I love the drive-in. The very first time I went to the drive-in I was about 3. Of course, I remember playing on the playground that was more important at 3 then actually watching the movie. What I do remember is seeing all my friends and their parents there on the weekends. Every weekend. I was born in 1953 so this was in 1956 and the old black and white films were what we watched. Let's all go to the movies.

The food at the concession stand was another attraction. Hot dogs, candy, soda all those things guarunteed to keep us up late into the night. If you weren't sitting in your car you were watching from the playground or sitting in the food court area. Maybe you brought chairs with you or if you had your pick-up you were sitting in the back with your friends. I also remember when we were older putting people in the trunk to sneak them in. Hey...we were young. :)

I was happy to discover a theater in Illinois about a year or so ago. It had been ages since I'd been to the drive-in. My daughter had gone with some friends a a few times and when she mentioned it to me I demanded she go with me. :) It was after all a big part of childhood and I had such fond memories. The one I am referring to is Skyview Drive-in Theater in Belleville, Illinois. Thats the closest one I know of. If you haven't been to the drive-in and you want to catch some of that old magic. Check out the website.

A little history of the drive-in.

Tuesday June 6, 1933
The first Drive-In Theater opens!
Showing "Wife Beware"

The First Drive-In Theater was invented by Richard M. Hollingshead. Hollingshead worked out the details by hanging a sheet for a screen in his backyard. Richard began to experiment in the driveway of his home at 212 Thomas Avenue, New Jersey. Richard mounted a 1928 Kodak projector on the hood of his car, he used it to project onto a screen he had nailed to trees in his backyard. He placed a radio behind the screen for sound, then started his test of his idea. Richard tested sound with the windows up, down and half way. He tested many weather conditions, using his lawn sprinkler he simulated a rainstorm. Richard liked what he saw and heard.

One main problem did arise in his test. That was if cars were parked behind each other, the cars at the rear would not be able to see the whole picture, due to the car in front. This did not stop Richard, he lined up cars in his driveway spacing them at various distances and placing blocks under their front wheels he was able to find the correct spacing and the correct angles to build ramps for the cars front tires to park on. Thus was born the first Patent for the Drive-In Theater.

Next we find Richard at the US Patent Office on August 6, 1932. He is explaining about his invention. On May 16, 1933 he get a patent # of 1,909,537 the first Drive-In Theater patent ever. Later in May of 1950 the patent was declared invalid by the Delaware District Court.

By January of 1942 Drive-In theaters had began to spread across the U.S. There we 95 Drive-Ins spread across 27 states. Ohio led the way with 11 Drive-Ins.

The drive-in boom was under way. Going from less than 1,000 in 1948 to close to 5,000 by 1958. The drive-in etched it's place in history, not just in the U.S.A. but in many countries across the world. During the same years of 1948 to 1958 over 5,000 indoor theaters closed reducing their number from 17,000 to 12,000.

The 1960's and 1970's. The drive-in became stagnant.

The 80's started out fair and got very bad before they end. Low attendance almost kills the drive-in. Many owners say it hits over night. "Last year 500 cars on a Friday this year 50 cars." What's happening? Many things hit to pull people away from the drive-in. Some of the biggest are Cable TV and VCR's. Hollywood is right to our home, so why go anywhere?

Something happens in the 90's, the number of theatres closing slows down. Many drive-in add extra screens, many go Twin, some go Tripple, a few go Quad, one in Florida goes 13 screens!!!!! The crowds and the families retun. I have been told by many owners that they have to close the gates some nights, because they run out of space to park cars. Also if you look at the crowd you see mostly families with young children, just like the crowd of the 50's, it seems that a new generation has discovered the drive-in.

And where is the drive-in now?

Go here.