, there will be 30 or so scattered across New York State, two in Connecticut, and just one, the Delsea in Vineland, in all of New Jersey, the state where drive-ins were born in 1933.

The one in my town closed in the mid-1980s and that was a sad thing. A church bought it for their parking lot.

I had my first date there. I remember sitting in the car and everyone I went to school with was also there, catcalling at us. :rolleyes:

I remember those clunky metal speakers and how many times we'd almost drive off still attached to the pole. :wah:

Do you still have a drive-in in your town?

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 7:54 am

There's none in my town, but I am within 45 minutes of two different drive-ins. I can remember when there was no less than 6 of them nearby.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 8:56 am

No drive-in here, but we pass one in PA on the way to the in-laws.

Fibonacci · Post by **Fibonacci** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 9:18 am

We have one here that is thinking of reopening for a while. They've been closed for about a year because of vandals.

The way I understand it, if everything goes smoothly, they'll reopen permanently again.

911 · Post by **911** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 9:37 am

All are now gone from my area now.

I miss them.

The little coil of mosquito repellant you could light and sit on your dashboard to keep out the skeeters. You could take a picnic basket and eat your own food.

We used to go to one when I was little that had air conditioning and heating so they would be open all year round and you wouldn't have to worry about skeeters.

Indian Princess · Post by **Indian Princess** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 10:26 am

We still have one by us, it takes about an hour to get there.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 12:33 pm

We actually have 2 or 3 left in San Diego maybe more, of course the weather is a factor in that they can be open all year long.:-6

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 12:55 pm

Drive-ins are scarce,but they are still around. Served its purpose for families...and later for dates.

Chookie · Post by **Chookie** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 2:13 pm

Never been to one, the don't exist in civilisation.

*waits for anguished howls from the colonials*

henrychalder · Post by **henrychalder** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 2:30 pm

The last time I saw a film in a drive in movie was in Ashburton, Australia, it was in colour and it starred 'robbie the robot', I also saw the original 'my favourite martian' as well.

guppy · Post by **guppy** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 3:45 pm

We dont have one here anymore either..i remember going as a kid and taking lawn chairs and sitting out by the car and having a blast talking to alot of other people and eating popcorn and enjoying the fresh air..it was sooooooo much fun:)

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 4:51 pm

There's one in Amarillo.

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 5:02 pm

There's still a few around in Australia, even a local revival in Canberra, in winter. All shows sold out.

http://www.winterinthecapital.gov.au/

http://www.driveinmovie.com/Australia/

cars · Post by **cars** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 6:00 pm

Drive-Ins were prominent in my area upto maybe 20 or so years ago. Then they all were converted to outdoor Flea Markets! When they first started, it seemed like many people just cleaned out their garages, & basements & put these old, rusty, dirty, items for sale on folding tables! Over the years now, most of the stuff is fairly new, with some things still in original boxes & wrappers. However, it's just a matter of time before the future "inherrited" owners of these massive open lots, sell them to some land developers so they can build Condos, or Shopping Malls!!!

The Rob · Post by **The Rob** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 6:50 pm

Chookie;689111 wrote: Never been to one, the don't exist in civilisation.

*waits for anguished howls from the colonials*

Aaaarrrrghhh!

The Rob · Post by **The Rob** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 7:01 pm

Sheryl;689158 wrote: There's one in Amarillo.

I used to go to the Pine Street Drive-In in Abilene, Sheryl. These were the days when you had to roll the window down far enough to hang the speaker. Warm summer night, sweat running down my neck while watching a second-run movie (or porn, if we were between elections) while the gentle buzz of seemingly every mosquito in West Texas serenaded my left ear; congealed snack-bar burrito on the dashboard, cold soft-drink nestled between my thighs and soaking the denim.

Ahhh. Good times.