I used to love going to see a movie at the Drive In when I was a teen and taking my kids there when they were little. Our local Drive In had a pretty good playground so we would get there a little bit early so they could play. I believe it cost something like $1.00 per person and the kids were free so, if we brought snacks from home, we had a night out for next to nothing. Sometime in the 80's the owner of the Drive In realized that he could make more by selling the property to a developer than staying in business so that's what he did. I haven't seen another one in the different areas I've lived in so, I'm wondering, are there any left? Did anyone else enjoy going to the Drive In and do you remember the last movie you saw there? I think the last one we saw was E.T., that's how long ago it was.
[question posted by spalladino]
responses and comments:
While I haven't been, I know there is one in a little town about 20 miles from us. It is the only one in the region. Large towns don't generally have one, and I'd say that city lights might be one reason. Smaller towns have fewer lights to distract, while larger towns have more. I'm glad they still have them, and the fact that you don't have to use the little box, but rather your FM radio makes it that much better. [jayperiod]
we still have a drive in near us. it's about half hour away. and i believe there is still one open about half hour the other direction too. i don't remember the last movie we saw at the drive in. its been about 6 years since we've gone. once we had kids lol. our oldest is 5 now and i think she would enjoy going. our middle one is 3 and she is the spawn of satan so i don't think taking her would go so well. we'd spend the night searching for her between cars lol. i would like to try to go sometime this summer with my husband. [ravinskye]
I actually live not too far from a drive-in movie theatre. On warm nights my family might go to see a movie there, but otherwise I usually would just go to a sit-in theatre. I know that drive-in theatres were much more popular at one time, but they've died out as people would rather pay for comfort than the effort to drive around (with ags prices getting so high and all). But all-in-all, the drive-in theatre still has its charm when I do experience it. =] [darkdestruction50]
Honestly, I have never seen or been to a Drive In movie. The only ones I have seen are in movies but other than that, I'm pretty sure we dont have any near where I live. I've been almost all over this state and havent seen one but who knows.. there might be one around here somewhere. If i ever come across one, it would be pretty cool to go to. [Mirenia]
I remember going to the drive in with my parents when I was very young. The one in our town closed down before I was ten so we didn't go that often. We saw a drive in not too long ago. I couldn't believe there were still any open. I think it was in Gadsden but it may have been in a town closer to Cathedral Caverns. I can't remember if I saw the drive in going to the cavern or going to Gadsden. [sunnflr]
A small town about 20 miles north of me called Newton (in Illinois) still has a drive in. It's like $5 to get in (per car, not person). The last time I went was a few years back; I saw "Coyote Ugly" and "X Men". [myklj999]
I can only think of one Drive-in theater and it is about 200 miles from here and in another state. I am sure that there are more than that. Maybe even one closer, but none that I am aware of. I have never been to a Drive-in theater. [lilybug]
Well there was a Drive Inn movie theater in the town about 40 minutes away until last Thursday when a tornado ripped the screen down. I went there wtih my son and a friend once we saw the movie Cars and Pirates of the Carribean part 2. They do not know if they will be able to reopen this season or not. [luvstochat]
Going to the 'Drive in" with my folks was so exciting. And then my,now, husband of 42 yrs. Best memeories of my childhood and dating my Husband!!! OH WHAT FUN WE HAD . Last movie I saw with my (at then boyfriend) and now Hubby, was "Cleopatra"...it was awful. With my Folks was "The Shaggy Dog"!!! So GREAT. When our two daughters were small we took them and they got just as excited as I did as a child. [kitty2]
Here's a factoid for ya I found out after I googled it: It began in 1932 when Richard M. Hollingshead nailed a screen to trees in his backyard and hooked up a 1928 Kodak projector ont he hood of his car and put a radio behind the screen...all of this in his driveway he conducted outdoor theater tests.... he got the patent in 1933 The first drive in opened in New Jersey June 6, 1933 But to answer your question there is one across the river from me in Reo IN that I believe is still operating and I know there is another one in KY nearby..... And I do remember going to the drive in when I was younger. Here is the link I found the fun info at.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drive-in_theater [taface412]
if anything: we had a drive in theater near us in barboursville,wv. but it was destroyed so we could have a wallmart there. i would have liked it if the walmart had been somewhere else. [mtrekster]
Ive never been to it, but there is one about 45 minutes away from where I live now. I used to live just right down the road haha and I have never been. I do know that they charge only $5 for a whole car...doesnt matter how many people are in the car. You still have to pay seperate for the snacks and stuff of course. They play 2 movies at a time. There are 3 show times I belive, the morning, afternoon, and evening times. And each time they show 2 movies. Usually they are older movies, but I've been told that every once in awhile they will play a new release and an older movie. [ambkeb]
