Last night I was flipping around the stations (like most nights) and landed on Grease. I will admit it I love that movie and the music. During the scene I was watching, Sandy (Olivia Newton John) and Danny (John Travolta) were at a drive-in movie. He was trying to get his ring off as a sign to go steady and then in a minute or two Danny breaks out in a song that starts "stranded in a drive-in, branded a fool" or something like that.
This gave me a chance to pause and thinking about my childhood and going to drive-ins. I remember there was a drive-in theatre in Braintree and Westboro MA as well as a number of them down the Cape. What great memories. Would go with my friends and have a ton of fun. We would go and watch a double feature and laugh all night. Since we didn’t have a ton of money, I remember bringing in our own food and drinks and taking forever to figure out how to get the volume right in the car. Those were the days!
Frankly I miss going to the drive-in. I think if there was one close I would go.
- Do you miss going to a drive-in theatre?
- By any chance is there one near you now?
- What is your favorite drive-in movie story?
I look forward to reading your comments.
Melanie says:
I remember going with my family. Those little speakers you’d put in your window were fun, if they worked and didn’t have too much static. And you paid by the carload instead of by the person, so we’d cram a ton of people in one car and then we’d sit on our cars and lean back against the windshield to watch the movie al fresco.
The closest drive-in to Dallas is in Ennis, TX, which is a bit far, but my kids have gone out there for a movie with friends. I am continually amazed at the things you can find online. There is a link out there to find a drive-in near you.
http://find.mapmuse.com/interest/driveins
Merrill Dubrow says:
Melanie,
Thanks for your comments and sharing the link. Good resource.
Enjoy the holiday’s!.
Merrill
Ruthann Chesnoff says:
I loved drive in theaters when my children were young and we had no money for baby sitters. We would take them on a Saturday night put them on the swings and play ground,bring food and when the movie started they were both asleep. Great memories!Now I prefer to go out to the theater.
Eileen says:
We live about 15 minutes from a drive-in theater in Warwick. I don’t think it has ever been updated but we try to go at least once every year. The kids love it – we bring chairs and watch the movie from the cab of my husband’s pick up truck.
J.R. Venza says:
We have 1 in Atlanta that we take the family to at least a couple times a year. 6 screens, double feature.
Great experience for all, though I try not to tell the kids about drive-ins when we used to go to them…………noooo no no.
steve says:
absolutely, i miss them. the last one i went to was about 20 years ago in southern Maine (York i think) while i was on vacation. it was so unusual to stumble across one that we could not pass it up. We had a blast.
we used to go all the time when i was little. i would usually be in my PJs and fall asleep in the car while my older siblings and parents watched the movie. if not sleeping i might be watching the flick while sitting on the roof of the car. there was always a ton of commotion going on outside with teenagers and the like. just great memories.
I say bring them back!!!
Jeffrey Lorber says:
Two separate memories: pj days as a kid and teenage days!
As a kid we used to go swimming in Wayne, NJ and the drive-in was on the way home (on Route 46 for all you Jersey-philes out there). I have 4 brothers and we would fight for the front seat! I usually lost the fight and fell asleep in the back anyway.
Thunderball was the last movie I saw at a drive-in – well, sort of saw. Peggy wouldn’t leave me alone – Or I wouldn’t leave Peggy alone, can’t really remember! Amazing how fast a 1966 Buick LaSabre will fog up.
Love drive-ins. Ninja Assassin is at the Starlight-6 in Atlanta – wonder if I can get Alex to go see it… not likely.