The Demise of the Drive-in Theater

[Churchmouse]

From a high of four thousand at their peak, there are only 300 plus left today. In a few years all will have to switch to equipment to show digital movies. Those operating on a thin profit margin won't be able to absorb the cost and will close. At present Pennsylvania lead the nation with thirty. Ohio has twenty-nine. Six states have none at all. Hate to see the era come to an end. As teens we used to sneak in with two guys in the trunk. I always wondered if the ticket taker asked himself why one boy was coming in with three girls.

[NeuroTypical]

Yep. The Cinderella Twin closed in Denver years ago - makes me sad. Closest one to us is now in Pueblo.

[Lakumi]

None my friends have cars, and we're all in our mid to late 20s... cars are a luxury item a lot of people simply can't afford. I never bothered learning how because I know I won't get one

in this day and age they are a thing of the past

[Dark_Jedi]

We have one in our area and it's already digital. They don't charge by the carload like they did inthe old days, though, a double feature costs $8 per person and they do check for trunk hide outs.

[pam]

We still have one in my area as well. It's still going strong. I think it has 4 screens if I remember correctly.

[drham3rd]

There are two in our extended area...not sure about digital but have fond memories of setting on top of parents station wagon watching movie...or one we went to actually had playground under the screen....

[Guest]

There are two in driving distance and they charge per person. One is on a side of town I wouldn't want to take my kids at night, the other is about an hour away, so we've never gone. Maybe this weekend we will!

[Churchmouse]

The one in our county closed a a year ago. The same family owned a theater downtown complete with an old fashioned pop corn machine. It closed also. Small town business's are being killed by strip malls.

[Backroads]

I still have one in the next town and it still charges by car.

[mnn727]

None my friends have cars, and we're all in our mid to late 20s... cars are a luxury item a lot of people simply can't afford. I never bothered learning how because I know I won't get one

in this day and age they are a thing of the past

What?? You must live in an inner city somewhere.

[NightSG]

The one in Carlsbad NM is worth going to for the snack bar. Those nachos ROCK! At least one jalapeno slice per chip, and the double order was enough to be a full dinner, even for me.

[pam]

The one in Carlsbad NM is worth going to for the snack bar. Those nachos ROCK! At least one jalapeno slice per chip, and the double order was enough to be a full dinner, even for me.

Sounds good. You can't have nachos without jalapenos.

[Quin]

I am beyond ticked that "ours" closed this summer.

Adding insult to injury, they didn't notify us until the start of the season (closed from Sept-May).

Sniff!

Ours is in parentheses because it was a 2 hour drive away. Nearest next is a couple states over.

Q

[Wingnut]

I just found out last week that the one nearest me is closing at the end of this summer, too. I've never been out there, because I don't particularly like starting a double feature at 9:30pm, especially with kids.

[Latter Days Guy]

The only time that I remember ever seeing one is in the film Greece! After reading this thread I googled drive in cinema's and found that there is one in the UK in Manchester! Might just have to take a trip down to try the experience!

[TalkativeIntrovert]

I remember going to one as a kid, but they have all closed down.

We now go to "unimovies", the university sets up a movie theatre in the main hall and charges only $5 a ticket ($4 if you pre purchase). Compared to a minimum of $13 elsewhere it is a bargain. It means the movies have become affordable again as a family night out. They are not the latest movies, but usually only a few weeks old (ie not on dvd yet).

It is interesting that crowd behaviour is back to what it was years ago - applauding, cheering, etc. I love the atmosphere :)

[carlimac]

Two in our town.

[Wingnut]

Project Drive-In | Honda

[Backroads]

So I got the morning paper and found such an article as the front page news, namely focusing on the aforementione drive-in near me. One of the owners managed to snag digital equipment, so that drive-in is safe.

[Quin]

I remember going to one as a kid, but they have all closed down.

We now go to "unimovies", the university sets up a movie theatre in the main hall and charges only $5 a ticket ($4 if you pre purchase). Compared to a minimum of $13 elsewhere it is a bargain. It means the movies have become affordable again as a family night out. They are not the latest movies, but usually only a few weeks old (ie not on dvd yet).

It is interesting that crowd behaviour is back to what it was years ago - applauding, cheering, etc. I love the atmosphere :)

We have a $3 cinema near us, as well! Ancient old theatre (red velvet covered everything, Art Deco lights, test the seats before sitting, or you might just be impaled or slid onto a floor washed sometime during the Carter administration, etc.), movies frequently already ARE on DVD (or about to be).... But it's lovely. It was only $2 twenty years ago, but I don't hunk I can complain! There are so,e public park movies... But whomever set the dates this year apparently conferred with the rain gods ahead of time (in the most insulting way possible)... As every single show has been rained out.

Q