I remember going to the drive in when I was little with my family. We used to eat fried chicken and stuff. I don't even remember which movies we saw, just remember the experience. I'm not sure if they still exist. I'm sure they do, somewhere. A couple of ours have been turned into flea markets on the weekend. I'm not sure if they still do the drive-in in addition to the flea. I think you have sparked my interest, though. I'm gonna see if there are still any around. My kids would probably love it. [jalucia]
Here is a list of drive-in movies by state in the USA www.driveinmovie.com/mainmenu.htm [jengoss]
Drive ins are still around you just have to know where to look. i remember where i was living before. when we first moved there i saw a field with two huge screens and i was like...huh? so i asked my mother what they were and and she told me that it was a drive in. she was actually a little surprised herself as i recall. so yeah...they are still around but they are quickly becoming an endangered species. [Palmerhusky]
I remember seeing ET at the drive in! There is one 30 minutes west of me and one an hour to the east of me. my husband and I went last year and saw I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. We had such a good time. I don't remember the cost but I think it was $4 or $5 per person. Still cheaper than going to the theater. [cukal6]
There is a Drive In close to ATlanta, GA. I used ot live only a few minutes away from there. The last movie that I saw there was the remake of Amityville Horror that came out a few years ago. [kimcook1985]
there is an active one still about an hour from where I live :) so yeah there are some still around but few and far between, I loved going to them when I was younger. These days it costs more to get into one of those than it does to go out to a theater. Although the funny thing is the one near me plays older movies and not the new ones that are coming out in theaters lol. [Shawchert]
Oh dear! Must have been more than 20 years since I've seen drive-in movies and that was in Australia and that was my first and last! Here in Vancouver, I think they have been phased out as I haven't heard any around still existing! [moolahmagnet]
I was in grade school the last time I went to a drive in. Wow, that was forever ago. I cannot even remember what I saw. I see ads for drive ins in Illinois once in a while.I think they are open for special events. [ersmommy1]
Hi, good post, but i did not felt these kind of [kjisks897]
We still have one left. I can't remember the last time I went to it. I have happy memories of going to ours. We always stopped and got a gallon of rootbeer and a big bag of popcorn from A&W. Like you I remember going as a child, a teenager, and taking my own kids. [Sherry12]
Ahhh Drive ins! Those were the days! I love watching retro films with drive-in scenes. There's an indoor drive-in place in Manhattan which charges a bit. The place is called DRV-IN (google it if you like). That's about as close to drive ins as we'll get in the city. [chezfrugal]
I'm not sure if there are any around my are or not still but i do know there is one where some friends of mine live. They go there once in awhile for dates. They seem to enjoy it better then an actual movie theater. [Timothy31]
There is still a drive in over in a small town near us. Only one left I know about. We used to pay 5$ a car load. We would make a huge bag of popcorn and watch two movies. One of my first dates with my husband was at a drive in where he conveniently ran out of gas. Ah, memories. [celticeagle]
I live in Southern CA outside of San Diego and there are still a few places left! I have never been but we have friends who still take advantage of the sights! Definately have thought about it and would love to try it sometime! Our kids are huge fans and much less expensive than trying to take them all to the theater! [jashley1]
There is one near Manitou Mineral Spa in Saskatchewan. They run it on weekends during the summer. It was really neat getting to go sit in the car and watch a movie, hear it through the radio speakers. I liked the little cars being closer to the front not stuck behind some big truck (like some guy sitting in front of you wearing a big cowboy hat in a sit down theatre) [saundyl]
My first husband and I went to the drive-in every weekend when we were dating. One time, we saw what was then considered an x-rated movie. I was 18, but he was 6 months younger and he was hoping they didn't ask for his ID. They didn't. I think the movie was What Do You Say to a Naked Lady. Pretty tame compared to today's movies. We do have a drive-in in the Cincinnati area. I've been in the area for 3 years, but haven't been. Our church did go to see something as a group either last year or the year before. I think it's now $10 a car. But that's cheaper than the indoor movies. And you do get to see 2 (sometimes 3) movies. [kenzie45230]
We still have a drive-in here in my town. We love it and look forward to it opening each year, as the weather gets warmer. It is a great family night adventure for us to go to the drive-in. The kids get excited when they here me crank on the popcorn machine on a warm summer's evening because they know there is a good chance we are getting ready to pack up and head over there. They love it because they get to stay up late, go out in their pajamas and eat junk food. :o) [HouseKat]
I live in Michigan and I am pretty sure there are two left in the state. The last time I went to a drive in was to see Star Wars (the original one in 1977!) at the drive in north of town. I haven't been back to that area in a long time so I have no idea what ever became of it but I am sure it is closed down. I remember the playground (that was when you could actually let your child out of your site), the speakers hanging on the windows and having to walk past all those cars to get to the bathroom. Oh, and wondering why there were still a few cars left in the area when the movie was over...didn't they have to go home and get some sleep? [kingcrapper]
