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.

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.

What were drive-ins in the 1960s?

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.

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.

What year did the first drive-in debut?

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

The History of the Drive-in Movie | Encyclopaedia Britannica

What is the oldest drive-in?

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.

What is the oldest drive-in restaurant?

The first drive-in restaurant was Kirby's Pig Stand, which opened in Dallas, Texas, in 1921.

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.

Why did drive-ins lose popularity?

Slowly, drive-ins began to lose their appeal. To have an effective drive-in, it had to be on at least 15 acres of land. Economically speaking, it became more practical for owners to close their drive-ins in order to sell their land to developers to build malls or multi-building complexes.

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.

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.

What were drive-ins like in the 1950s?

"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 exist 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.

What state has the most drive-in theaters?

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New York (49), Pennsylvania (45), Ohio (44) and California (44) offer the most drive-ins, according to the association.

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.

How many acres of land did you need for an effective drive-in?

The typical drive-in theater requires between 10-14 acres of land. This should allow up to 500 cars to park at your theater.

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.

Were drive-ins popular in the 70s?

Drive-in theaters were a huge thing from the 1950's through the 1970's, however they started to wane in the 1980's, and few exist in the U.S. today.

Why did drive-in movies fail?

America's rising car culture meant that more families and teens had the ability to drive to the outskirts of town to see a movie. But as those small towns grew, land became more expensive. The outskirts of town developed, and large drive-ins often weren't cost effective anymore.

What percent of people never drive?

Six percent of Americans drive a few times a month, 4% rarely drive and 6% never do. The most frequent drivers are men, adults with household incomes of $90,000 per year or more, college graduates, suburbanites, parents of children under 18, and those between 30 and 49 years of age.

When did the US stop driving on the left?

The first keep-right law for driving in the United States was passed in 1792 and applied to the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike. Massachusetts formalized RHT in 1821. However, the National Road was LHT until 1850, "long after the rest of the country had settled on the keep-right convention".

Where is the largest drive-in restaurant?

The Varsity in downtown Atlanta is our original, world famous location. This enormous restaurant sits on 2 city blocks and can accommodate 800 diners inside. Opened in 1928, this store quickly gained the reputation of being "the world's largest drive in".

What fast food chain invented the drive-in?

Drive-in restaurants first became popularized by the Texas chain Pig Stand in 1921, according to History. An entrepreneur named Jessie G. Kirby built the restaurant as a roadside barbecue restaurant along the Dallas-Fort Worth highway, which allowed customers to order and eat their food from their cars, per History.

Which fast-food company had the first drive through?

The first identified drive through restaurant was established in 1947 at Red's Giant Hamburg located in Springfield, Missouri.