Drive In Movie Theaters

After reading in the "worst pizza you ever ate" thread,  that CrazyBob makes pizza at the drive in theater I started wondering, do you still have drive in's where you're at???
Growing up we had two.  Mom was no fun because she popped that colored popcorn at home and packed a cooler with "Pix" sodas.  I loved driving up to the pay booth, the palm trees had different colored lights in them.  On a rare occasion my brother and I were allowed to go to the front and swing on the lone swing set that was there.  I loved watching the "commercials" with the dancing hot dogs, sodas and popcorn. My Dad would always take the back seat out of the Chevelle and make a pallet in case my brother or I would fall asleep, one or both usually did.  Last movie I remember seeing was "Little Big Man".  I could go on and on. I don't think there is a drive in theater in the state of Florida. 
Are you lucky to have one?  Maybe two?
 
Brenda

There is still one about a 45-minute drive from me, in Muskegon, MI, but all three that used to be here are gone.  I'm pretty sure the last movie I saw at a drive-in was E.T., if that tells you anything.  I just never saw the appeal...I hate sitting in the car, there are always mosquitos, and the sound "quality" is not so much.

There's a drive-in movie theater, the Twin Hills, in Harrodsburg, KY (where Beaumont Inn is located).  It's been there as long as I can remember -- and I've been visiting Harrodsburg since I was a child.  It was closed for a long time, but reopened a few years ago.
http://www.twinhillsdrivein.com/

I believe there are at least 2 in operation around here: the Sky Vu down by Monroe and the Highway 18 out toward Jefferson (on highway...18).
 
According to this website there are 10 drive-ins in Wisconsin but I can't say if it's 100% accurate.
 
When I was young the local drive-in was the Belford just east of I-90 on Business 20 between Rockford and Belvidere.  One summer my friend Rick had a 1965 LeMans convertible and we'd use it to sneak in because it was possible to get into the passenger compartment through the top boot, which meant that the trunk didn't need to be opened - which was what the ushers were looking for.  The only problem was that the trunk floor had some rust issues so the "freebie" wanted to ride in it for as short a time as possible so's not to pass out from the exhaust...
 
Brad

Who the heck ever watched the movie at the Drive In?

There are 2 near Dallas the Galaxy 4 screens and the Brazo's. 1 screen. The largest I have been to is the swapshop in Ft Lauderdale 14 screens. I'm originally from central ny, where i know of at least a dozen still operating.

http://www.driveintheater.com/index.htm
everything you want to know about drive ins including current operating di's and clips like the hotdog jumping in the bun

We have one local  Drive-In that operates all during the 'fair-weather' months. Still $5 a carload and a great family outing during the summer.

There was just one drive-in movie theater around when I was a kid -- on the post Road in Milford, Connecticut. But by the time I was old enough to go they'd shut down. I didn't get to go to one till I was grown and living in Orange, Texas. But then I had to go with my first wife and stepchildren.

We are lucky to have 3 in decent driving distance - 1 about 25 mins away, we went there as kids, still has great greasy burgers and fresh popped corn. The second is about 45 minutes away, it closed for the last 7 years, and it's been brought back this summer by a bunch of volunteers from the town - they run Saturday night only, classic films - Jaws, Indiana Jones, ET....the third is a good hour away so we don't get there really at all. I'm a bit spoiled for the visuals, so if it's a movie I really want to see I don't go to the drive in, the picture just isn't that good.

Here in Atlanta we still have the Starlight Six - six screens, first-run double features, and the occasional special event like the all-day Drive-InVasion (held Oct. 10 this year). Place is managed by Jim Stacy, who also runs a great corn dog truck, and did a show 'Get Delicious', on notable area restaurants, which was received well enough on PBS that more episodes are a possibility.

Newberg, Oregon, roughly 25 miles from Portland, still has a drive-in that is open during the summer months.

