A uniquely american pastime that we should all relish and be proud of. Drivein movie theaters are an imporant part of americana. Did you know that driveins reached their peak in the late 1950s and early 1960s with more than 4000 drivein movie theaters in the united states. Rolling back the decades at the bay areas drivein theaters on the way to the movies in his pickup, aaron roofener decided to stop and pick up a fulllength couch that he spotted on a street. Presently, only 5 driveins remain open in north carolina with several closings in the last 10 years. Cars park on the grass facing towards the screen, watching a movie. I loved watching her salt it, and the grease stains from the butter huge brown stains on the bottom of the sack. Now there are currently only about 330 driveins still open in the united states. Westbury drive in movie theatre reprint of old photo photos of the first drive in movie theaters that will give you serious nostalgia 1954 drive in theater sign advertising river of no return vintage black w. This was one of the 51 drive in s that were operating during the 1960 s. Maybe one of the reasons drivein movies are so much more popular in the. During their peak in the late 1950s and early 1960s, there were more than 4000 drive in theaters in the united states where they were invented, as well as another several hundred in canada and australia.
Coyote drivein is a drivein movie theater in fort worth. Once numbering in the thousands, about 400 remain in the u. The second drivein, shankweilers, started a year later in orefields, pa. Many valley drive in theaters had little playgrounds at the bottom of the big movie screens. The santee drivein was opened in 1958 as a solo screen with a second screen added later in the 1960s. By 1951, the number of drivein movie theaters in the. I saw a lot of kurt russell and fred macmurray in those drivein theaters in the 1960s. Within just ten years, another 43 drive ins had opened and california was on its way to becoming one of the top drive in movie states.
Some drive ins have small playgrounds for children and a. It was on that day in 1933 that richard hollingshead opened the first theater for the autobound in camden, n. This page was originally begun as a tribute to the movie theaters in memphis that i loved as a youth in the 1940s and 50s. Aug 04, 2017 if youre looking for vintage fun, or just want to see a movie outdoors on your way back from a day trip, a drive in movie theater might hit the spot.
A drive in cinematheatre is a type of outdoor cinema with one large screen. Viewers watch a movie at shankweilers drivein during the heyday of drivein theaters. Driveins gained immense popularity 20 years later during the 1950s and 60s with the baby boomer generation. We drive in lovers will always remember him for what he gave to us, the magical experience of watching a movie under the stars. History of drivein theaters from the first one opening in in 1933, to their peak in the. This makes me sad, which is why i decided to write this post. There are still drive ins being built, but many are closeing. The history of drive in movie theaters and where they are now posted on june 7, 2017 april 27, 2020 by new york film academy many people hear stories of their grandparents going to the drive in theater for a friday night hangout, but do you know the history of the classic movie experience. But since then, and like all other states, more than 90% of those driveins have closed.
Drivein movie theaters of connecticut and surrounding states. Within just ten years, another 43 driveins had opened and california was on its way to becoming one of the top drivein movie states. On this day in 1933, eager motorists park their automobiles on the grounds of parkin theaters, the firstever drivein movie theater, located on crescent. Remembering new orleans drivein movie theaters moviestv. Find highquality drive in movie stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images. Drivein movie theaters in the sixties 60s memories. Still time to get something at the snack bar puppet polka805. My mother was a huge beatles fan during the beatlemania craze of this country during the 1960s. Jul 18, 2011 drive in movie theaters may have been a fad in the 1950s, but they still exist today. Harrison knight plays byron watson in the watsons go to birmingham. While around 85% have since closed, there are still. The ultimate guide to movie theatres and driveins in the usa and canada.
In some cases, multiplex or megaplex theaters were built on the sites of former drivein theaters. The history of drivein movie theaters and where they are. Drivein movie theaters of massachusetts and surrounding. Drivein theatre at its newer and larger location at 1255 n. Take a look back at the iconic drivein theaters of columbus. Across tampa bay there are still a handful of drivein theatres ready to bring back the nostalgia from the 1950s and early 1960s where drivein s peaked in popularity. Richard hollingsheads mother is said to have found movie theatre seats uncomfortable. A drivein theater or drivein cinema is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor movie screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles.
Super short advertisements used during intermission at drivein movie theaters during the 1950s and early 1960s to get people to consume junk food from the concession stand, may be viewed here. If youre looking for vintage fun, or just want to see a movie outdoors on your way back from a day trip, a drivein movie theater might hit the spot. The drivein theater boom began in the state of connecticut around ten years later than it did in the majority of the rest of the country. When it opened on june 29, 1960 this reflected the growing popularity of driveins as it was pacific theatres 41st location and orange countys sixth drivein. Jun 07, 2017 the history of drivein movie theaters and where they are now posted on june 7, 2017 april 27, 2020 by new york film academy many people hear stories of their grandparents going to the drivein theater for a friday night hangout, but do you know the history of the classic movie experience.
