The feeling of nostalgia is strong for those of us who remember the heyday of the drive-in theater in the US. It was the place to be for young men and women from the late 1950s all the way through the 1970s.

When did drive-ins became popular?

As an institution, the drive-in's heyday was in the 1950s, when more than 4,000 screens dotted the American landscape.

When did drive-ins lose popularity?

There doesn't seem to be any one main reason why this happened, but there are plenty of factors that caused them to go into decline. Many say that the oil crisis during the 1970s – and the subsequent spike in gas prices – made families less likely to go out driving for their entertainment.

What year was the drive-in introduced?

Though there were drive-ins as early as the 1910s, the first patented drive-in was opened on June 6, 1933 by Richard Hollingshead in New Jersey. He created it as a solution for people unable to comfortably fit into smaller movie theater seats after creating a mini drive-in for his mother.

Why were drive-ins so popular in the 1960s?

The boom of automobiles and car ownership was the reason the drive-in thrived. Families could bring young kids or infants, and not have to worry about interrupting other movie goers or having to leave a busy theater. Young couples made drive-ins the popular spot for dates because of the privacy a car would allow.

1970s Drive In Intermission Memories

Is Drive set in the 80s?

While Drive is set in the present day, it has a 1980s atmosphere, underlined by the vehicles, music, and clothes, and by the architecture.

Were drive-ins popular in the 80s?

Drive-in movie theaters would remain popular and prevalent until the mid to late-1980s when traditional movie theaters came back into style.

Were drive-ins popular in the 60s?

Invented in the US, drive-in theaters reached their peak popularity right after World War II during the '50s and '60s, allowing guests to enjoy B movies in a giant parking lot, under the stars and in the comfort of their cars.

What were drive-ins in the 1960s?

Drive-Ins were most popular in Texas. Texas had 356 drive-in theaters compared to only 192 in Ohio. California was also a popular place to watch movies. A drive-in theater 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 cars.

What is the oldest drive-in movie?

The oldest drive-in still in operation is Shankweiler's Drive-In Theater in Orefield, Pennsylvania, USA. This outdoor cinema opened on 15 April 1934, less than a year after the world's first drive-in theatre opened in Camden, New Jersey.

Why did people stop going to drive-ins?

"The decline of the drive-in was directly related to the movement away from Main Street America and towards the mall society, where convenience, times, weather and the idea of 'all-inclusive' became the popular way to enjoy a night out, pushing away the classic night out at the drive-in," Stefanopoulos elaborated.

Are there any drive-ins left in the US?

Drive-in theaters have been disappearing since their peak in the mid 1900s. In the late 1950s, there were 4,000 drive-in movie theaters in the United States. Today, there are only about 300 left in operation.

Were drive-ins popular in the 40s?

The first drive-in movie theater opened on June 6, 1933. The concept accelerated in the 1940s, giving birth to memories of drive-in movies for many who lived in '40s through '70s.

Why do people go to drive-ins?

You can see your favorite movies like never before: Whenever you go to the movie theater, there's always the risk that the film you're seeing will be a dud. However, most drive-in theaters play classics and fan-favorites, meaning that you've likely already seen the movie you're going to view and know you'll like it.

What was America's first drive-in?

Camden Drive-in, Pennsauken

At some point, you have probably driven by the big Zinman Furs building on Admiral Wilson Blvd. in Pennsauken. That building sits where the very first drive-in movie theater in America opened its doors on June 6, 1933.

How many drive-in theaters are left in the US?

The number of drive-in cinema sites in the United States remained at 321 in 2020, the same as in the previous years.

Why were drive-ins popular in the 50s?

"Drive-ins started to really take off in the '50s," Kopp said. "They offered family entertainment. People could sit in their cars, they could bring their babies, they could smoke. Drive-ins offered more flexibility than indoor theaters."

How many drive-ins were there in 1955?

The industry reached an apex in August 1952, when the average weekly attendance at outdoor theaters surpassed that of traditional theaters by 1.3 million. By 1955, there were more than 3,700 drive-in theaters in the United States. That number peaked in 1958, when more than 4,000 drive-ins brought in $230.42 million.

What is a nightly double?

The Nightly Double is the biggest drive-in theater in town and it shows four movies on weekend nights. Unlike the other theaters, which are known for being either Soc theaters or Greaser theaters, the Nightly Double attracts a mix of people.

What was entertainment in the 1960s?

Music,movies, plays, musicals, and much more. A popular musical was The sound of music. A few popular T.V. shows were The Flintstones, The Adams Family, I Dream of Jeanie, and much more.

How did people watch movies in the 50s?

You went to the movie theatre and some were shown on TV on the few channels that existed. You could not rent or buy movies at the time. The 1950s were quite different from the 1960s when we had remote control and color TV.

Where were drive-ins invented?

On June 6, 1933, eager motorists park their automobiles on the grounds of Camden Drive-In, the first-ever drive-in movie theater, located on Admiral Wilson Boulevard in Pennsauken, New Jersey.

How many drive in movie theaters were there in 1958?

At their peak in 1958, there were 4,063 drive-ins in the United States, a number that has since unfortunately dropped by 90 percent.

How much was a movie in 1933?

The "Great Depression". In 1933, the inflation-adjusted cost of a movie theater ticket was $6.14 - by 1937, this number had dropped all the way back down to $3.97 (inflation adjusted) as Americans struggled to afford nights out.

In what state was the biggest theater?

Playhouse Square is a theater district in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is the largest performing arts center in the US outside of New York City (only Lincoln Center is larger).