Here in Ahmedabad, Gujrat, India , we have a Drive In Cinema.. its really fun to watch movie here in Drive in cinema.. just Drive in with your vechil, and you can lie down on grass there with pillows and enjoy the movie. [onlynaval]
We still have a drive in movie theater in my town and it is still popular til this day. I used to go every summer to watch all the new movies on the big screen and still like to see what is being played even now as I pass by there. I unfortunatley haven't been able to go for I work nights includeing nights on the weekends. I think it would be fun to go again and watch a movie like I used to but need to take a night off from work to do so. I want to go and see the new Indiana Jones movie which is playing now I think that would be awesome to watch on the big screen. Hopefully befor the summer is out I will get to do this. [Remembering1996]
I have a drive in just around the corner from where I live. I don't go there regularly but it is nice every now and then for a change or when you want to watch a movie that just came out with a bit more privacy than you normally have in a movie theater (like when you go to see a movie with a girl). Entrance is about the same as two movie tickets and is charged per car, not per passenger so if you go on your own it is expensive but if you fill the car up then it comes to being a reasonable price. Always take your own snacks though because the little cafe thing they have there is really expensive. [Pirate_Arg]
we have never had a drive in here in UK but it would be great if we did....we have an old art deco building closeby which is under construction but no drive in...sad [tattylashes]
I remember when i was young they had drive in theaters but i don't think that they have them anymore. If they do i know that they make alot of money. There are those that did like drivein's and would go if they still had them. [twallace]
There's a Drive-in Movie in N.C. about 40 miles from me. My son and his wife go there.It is a very full place every weekend.They sellout.You have to get there 2 hours early if you want to get in.They serve hot dogs,pizza and cold drinks,it is a really nice place.They show 2 movies. I do not know the cost,but last I heard it was by the car load. [jezzmay]
we have one about 25 minutes away. we go a lot in the summer. 3 movies for a great proce. there is a big open lot between the 1st row of cars and the screen for playing kickball or whatever too. [GigglesGrobanite]
Lord I haven't been to a Drive in since I was about 4 years old my mom and dad used to take us all the time then we moved out of state and then they were none close that we were aware of so it stoped,We all missed it so much. They are none here in Kentucky where I live but I have seen one in Ohio but I am not sure if it is still running at this time because it has been awhile. I don't recall the last movie I watched there. It has been almost 30 years though since I have been to a drive in. [mtdewgurl74]
I loved drive in theaters... When I was in high school, there was 1 drive in movie theater... That was me & my buddy's hang out almost every weekend, except winter times... One year, they were closed to winter & never opened since... I don't even know what came of that place now... [sk66rc]
There were so many when I was a kid and then they started to take them all down. There is one by me that is about a 40 min drive. You get to see 2 movies and they only change 10 bucks per car. I was happy me and my fiance got to go and cuddle up. I don't get to go as often as I like , but hope to get a group together on a cool summer night and go. When I was a kid I saw Jungle Book there With my finace we saw my big fat greek wedding and i cant remember the oter movie. [metschica25]
There are actually two that are not too far from me. One is only about 15 minutes away, the same people also own a small indoor discount theater in the little down town area. The other one is about 40 minutes away. I am pretty sure we will go at least once this year. At the closer one the adult price is $6.00 which is 2 to 3 dollars cheaper than a regular theater and children are only $3.00. [ladym33]
There is one in Newton, Iowa which is about 15 miles north of here. Des Moinnes even had up til about 5 or 10 years ago. The one in Newton now charges per peron instead of per car but kids are free and it i till cheaper because you get two movies and they do have the special per car load once in a while. We ha one over where I grew up but that closed when I was really young due to vandalism. My family used to go to another one about a half hour away. They used to just be everywhere. I don't remember all the movies but I do remember watching Raiders of the Lost Ark at that drive in. [Ruthep]
There is one left in my area. THey charge a dollar to get in and they show 2 movies. Its nice to take the kids but the facility itself is in really bad condition. The bathrooms at a truck stop are in better shape! Honestly, and the screans are pretty bad! But the kids like it and we can bring in food so we go now and then [liperoterachel]
I wish we still had one, the last pone closed about 3 years ago and now there is Multiplex. When we were young and could no longer afford to "date" because we had kids, we would load them into the station wagon and go to the drive in. My boys would usually fall asleep after the first movie, so my husband and I were on a "date" for about 2 hours. It was also affordable that way and if when they were babies and they fussed they would not disturb anyone else. We could not afford babysitters and did rely on family, but they were not always available. [Barbietre]