I've always fancied going to watch a drive-in movie as a way of experiencing a unique American form of entertainment. (I do appreciate though - after all I did watch the movie "Grease" - that most of the time is spent snogging rather than watching any movies! lol ).
Sadly it seems that drive-in movie theatres are a dying institution. It seems that the nearest one to where we live is 75 miles away in the next State (PA). sad
Still, I might entice Pete to go along to one of the movies some time during the Summer... cool grin
Has anyone been to one? Was it fun? Did you actually get any decent quality of picture or sound? Ambience? With all the SUVs and minivans can you actually see the screen at all?
For a list of your nearest drive-in theatres, check here
http//www.driveintheater.com
I went to one, in Hazelton, British Columbia way back in 1978. I went because I had always wanted to see what one was like. I went with a mate so there was no snogging in our car, though there were plenty of misted up windows in the other cars. The movie was "Jaws" which I had seen before about three times. It was a nice warm evening, the car was comfortable and the sound quality from the clip-on speaker was good. I enjoyed it. Since then I have never seen another drive in theatre, much less been to one.
I went to one in Oakville, Ontario around 1980. The movies were a crap b-rated double bill of some sort.
I was underwhelmed. It was the crap sound that really bothered me, but I ubderstand that's much improved these days. Having grown up believing all the great myths about drive-ins, I suppose the down-at-heel reality - including lots of bored overweight people hanging around the snack bar - was bound to be disappointing! sad
We have one about a mile from our house and there is another one within twenty miles.
Our local one is open weekends only during the summer although it is touch and go each year as to whether it will open at all.
The sound comes in via the car radio. It costs $12 per carload and there are usually two movies to see. Last year we took the kids to see Lilo and Stitch followed by that movie about crop circles with Mel Gibson. It is a very good deal actually.
The downside is the mosquitoes - you either have to keep your engine running with the a/c on and the windows shut through the whole film or be prepared with bug repellent. Some people sit outside their cars while others stay inside.
We have done it once in a minivan but usually in our regular car - it is a bit hard for backseat passengers to see - we usually remove the headrests to make it easier.
There is a concessions stand - we have to stumble across the field to get there - with the usual junk food.
The onscreen ads for the concessions look about 40 years old - a definite throwback to the old days, but alas no waitresses on rollerskates hooking trays on to the side of your car now.
It is not my favourite thing to do but it is a cheap eveing for the family.
It's definitely something you need to do for the 'experience'! It's been at least 20 years since I've been to one, but what we used to do was take our pickup truck and back it into the space, so that the tailgate of the truck was facing the screen. The speakers were on a pole, with a long cable so that you could pull the speaker bit closer, into your vehicle. We used to take loads of cushions and sleeping bags, and a dirty great ice-chest full of cans of coke and snacks. Sometimes we would stop at Del Taco first and get a bag-ful of tacos!
It was a great way to hang out with friends/family and see a flick without the 'rules' of a cinema.
>coming over all nostalgic now<
OOh we have a drive-in about 20 miles north of us and took Matthew's friend from Manchester a few summers ago, what a blast!!
We got to see Rush Hour 2 and Planet of the Apes (both first run movies) The kids get in free (but our boy turns 13 in May so no more free for him *LOL*)
It's a good night out, but a late one since the movies can't start until dark (sometimes 10pm ish if its summer)
It's a real treat, for anyone thinking about it, go do it! It's fun, and there is usually a playground for the kids and stuff like that going on. Bring your own snacks if you don't want to be gouged at the stand, and enjoy! smile
I went to one when i first came here and its so long ago that i cant recall what was showing ,but perhaps that is owing to the fact the we *2 boys and 2 girls* where well on our way to being s**tfa** and i think some of them had a few hits of a dubie to ..
What i do remember is that is was a hot night and someone in the car ..cut the cheese ... lol lol lol
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by JohnA on 2003-04-20 1238 ]</font>
The mind boggles, John.... eek lol
They have a drive-in near me - the movies arent brand new but new enough - and like you said its just something you have to do once. Personally I dont remember any cheese.
I went to one in Wichita quite a lot. You can take in a cooler full of beer, a big bag of Taco Bell and smoke cigarettes without anyone giving you grief. And the commercials are incredible Americana Kitsch. grin
A drive-in is a bit of Americana that you should definitely experience. In my opinion, it won't, however, be the way you'll choose to watch movies in the future.
What a wicked idea, thanks Dawn!
There is a 9-screen one near us in Dearborn MI. Beest says he just read that it was the largest in the country.
Now there's a project for summer. And thanks KG, I will stock up on bug repellant. Although we could wait until next winter -they are open all year round! In Michigan!!! lol (apparently they have in-car heaters)