Drivein movie theaters may have been a fad in the 1950s, but they still exist today. Nostalgic images of drive in movie theaters i miss the drive in movies. Drive in movie theaters are mainly found in the united states, where they were especially popular in the 1950s and 1960s. This was one of the 51 driveins that were operating during the 1960s. When you think of a drivein theater, you immediately picture a lot full of colorful 50s muscle cars. Veel drivein movie plaatsen blijven, maar opnieuw wordt ingezet als opslag. Id learned to drive on my parents huge, ninepassenger 1960 chevrolet station wagon, and driving the big caddy reminded me in many ways of that experience. The great drive in culture of the 60s was a unique and fascinating experience, and a very special treat on a saturday night. Drivein movie theaters of new york and bordering states. The post oak drive in theatre at its newer and larger location at 1255 n. Coyote drive in is a drive in movie theater in fort worth. During the middle of the 1960s, over forty drivein movie theaters were still in operation in the state.
When it opened at 805 metairie road in october 1952, the do brought something new to the local movie going scene. Drivein movie theaters are mainly found in the united states, where they were especially popular in the 1950s and 1960s. Cars park on the grass facing towards the screen, watching a. Drivein movie theater locations find a drivein near you. At about that time, the got some relief from the consent decree they were living under since the mid1940s and were allowed to add some driveins. A newspaper ad for drivein movies, the new orleans areas first drivein theater, which opened at the corner of canal boulevard and robert e.
Theres something so quintessentially american about drivein movie theaters. Drivein theaters are no longer a thing of the past. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. The next challenge for drive in theaters has arrived.
They had one in johnson county kansas and i think this one. This is an image of the drive in located in blacktown, operating during the 1960s. This drivein theater is still in operation today, giving the title of home of the oldest drivein still operating in america to pennsylvania. In the 1960s, i have vivid memories of seeing the beatles hard days night, disneys junglebook, and swiss family robinson, and many other disney classics. This article may feature affiliate links to amazon or other companies, and purchases made via these links may earn us a small commission at no additional cost to you. Vintage pictures of drivein movie theaters insider. A few others followed, but the concept didnt really get traction until the advent of incar speakers in the early 1940s. Before the plush seats of cinemark and amc and the luxury experience of movie tavern, baton rougeans enjoyed films from the seats of their carsand occasionally from the trunk. Tampa bay area drivein movie theatres familyfriendly.
Jul 28, 2019 on this day in 1933, eager motorists park their automobiles on the grounds of park in theaters, the firstever drive in movie theater, located on crescent. North carolina was once one of the top 10 drivein states in the country as measured by numbers with more than 200 driveins. From the 1920s to the 1960s, the studio system was pushing out gem after gem in hollywood. The guys are in leather jackets and the gals are in poodle skirts. Coyote drivein fort worth texas drivein movie theater. The history of drivein movie theaters and where they are now posted on june 7, 2017 april 27, 2020 by new york film academy many people hear stories of their grandparents going to the drivein theater for a friday night hangout, but do you know the history of the classic movie experience. Since then however, they have suffered one of the highest closing rates in the country. Drivein movie theaters were popular in the 1960s, but they remain one of the most popular and romantic date nights even in 2017. The drive in boom here in the nutmeg state peaked a decade later than in most of america. Drivein theater statistics from 1960, broken down by state. See more ideas about drive in theater, drive in movie theater and movie theater. Within this enclosed area, customers can view movies from the privacy and comfort of their cars. In the 1960 s, i have vivid memories of seeing the beatles hard days night, disneys junglebook, and swiss family robinson, and many other disney classics. Invision employees share their remote work secrets.
Vw, caddy and classic mustang awaiting the start of the movie. Baton rouges first outdoor theater, the florida drivein, appeared in december 1941. The history of the drivein movie theater the continued attraction of viewing movies under the stars. Although drivein movies are rare today, there were over 4000 openair theaters across the country during the 50s and 60s. Coyote drivein fort worth texas drivein movie theater for. This is an image of the drive in located in blacktown, operating during the 1960 s. Californias first drive in movie theater opened in june of 1938 there were less than 15 auto theaters in all of america at that point. Not coincidentally, this same ten year period also witnessed the number of. The hay day is gone, many theatres even pull out thier playground equipment in the 70s since few families are attending.