• Joy-LAN Drive-In & Swap Shop
  16414 US Highway 301, Dade City, FL 33525 (904) 567-5085  
  
• Thunderbird Drive-In Theatre (Swap/Show)
  
  3295 West Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 (954) 583-7733 ***** Now with 14 Screens****  
  
• Northside Drive-In Theatre
  
  2521 North Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers, FL 33903 (941) 995-2254  
  
• Playtime Triple Family Drive-In
  6300 Blanding Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32244 (904) 771-9939  
  
• Silver Moon Drive In Theatre
  
  New Tampa Highway, Lakeland, FL 33801 (941) 682-0849  
  
• Trail Drive-In Theater
  Lake Worth Rd, Lake Worth, FL (407) 965-4518  
  
• Naples Drive In Theater
  Davis Boulevard Extension, Naples, FL 33942 (941) 774-6661  
  
• Ocala Drive In Theatre
  4850 Southeast Pine Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471 (904) 629-1325  
  
• Ruskin Drive In Theatre
  5011 US Highway 41 North, Ruskin, FL 33572 (813) 645-1455  
  
• Fun LAN Drive In Theatre
  22nd Street & E Hillsborough Ave, Tampa, FL 33619 (813) 234-2311

The one me and my gal frequented in our teenage years was the Elmsford Drive-In in Elmsford, NY - sadly it is now a Sam's store.
 
The ones here in SW Ohio are mainly gone now - they have dropped like flies.

There were 2 of them growing up in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Mid City was on the north side, on Sheridan Road north of Carthage College just south of the Racine-Kenosha county line. It has been condos called Villa Rosa for 15 years.
 
The one on the south side near the IL border is Keno Drive In & the last movie I saw there was Ghostbusters II. I remember going in my pajamas with the big Tupperware bowl of homemade buttered popcorn with garlic salt to see The Jungle Book when I was little. Good times.

We have one in Columbus and I think there are a couple more within an hour.  We went twice this summer.  The first night was so miserably hot and the movie was so awful (Grown Ups) that I didn't enjoy it at all.  The second time was a beautiful night and we stayed for both movies (The Other Guys and Salt).  We didn't get anything to eat there as we got a pizza from Plank's on Parsons on the way and took that.

There's a DOUBLE SCREEN one out here on the Tempe-Scottsdale border on McDowell Rd between Scottsdale Rd and the 101.
My wife & I used to go to one in my hometown, St. Marys PA when we were teenagers. Never saw a movie. The windows were always too steamed up!
 

ynotryme

• Joy-LAN Drive-In & Swap Shop
  16414 US Highway 301, Dade City, FL 33525 (904) 567-5085  
• Thunderbird Drive-In Theatre (Swap/Show)
  
  3295 West Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 (954) 583-7733 ***** Now with 14 Screens****  
• Northside Drive-In Theatre
  
  2521 North Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers, FL 33903 (941) 995-2254  
• Playtime Triple Family Drive-In
  6300 Blanding Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32244 (904) 771-9939  
• Silver Moon Drive In Theatre
  
  New Tampa Highway, Lakeland, FL 33801 (941) 682-0849  
• Trail Drive-In Theater
  Lake Worth Rd, Lake Worth, FL (407) 965-4518  
• Naples Drive In Theater
  Davis Boulevard Extension, Naples, FL 33942 (941) 774-6661  
• Ocala Drive In Theatre
  4850 Southeast Pine Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471 (904) 629-1325  
• Ruskin Drive In Theatre
  5011 US Highway 41 North, Ruskin, FL 33572 (813) 645-1455  
• Fun LAN Drive In Theatre
  22nd Street & E Hillsborough Ave, Tampa, FL 33619 (813) 234-2311

Thanks!  I did a little research myself and see that the one in Ocala "reopened" in 2003....I wonder if 7 years later it still is.  I took the number down.  I just thought it would be kind of fun as an adult to revisit a drive in with an adult.  Somehow I don't see my BF taking to it too much, but hey, with the right incentives you never know!  I think I'll get one of those coiled mosquito repellent thingys too!
 

Vince - you going to Drive Invasion? I'm thinking of checking it out, maybe taking the '65 Rambler sedan down (although the Rambler doesn't have the drive-in theater seats!). Never been, but looks different.

Foodbme


There's a DOUBLE SCREEN one out here on the Tempe-Scottsdale border on McDowell Rd between Scottsdale Rd and the 101.
My wife & I used to go to one in my hometown, St. Marys PA when we were teenagers. Never saw a movie. The windows were always too steamed up!

There used to be one in Glendale out by the GCC. They had wireless sound that you accessed through your F.M. radio in your car. I haven't been there in years. The last movie I saw there was The Vampire Chronicles.
 
  David O.

