Shankweiler's Drive-In Theatre is located in Orefield, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1934 by Wilson Shankweiler. The second drive-in ever built, Shankweiler's now holds a Guinness World Record as the oldest operating drive-in theater in the world.

Where is America's oldest drive-in?

Orefield, Pennsylvania is home to around 8,205 people and America's oldest drive-in, it's called Shankweiler's Drive-In and it was established in 1934.

Where was the world's first drive-in movie theater?

Auto parts salesman Richard Hollingshead opened the world's first Drive-in Theatre in Camden, New Jersey on June 6th, 1933.

What is the oldest continuously operating theater in America?

Walnut Street Theatre, founded in 1809 at 825 Walnut Street, on the corner of S. 9th Street in the Washington Square West neighborhood of Philadelphia, is the oldest operating theatre in the United States.

How old are Shankweilers?

An American tradition spanning nearly a century. 1934: Wilson Shankweiler, a prominent hotel owner and movie-fan opens Pennsylvania's 1st Drive-in on April 15, 1934 in Orefield.

History of the Drive-In Movie Theater

Who owns Shankweilers?

The theater was sold to its fourth set of owners, Matthew McClanahan and Lauren McChesney of The Moving Picture Cinema, LLC, in 2022.

What is the oldest theater still open?

Recognized by the Guinness World Records as the oldest continuously operating movie theater in the world, the State Theatre in Washington, Iowa, has been screening films since May 14 1897.

What is the oldest Broadway theater which is still operating?

The Lyceum and the New Amsterdam are the oldest theaters on Broadway; the Lyceum, built in 1903, has the further distinction of being the oldest continually operating theater and the first to obtain landmark status.

What is the oldest running movie theater in the US?

The oldest continuously operating cinema theatre is the Washington Iowa State Theatre (USA) in Washington, Iowa, USA, which opened on 14 May 1897, and as of 26 January 2022 has been in continuous operation for 124 years, 257 days.

Which state has the most drive-in theaters?

Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania have the most drive-ins still in operation in the U.S., with each state having almost 30 left. Unfortunately, Hawaii, North Dakota, Wyoming, Alaska, Delaware, and Louisiana no longer have any that are still in business.

Why did drive-in theaters fail?

Decline (1970s–1990s) Several factors contributed to the decline of the drive-in movie industry. Beginning in the late 1960s, drive-in attendance began to decline as the result of improvements and changes to home entertainment, from color television and cable TV to VCRs and video rental in the early 1980s.

How many drive-ins are left in America?

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.

What was the largest drive-in the United States?

The longest drive between any two cities in the contiguous United States stretches more than 3,600 miles from Cape Flattery, Washington, to Key West, Florida. That's according to the research team at World Geography website StudyCountry.com, which took this curiosity a step further.

Were there drive ins 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.

Were drive ins popular in the 40s?

The drive-in theatre experience first came to light on June 6, 1933. That was the day Mr. Richard Hollingshead, opened the first drive-in theater in Pennsauken Township, New Jersey. A few others quickly followed but the trend only truly took off with the advent of in-car speakers in the 1940s.

What is the oldest drive in theater in the US?

Shankweiler's is the oldest drive-in movie theatre in America and has been in continuous operation in Orefield, Lehigh Valley, Pa., since 1934.

What city had the first movie theater?

On July 26, 1896 America's first indoor seated movie theater was opened right here in #OnlyLouisiana! You can visit the site in New Orleans where William T. "Pop" Rock & Walter J.

What is the oldest continuously operating Theatre in America?

The Walnut Street Theatre, founded in 1808, is America's Oldest Theatre. It is also the Official State Theatre of Pennsylvania, and a National Historic Landmark.

What is the oldest musical still on Broadway?

The Phantom of the Opera

The longest-running show in Broadway history officially opened on January 26, 1988 and is still playing at the Majestic The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical won 7 1988 Tony Awards® including Best Musical.

What musical has had over 12,000 performances?

The Phantom of the Opera

A staple of the West End, Phantom has racked up over 12,000 performances over the last three decades.

What city has the best Broadway shows?

New York City and world-class theater go hand-in-hand, and the best Broadway shows attract audiences from across the globe who can't wait to be entertained on the iconic Great White Way.

What is the oldest continually operating Broadway theater?

The Lyceum is Broadway's oldest continually operating legitimate theatre. Built by producer-manager David Frohman in 1903, it was purchased in 1940 by a conglomerate of producers which included George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. In 1950, the Shuberts took ownership of the theatre, and have operated it ever since.

What is the longest theater run of all time?

Given the amount of times it has been re-released, The Rocky Horror Picture Show can be considered the longest-running theatrical release in history.

What is the oldest surviving theater?

At present, Teatro Olimpico is the world's oldest surviving theater that is enclosed. Even though it is still used for musical performances and plays, access to the theater is limited due to this ancient building's fragile state.

Which US state takes the longest to drive across?

When it comes to driving distance, Alaska is the longest. It's a large territory. To begin with, the journey to Alaska is far less challenging than most people imagine. Traveling from the U.S. to Alaska, it's impossible to ignore the breathtaking grandeur of Mother Nature.