Whatever happened to Drive In Theatres

Why, did they eliminate the drive inns? It seems that they were cheaper and easier to run? I dont think I have ever known the reason why. I loved them. I miss them.Didnt have to buy refreshments if you wanted to bring your own....those were the days...!

Around here money is the big issue. On the same space they use of a drive in they can build a movie theatre with 10 or more theaters inside. That will bring in more money. Or the land is just worth more. But I used to love the drive ins. When my children were little that was the only way we coild afford to go out.

Yes it seemed that nearly every decent sized town in Australia has a Drive In Theatre when I was growing up. I can recall still being able to go to them in the early/mid-1970's, groups of friends jam packed into a car like sardines. Also when I was younger my parents would take us to the Drive In. Many of the younger children would be dressed in the same fashion. Nothing fancy at all but we would be in our pyjamas ready for bed as soon as we got home. My mother would take along some snacks and drinks for us but on special occassions we woukd be allowed t buy an ice cream from the snack bar. A few months ago I read an article which said there were now less than 20 Drive In theatres still operating in Australia. The article also said that many of those which are still operational are doing quite well. The reason many of them closed was because the land became very valuable and so the owners cashed in. The Drive In Theatres were often situated near the town boundary but as towns developed and expanded, houses started to encroach or surround the drive ins. So many of the owners opted to take the large amount of money being offered by the developers. Another huge reason for the downturn of customers at the Drive In was the videos coming onto the scene. People could join one of the video clubs, rent a movie and have a get together with their friends for a fraction of the cost of going out to the drive in theatre. I do think however that the younger generation have missed out on a lot by never seeing a movie at a Drive In theatre.

I had seen drive in theatres in the movie Grease. I never seen a drive in Theatres before here in our country How i wish it will come back and wish to experience watching movie for free.

I miss them, too! The last movie I saw at one was Rambo! LOL The one in my hometown has been made into a tractor place, a craft store, and something else I can't remember. One of the screens is still up!

Hello lilaclady its been awhile,yes I live about 5 miles from a drive-in theatre and we go there quit often when it is opened,I would rather go there instead of a walk-in. I really hope they dont become a thing of the past because I do enjoy it.The one right here is always busy so maybe it will stay opened for some time to come.You have a great night.

We have one very much alive and kicking in Cennai India.It is a fad here as it came just ten years back.

They have all but disappeared. They have foound they can make a lot more money by charging for each seat, even for young ones. And when going into a building you certainly can not bring your own drinks and food. We do now have a drive in about 30 minutes from our home. They do like they use to, kind of. Babies get in free up to age 3. And younger people to age 9 or 11 pay $3 and everyone above that age is $5. The sounds are run through your own radio in you vehicle. So having a nice sound system helps. Use to there was these box metal speakers we put on the window of our vehicles. And we can take what we want in the form of food and drinks. And still buy from their concession if we choose to. Which we always do, lol. There is nothing like cinema hot popcorn. We take lawn chairs and blankets for added comfort. We love the drive in.

I think there is still one in my town but I never go so I don't know if it's still open, the building is there though I watched it in the movies, couples going to the drive in it's romantic maybe one day in summer I would ask hubby to take me there for my birthday

Oh yes how I remember so well. I grew up in a setting where we did always have enough to eat and a roof over our head but there where never extras. I went to school and when I got to where I wanted/needed spending money I had to work for every cent, which I have always been grateful for. My friends were good people but they never had extra cash any more than I did. My two most popular things to do was bowling and the drive in theatres. I can remember saving up my babysitting money or other money I earned and I looked forward to when one of my friends got permission to uae the family car to go to a drive in. I didn't even have a licence till I was over 20. There were times when there was 5 or 6 of us wanting to go but not everyone had the cash to go. Two or three of the skinny kids would hide in the trunk till we got accross the pay booth. I always paid and I was never one of the skinny ones probably because there was always awesome food served there as well as the best popcorn in the world, but you look back on this now. Too funny. Thank You for this post, does it ever bring back a blast from my past.

lol my parents take me forcefully to drive in sometimes!!

i have recently dicovered a drive in theatre near my place.about 45 minute drive away,here on the central coast of n.s.w.i recently took my children to see a coulple of movies there,as they have never been to see a movie before at a drive in theatre,and they had a ball.i remember as a child going all the time to see the drive in movies and having so much fun.we are going to go there in the summer months as i believe every one gets their barbies and deck chairs out and sit in front of the cars.sounds great.cheers sue

Hi lila, Oh, yes I do remember going to the drive in movies with the family. Sometimes me and my brother would go in our pj's! There was one left in a few towns over from where I live but it has been gone for years now. I used to love to go and sit in the car. It was so much fun! I don't know why they did away with them. It was kind of annoying with the speakers because half of them never worked and sometimes you would get a really big car in front of you and you couldn't see the screen and it was always so noisy, but there was just something so fun about going to the drive in movies. Oh, how I wish I could do that again! Another fond memory now long gone! Thanks for helping me remember lila!

I miss the drive-in experience. We have one here about 45 mins away but even now, its not the same atmosphere known from nostalgia. One movie that would have been close would be Grindhouse. I wish I would have seen that at the drive-in. That would have been so fun.

We went to see the new Batman movie at the drive-in theater this summer. We had to drive an hour away to get to it. It was worth it though. We had a lot of fun. We used to go to drive-ins all the time when I was a kid too. I remember seeing Gremlins and then falling asleep before the second movie came on.

They have one still working in San Antonia but others i'm sure are gone..many because of gangs attacking other people and or robbing them while they watched movies..stealing and breaking the speakers which costs to keep replacing.. sad since i loved them and had alot of fun times as a youngster and a teenager...

I am not sure what has happened to all the drive in theaters but I have heard a lot about them from my parents,when they were younger and people used to go on dates to drive in theaters,I do not think I have ever actually seen a drive in theater but they do sound awesome,and they should open more drive in theaters because they sound like an awesome experience,and a good way to go on a romantic date with the one that you love.

Hi lilaclady, Years ago it was quite popular in America but we never had anything like that here in the UK, I suppose they stop it because of crime wave, its not safe today as it was in the old days, sad really. Tamara

There is a drive in down the street from me. I love to go there and watch movies! It's so great to have the peace and quiet in my car so I can actually hear the movie and not the people whispering behind me in the regular theaters. The drive in is pretty popular in Ft. Lauderdale it's location (The Swap Shop) is also a big tourist attraction.

We still have a few great ones here in Ohio. Its such a great time. I can remember many nights spent at the drive-in as a child and I now continue the tradition with my own family. I hope everyone can get out there and enjoy them before they are all gone.