Drive-in movies thrive in a streaming world

Drive-in movies thrive in a streaming world

Last year, while visiting national parks in Colorado, I happened upon a real treat: Star Drive In, an outdoor theater that opened in 1955 in the southern part of the state. But my delight didn’t end there.

Next door, I found the Best Western Movie Manor Motel, where you can look out a big window and watch the Star’s outdoor screen … from your bed! Each room is named for a movie star. Booking a night at the motel was a no-brainer. I checked into my no-frills Mel Gibson room and crawled into bed for the feature.​

But moviegoers who long for nostalgia and low-cost fun are in luck. A few hundred drive-ins still exist, and we’ve highlighted a few of our favorites. Remember two things: Use your parking lights when entering and exiting, and please take a moment to enjoy the stars on the ceiling.

Hull's Drive-In Theatre, Lexington, Va.

The country’s first nonprofit, community-owned drive-in, Hull’s was purchased in 2000 by a group called Hull’s Angels after the historic theater couldn’t afford to stay open. Today, the 67-year-old pet-friendly drive-in, located 5 miles from historic Lexington, Va., presents double and triple features of current movies. Hull’s claims to have the best popcorn in town (large, $5.25). But the real draw — because they’re completely awesome — may be the funnel cake fries ($3).​

 

Very cool!

Is Joe Bob Briggs aware of this victory over Communism?

 

I went to the Hwy 21 Drive In in Beaufort, SC. Watched Baywatch and had a good time.

 

If you have a local Drive-In, try to support it.

There Are 338 Drive-In Theaters Left in America — Here’s Where to Find Them

 

In the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania, Becky's Drive-In Theater does an amazing business for first run features. In fact, they do so well that I stopped bothering to go because, well, first run features mostly suck and they don't need me.

However, The Mahoning Drive-In Theater in Lehighton PA shows all sorts of really cool retro stuff. Exhumed Films' Zombiefest show a few weeks ago actually totally packed the large lot --- there were hundreds of cars there to see Sam Raimi's Evil Dead trilogy. But unfortunately sometimes there are only a few cars there to see old biker films, comedies, etc.

 

I've never seen a movie in a drive-in, tho the idea has always intrigued me!

I live in Northern New Jersey, right near the border with New York State. There's a drive-in right over the state line in Warwick, NY and I've been saying to my wife, "We should go to a movie there sometime" ever since we moved to the area in 1999, but we have yet to actually do so...

 

There's a drive-in about an hour from here in Enderby. Unfortunately it attracts a lot of mosquitoes, something I otherwise don't have to deal with. Someday I'll go again just for nostalgia. It's probably not quite the same when you aren't smuggling a case of beer and one of your buddies in the trunk.

 

Not much to see when the movie isn't playing, but Sunset Drive In is still open in Shelby, NC. I'm hoping the fact that 74 now bypasses around it won't kill it off.

 

An interesting problem with drive ins is that the further west in the time zone you go, the later the movie has to start. And since they don't tend to run year round, you get awfully late starts up North around the solstice.

 

The Best Western Movie Manor Motel is a place I would love to visit.

I still have two near me. I try to visit the closer one once a year or so. My favorite memory is watching "The World Is Not Enough" on a night when fog started to roll in and barely being able to see the screen by the end of the movie.

 

I went to it last year, although from where I live in Long Island, its around a 2-hour drive if there's no traffic. I made a day of it as a 60s cover band that I like was playing in the afternoon around 20 minutes away from the drive-in. I did it mainly for the novelty aspect as the last drive-in I was at was in Florida 20 years prior. Unfortunately, the 2 movies we saw really sucked. Independence Day 2 and something called Now You See It 2, which I didn't even know there was a first one. Also, it was the first drive-in I ever went to that didn't have a paved lot and was on hills and dirt. Interesting experience but due to the distance as well as the fact that I have little interest in the movies which are being released these days, I don't think I would repeat.

 

The Mahoning Drive-In Theatre (located in Lehighton, PA since 1948) is one of the few remaining drive-ins in the country. This documentary will chronicle a pivotal year in their history as they move forward with screening 35mm film only. When Hollywood switched completely to digital projection for movie releases in 2014, many drive-ins were forced to close because they were unable to purchase a $50,000 digital projector. The Mahoning Drive-In has remained open without one and looks to separate itself in a world of sterile digital projection with a group of people who do it all for the love of film. Will they survive the digital era?
monellifilms.com​

 

Get more out of life. Go out to a movie!

 

My hometown Drive-In is still open. That's where I first saw "Star Wars" and "Alien" among other classics like "Kentucky Fried Movie" & "Friday The 13th".
Jesup Drive-In

 

That is so cool! I would love to see Star Wars, Alien, and Friday The 13th at a Drive-In!

 

Good times in late 70's

 

I remember watching "Star Wars" lying on the hood of my Dad's truck.

 

My parents took me to see Yellow Submarine at a drive-in in 1969.
Now its a Beatles thread.

 

I'm sure the music sounded fantastic coming out of this!

 

Sadly the last drive in anywhere near me that I used to go to as a kid was plowed down for a huge insurance building about 15 years ago, the 42 Twin. miss ya....

Photos of 41 Twin Outdoor Theatre in Franklin, WI - Cinema Treasures

Arial overview:



It had a massive 2 sided screen as well as 2 smaller ones on the outer lots.






The local small theater does do some parking lot outdoor movies in summer, which is kinda cool, but not the same.

 

We had a great one in my hometown of Huntington, WV that lasted until the early 90's, then got bulldozed for a Walmart. Then, a few years after that, that Walmart closed in favor of two new Walmarts in nearby locations. Most of the original building is vacant now. Progress.

 

First run features? What a shame. When I was growing up in the area it was famous for being a drive in porno theater!

 

I remember going to drive-in movies. For dating, bucket seats were a nuisance -- a nice bench seat was more conducive to making out! Here's the Van Buren drive-in theater in Riverside, CA back in the day...

 

Was just there last month, thought we were going to see Spiderman Homecoming but ended up with Despicable Me 3. Still had a good time and still finding popcorn in the SUV.