A Night at the Drive-in
When I was young and still living in my small hometown, we had a drive-in movie theater on the edge of town. During my youngster years, it was fun to get there early and play on the playground at the foot of the big screen before it got dark. And then it was fun to watch the cartoons that played before the movie. I have vague memories of seeing Woody Woodpecker cartoons there and at the movie theater that operated in town when I was really young. It's been gone a long time. I think it's an accountant's office now.As I reached my high school years, the drive-in kept people coming in with $5 a carload offers. I drove a large boat of a car (ugly, but roomy), and we'd see how many people we could shove into it. I remember pulling into a spot far enough back that we could all get out and sit on top of the car without being in anyone's way. I can still see the yellow lights that skirted the edge of the cinder block concession stand where we'd buy Cokes and hot dogs.
Sadly, that drive-in has gone the way of many others -- either torn down or overgrown with weeds like kudzu. Some still operate, and they're billed as nostalgia entertainment. Every once in awhile a new one is built, though it's news when they are. I love going to the theater to see movies, love seeing the films on the big screen, but drive-ins had really big screens. Plus, it was nice to sit outside and enjoy the summer night air. You could kick back in your lawn chair or on a blanket and not worry about if you were encroaching on the space of the person next to you. No one's cell phone was interrupting the movies.
About the only thing I didn't like about drive-ins was when the mosquitoes decided to snack on me while they watched the movie. :)
Anyone here a drive-in fan? What are some of the movies you remember seeing at the drive-in theater? I remember seeing ET and Spaceballs. I know there were others, but those are the two I remember.
Labels: drive in theaters, summer
posted by Trish Milburn @ 12:01 AM
25 comments
