A drive-in theater is basically an outdoor movie theater where you watch movies from inside of your car. Drive-in theaters came into existence in the 1930s. The very first drive-in movie theater was opened by New Jersey resident Richard M. Hollingshead. Although this drive-in was only in existence for three years, the concept caught on and spread throughout the United States.
The popularity of drive-in theaters came to an all time peak in the late 1950s and early 1960s when there were approximately 4,000 of them in operation.
The rising cost of real estate over the decades and the advent of color televisions, VCRs and video rentals have greatly diminished the market for drive-in theaters. They are somewhat hard to find today, but they are still around. There are probably around four hundred drive-ins around the country. Here are five great drive-in movie theaters that are still operating in the North America:
Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theatre
The oldest operating drive-in in the United States is located in Orefield, Pennsylvania. Started way back in 1934, it was the second drive-in to ever open in the United States. It achieved yet another milestone in 1986 when it became one of the first drive-in theaters to begin transmitting sound via the FM radio in cars so viewers could hear the movie better. In 2002, Shakweiler’s upgraded its facility to include the best in cinema sound production available in order to enhance the viewing experience.
Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop
During the day, the Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop operates as a flea market for local patrons, much like the name would suggest. At night though, it is a fourteen-screen drive in movie theater. It is the largest drive-in theater in the world as well as the largest daily flea market. If you plan on visiting Ft. Lauderdale anytime soon this is certainly a stop that you’ll want to make, especially if you’re a film lover. This drive-in theater originally opened in 1963 as the Thunderbird Drive-in Theater and it has been in use ever since.
Mission Tiki Drive-In Theatre
Located in Montclair, California, the Mission Tiki Drive-in Theatre has four movie screens, a state of the art projection system and tiki-hut ticket booths. This drive-in theater originally opened in 1956 under the name The Mission. It’s been around ever since, although throughout the years the condition of the place deteriorated enough to call for a full overhaul in 2006.
The 49er Drive-In
The 49er Drive-In in Valparaiso, Indiana is not named after the famous baseball team of the same name. It’s actually a reference to Highway 49, the road it sits right next to. What’s particularly special about this drive-in is that it hosts several fun special events based on movies or holidays throughout the year. Past events have included the Shrek Forever After Weekend, Karate Kid Weekend, Toy Story 3 Weekend and The 4th of July Weekend.
The Amusement Park Drive-In
This unique drive-in theater is located in Billings, Montana. There you will find a roller coaster built around the screen. If you arrive early for a movie, you can spend some time enjoying several rides that are located on the premises. This drive-in was built in 2005, but it contains several components (such as the screen, marquee and sign) from a drive-in that was built in 1946.
About the author: Trevor Stuart is a writer for Complete Insurance, a car insurance comparison website.