Let's Go To The Drive-In

Drive-in theaters. I remember going to the Geneva Drive-In when I was growing up. I loved the idea of being able to see a movie in our blue Ford van, we traveled everywhere in this van, I loved this van. We would bundle up, warm coats, blankets and hats, bring our own snacks and sit and watch a movie that had been released months ago in the typical theater. Nothing can compare to the experience of an open-air theater. The chill of the evening air, the sounds of cars honking at people in the way, the static sound coming from the speaker hanging off the driver door and your family gathered together enjoying every minute of it.

I was so sad when Geneva Drive-In closed down. A part of my childhood ceased to exist. It's quite depressing. Every now and then I pass by and am flooded by the many memories of this place. I'm glad I was able to experience it. I'm glad it was part of my childhood.

So how did these drive-ins come to be, well....
  
Seventy nine years ago eager patrons parked their cars on the grounds of Park-In Theaters, the 1st ever drive in, located in Camden, New Jersey.

The drive-in was the brainchild of Richard Hollingshead, a movie fan and a sale manager at his father's company, Whiz Auto Products, in Camden. Story goes that he was inspired by his mother's struggle to sit comfortably in a traditional movie theater seat, prompting the idea of an open-air theater where the customer can watch a movie in the comfort of their own car.

Hollingshead tested out his theory in the driveway of his own home with different projection and sound techniques, mounting a 1928 Kodak projector on the hood of his car, pinning a screen to some tress and placing a radio behind the screen for sound. He found ways to guard against rain and other potential weather complications. He figured out the spacing amongst cars to make sure everyone could see the screen. He received a patent for his concept in May of 1933. Total investment, $30,000.

Hollingshead's goal for his drive-In was to be a family affair. Affordable entertainment for the whole family. He charged 25 cents per car and 25 cents per person, meaning that no one car paid more than a one dollar. His idea caught on and after his patent was overturned in 1949, drive-in theaters began popping up all over the country.

The popularity of drive-ins spiked after World War II and reach it height of success in the late 1950s to mid-60s, with about 5,000 theaters across the nation. They became an icon of American culture and a typical weekend event not just for families but for teenagers. The rising price in real estate has slowly made these once cherished theater into empty lots with lease signs on the gate. There are only about 500 drive-ins left.

If you live near one of these 500 drive-ins go and enjoy. See an old movie with scratchy sound in the cold, nothing is better! I miss you Geneva Drive-In. Thanks for the memories.