Take in a talkie in your own private box!
1938
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In May 1933, Richard Hollingshead, a sales manager at an auto products store in Camden, New Jersey, patented a new idea: an outdoor cinema where people could watch films from the comfort and privacy of their cars.
Hollingshead was motivated to develop the idea after witnessing his mother’s difficulty sitting comfortably in a movie theater. He tested out various arrangements of projector, screen, radio and cars in his own driveway, eventually settling on the auditorium-like configuration of a screen facing a series of raised terraces that gave each car an unobstructed view.
After receiving his patent, Hollingshead founded Park-In Theaters, Inc. and built a drive-in with enough space for nearly 400 cars.
The “Automobile Movie Theater” opened on June 6, 1933 with a screening of the 1932 comedy Wives Beware. Admission was 25 cents per car plus an additional 25 cents per person, slightly more expensive than an indoor theater but with the freedom to eat, smoke and otherwise take advantage of an automobile's privacy.
Failing to make a profit, the first drive-in closed after just three years, but others quickly popped up across the country and sparked a slew of lawsuits from Hollingshead. His patent was ultimately overturned, clearing the way for thousands of more drive-ins to be built. At their 1950s peak, drive-ins numbered nearly 5,000 countrywide.
1933
The first drive-in theater, in Camden, New Jersey.
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1933
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c. 1933
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1938
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The whole family is welcome, regardless of how noisy the children are.
Advertisement for first drive-in theater
1938
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1938
Image: ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images
1938
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1938
Image: Bettmann/Getty Images
1938
Image: ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images
1938
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1938
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1938
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1938
Image: Bettmann/Getty Images
1938
You posted this too late at night. All the folks that remember drive-ins are already in bed asleep. They will be posting around 4:30-5am when they get up and check the obits to make sure they are still alive.
ReplyDeleteI did some research after the real estate market crashed and was looking at some property to open a drive-in. There was/is a consumer base in the baby boomers that want to experience the nostalgia and share that experience with their grand children. The down side is that this area is economically challenged and would not provide enough patronage to support it. The option of placing it in the OC area was considered however the availability of sufficient land at a reasonable cost was not feasible. Recently, several of these new age drive ins have opened around the country and are profitable. Just won't work here.
Our kids will never be able to experience losing their virginity at the drive in like we did.
ReplyDeleteKids today can't put down their phones long enough to even develop a relationship, or even get out of our basements. Kids today are LOSERS!
ReplyDelete11:41 Yes and most likely they will not be free to have an abortion if they get knocked up in the backseat.
ReplyDelete1:12am. Good point.
ReplyDeleteI lost my virginity 1959 at Indianhead Md. drive-in "Rebel without a cause"
ReplyDeleteThe first outdoor movie theatre was in Crisfield MD look it up
ReplyDeleteAhhh.. the ABC Winelands drive in on Indian Head Highway outside DC...If I recall correctly there was even another one further down on Route 210 that would have triple features on the weekends.
ReplyDeleteOr how about the old Shore Drive-in on east side Route 50 outside OC....One can still see the old entrance sign in the winter. I'd love to walk back there to see if anything still remains..
I'm sure there's nostalgic websites out there....fun times - INDEED!!
Elkton had a drive-in that was developed into a Walmart. Walmart then built a supercenter down the highway. Building is a medical center now. I had a blast at the Drive-in watching Cheech & Chong's Up in smoke!
ReplyDeleteCamden NJ had the first drive in theater.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDelete11:41 Yes and most likely they will not be free to have an abortion if they get knocked up in the backseat.
February 15, 2017 at 1:12 AM
Of course if they had actually paid attention in sex education class then they wouldn't have needed an abortion. Why should we pay for stupid? I don't care if someone is free to get an abortion(they have to answer to God), I just care that the abortion isn't free.