I remember being apalled when, in eighth grade, my parents made me go to the drive-in and watch 101 Dalmations with them and my little sister. The drive-in is gone sadly, but not the memory that I had a great time at my last drive-in. Don't tell mom and dad, I have a reputation as a hellraiser.

 I found this thread looking for something else, but i love drive-ins so i guess i'll bump it.
 
sadly, the jacksonville drive in closed a few years ago. the owner was manning the ticket booth when he was robbed and shot. i believe he pulled through but was obviously done with the business. it was only an "OK" drive in, but i was glad it was there. the last movie i saw there was "grindhouse", which was quite appropriate for a drive-in.
 
the ocala drive-in was closed, but reopened this past fall. i haven't been yet but look forward to checking it out sometime.
 
the best drive-in i've been to is definitely the south high in columbus OH. they still have speakers on poles as well as transmitting through the radio. they let you bring your dog!, and also are fine with bringing your own food and coolers, and even grills as long as coals are extinguished by the time the first show starts.  we tend to go on the weeknights when it is less crowded. i also enjoy watching the fireflies, whcih are all gone from my part of florida-probably due to mosquito spraying

I help my BIL every summer at his in Osgood, IN.
 
Fun to watch the movie and make some snacks while doing it.

 I thought all the Drive In Movie Theaters were long gone until last summer when my daughter mentioned taking the kids "to the drive in" .  I was really excited to go but there were no family friendly movies showing at the time.  But I can't wait until they open for the season this year. 
TM

Although not open during the winter, The Route 66 Drive In at Knight's Action Park on the south side of Springfield (IL) has two screens that still operate during the summer Memorial Day to Labor day and again two weeks for Halloween. 
 
This website http://www.driveinmovie.com/IL.htm  lists a total of 13 still operating in Illinois during the summer.

6Star I just find that amazing so many remain open.  Where I use to live you just saw
their "remains" - possibly turned into a flea market or a car junk yard.   Maybe the majority are just in the North.  I know I was thrilled at the prospect of not having giant mosquitos to contend with in New York.

Tex-Max:
In the Peoria area, when I was growing up, we used to have 4 drive-in theaters (Holiday, Peoria, Bellevue & Pioneer) operating in the summer in addition to 8 single-screen sit-down theaters. Now there are none. Instead we now have 3 multiplexes (14, 15 & 18 screens) in Peoria and another 14 screen multiplex in Pekin about 10 miles away.  That's 61 screens operating every day year round! It is no wonder that drive-ins have died.

We had two in San Leandro (San Francisco East Bay) that were just a few blocks away...they were built on the site of a former dirt track raceway (the site is now a shopping mall)...Of course we "locals" knew how to sneak in...we'd ride our bikes around and loosen up some of the metal fance panels during the daytime, and then snuck in and jumped into a friends car later at night...
 
There were at least a dozen in the SF Bay Area during their heyday...
 
The 1950's drive-in's had "spotlight games" because back in those days many cars still had spotlights...
 
The WORST night was when a friend and I tried to watch "Bullet" at the Coliseum Drive in next to the Nimitz Freeway in Oakland (CA)...it rained buckets of rain, and the rain was so heavy we couldn't see the screen...even IF the windows weren't fogged up...we *heard* the movie more than *watched* it...
 
There is a documentary about the death of drive-ins in general, and also looked at the ones that survived...I think this may have been on PBS or Discovery Channel...
 
There used to be one just off US Hwy 101 just north of Novato (Marin Co, CA)...as it fell upon hard times in the 1970's, it switched to showing smut films, but you couldn't see the movie side of the screen from the highway...but the train tracks for the Northwestern Pacific RR went right past the drive in, on the back side and they *could* see the screen as the train passed by...and the chatter I heard on my scanner between the engineer and the crew in the caboose was very interesting...(yes, they still used cabooses - or - cabeese, back then on trains)
 

Rusty246

I loved watching the "commercials" with the dancing hot dogs, sodas and popcorn.

Rusty there are collections of these available on DVD...I use them in some of my video productions...very nostalgic for us old farts, and novel to those who haven't seen them yet...
 

there is one 2 miles from my house. we were there about 10 years ago when a film crew from the pbs station came and interviewed me about going to the drive in. they still replay it and i get people still telling me they saw me on there.

Drive-in theatres and vinyl seats: what two things ever went better together?