This summer, try to find one near you for a cinematic experience that is truly unique in california. The drivein boom here in the nutmeg state peaked a decade later than in most of america. Drive in theaters are no longer a thing of the past. At the time, all of the county driveins were under the pacific banner except the lincoln d. I remember my mom making this huge paper bag full of popcorn to put on the backseat between our feet. Drive movie theaters in the 1960s if it were told today the invention of drive ins drive in theaters in the 1960s how does the author use driveins the inventor of drive in theaters is richard hollingshead. Remembering new orleans drivein movie theaters movies. Although new york state was one of the first 10 states to host a drive in theater the first one opened in ny in 1938 on long island, the empire state was still a late bloomer for drive ins. It has the distinction of having opened one of the first 5 drivein theaters in america the weymouth drivein which opened in may of 1936 and also four of americas first 15 driveins were located in massachusetts. The theaters are all gone now and i wanted a record of them. The next challenge for drivein theaters has arrived. Vintage drivein movie ads drive in intermission 1960s. The studios restricted their firstrun movies to indoor theatres and that left the drive.
Why old drivein movie theaters were popular, and what they. But movie theaters have changed drastically throughout the years. I saw a lot of kurt russell and fred macmurray in those drive in theaters in the 1960 s. Many of the movies target a teen or adult audience. Generally, across america, the peak years for drive in theaters were the late 1950s. Drivein theaters showed mostly bmoviesthat is, not hollywoods finest farebut. Top drivein movie theaters in california ticket snipers. Some driveins have small playgrounds for children and a few picnic tables or benches. We drivein lovers will always remember him for what he gave to us, the magical experience of watching a movie under the stars. Drive in theater statistics from 1960, broken down by state. Drive in movie theaters 1960 stewart drivein in atlanta. But since then, and like all other states, more than 90% of those drive ins have closed. Driveins started to really take off in the 50s, kopp said. Sep 07, 2016 vw, caddy and classic mustang awaiting the start of the movie.
Drive in movie theaters 1960 stewart drivein in atlanta, ga. While they were popular back in the 50s and 60s, many have closed over the years. Rolling back the decades at the bay areas drivein theaters. Aug 06, 2009 vintage drive in movie ads drive in intermission 1960 s. Walden media movie theaters in the 1960s walden media. In some cases, multiplex or megaplex theaters were built on the sites of former drive in theaters. The historical development of motion picture theaters in new mexico, 19051960 c. The venture seems to have closed in the mid to late1960s. Drive in movie theaters in the 1960s by natandcourt. A drive in theater or drive in cinema is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor movie screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles. The number of drivein theaters in america exploded between 1945 and 1955.
Harbor boulevard drivein in santa ana, ca cinema treasures. Within the following 10 years, 50 more drivein movie theaters opened within the state. Here, we take a look at 14 of new york states oldest and newest drivein theaters. Drive movie theaters in the 1960 s if it were told today the invention of drive ins drive in theaters in the 1960 s how does the author use drive ins the inventor of drive in theaters is richard hollingshead. The great drivein culture of the 60s was a unique and fascinating experience, and a very special treat on a saturday night. I think this drivein was taken over by fox midwest. Best drivein movie theaters in southern california cbs. Klinger rode shotgun in the 60 cadillac and navigated the route so i could focus on a nostalgic drive. Many valley drivein theaters had little playgrounds at the bottom of the big movie screens. There are still driveins being built, but many are closeing. Here, we take a look at 14 of new york states oldest and newest drive in theaters.
Nostalgic images of drivein movie theaters i miss the drivein movies. You can bring your own food, talk as much as you want, and pay less than you do at a regular movie theater. Drivein movie theaters of north carolina and bordering states. Associated historic contexts name each associated historic context, identifying theme, geographical area, and chronological period for each. In this personal essay, he reflects on the simple pleasure of going to a movie, and how it once wasnt so simple. By the mid 1960 s, there were still more than 40 drive in theaters operating in connecticut. Massachusetts drivein theaters massachusetts was an early leader among drivein states. Aug 21, 20 drive in movie theaters 1960 stewart drivein in atlanta, ga cinema treasures.
Californias first drivein movie theater opened in june of 1938 there were less than 15 auto theaters in all of america at that point. By the 1950s, the state was home to over 180 establishments. Why old drivein movie theaters were popular, and what. While drivein movie theaters are an important part of american cultural lore, reaching their heyday in the 1950s and 1960s, they have not received sufficient attention of late.
But the heydays were the late 1950s and early 1960s. While there were only about threehundred drivein movie theaters in 1945, by 1955 the number had grown to over four thousand. Historical houston movie theaters houston chronicle. The post oak drivein theatre at its newer and larger location at 1255 n. Drive in theatre at its newer and larger location at 1255 n.