We went to a drive in movie for the first time in decades. Things have changed.
By writersedge
@writersedge (22563)
United States
August 20, 2012 10:36pm CST
First change we noticed. We were one of very few cars. There were a lot of SUVs, vans, and trucks. So we had to worry about larger vehicles parking in front of us. They were very good about parkng in front of other vans, suvs, and trucks.
Second change was that the sound comes over a radio station. You have to tune it to the posted stastion. When we were younger, there were outside speakers.
For $8 we saw a preview, two cartoons, and the first movie (my husband wasn't feeling well, so we had to go home) and there was a second movie. Since just one movie with a bunch of previews is $8 to $12, this was a really good deal. So we say Ice AGe: Continental Drift, but not The Watch.
The third difference that my brother told me about, because some people's batteries run down, they recharge the batteries of a lot of vehicles at the end of the night.
So have you ever been to a dirve in movie? If you have, when was the last time? If you haven't, what do you imagine they would be like? The last time was during the Love Bug series. That was lots of fun. Some things are really fantastic on the large screen. What would you like to see at the drive-in on the really huge screens? What do you like about movies?
3 people like this
6 responses
@stringer321 (5682)
• Kiryat Ata, Israel
21 Aug 12
One thing that is good now in drive in , as you say , is the fact that people need to help each other to recharge their battery with cables. It can make a good opportunity to help each other and show some friendliness.
The only drive in that I saw was on the TV show called "married with children" with El Bandy , Pegy Bandy , and their two children Bud and Kelly.
I don't think we have drive ins in my country , Israel...Lol , we need a lot of parking lots for parking , ha ha.
3 people like this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
21 Aug 12
Well stringer, if you ever happen to visit America in the summer and there is a drive-in nearby, I suggest you try it out. We bring all kinds of treats, picnic style, and we park our van backwards, so we can open the back doors and with our pillows and blankets, we are set. An outdoor theater is an awesome experience...
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
22 Aug 12
We sneak treats in. Or buy them. It's not appreciated that you're not buying from the concession stands. At least in my area. Most of our drive ins went under so we have to go either to the other side of the state to Massena or to Vermont.
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
28 Aug 12
It's been a few decades since I've been to a drive-in. I remember going to the concession stand about every half hour to get something to eat or drink. It was the highlight of the night. I use to go with cousins and friends. We were so bad but we had fun. It was something like $2.00 a carload so we would pool all our money to get in. Some of us rode in the trunk of the car because we had an overload of kids. We would pull up behind the concession stand and get out of the trunk. We sure thought we were so sneaky until we saw other cars do the same thing. The sound came through the speakers but wasn't all that great. Now the sound comes through the radio seems rather odd. Guess the battery has to be strong in order to handle it. I'd probably go now and sleep through any movie. This tells me it's better to be home at my age and watch movies on tv.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
28 Aug 12
The radio gives it really good sound.
Sounds like you had fun back then,
We went home after the first movie, we would have slept thru the 2nd one. So I hear you.
Thanks for the response. Long time since we've heard from each other.
Take care.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
29 Aug 12
That does get discouraing. I had a run like that for a while. Oh well. keep on trying. Hope the kids and the grand kids are happy, healthy and well.
@ElicBxn (64177)
• United States
26 Aug 12
My goodness... I remember the outside speakers, but what I would do was take pillows and sit on the hood of the car with the pillows propped against the windshield and the speakers from both sides on the car.
I could probably remember better where the theater was than what I saw... and honestly I'm not too sure I could even do that!
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
27 Aug 12
Well you remember how you viewed them. You sound like you were quite comfy.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (74987)
• United States
21 Aug 12
They still have a drive in movie theater about an hour from us. Each sunday they have a flea market there and on certain nights and times they have movies. My husband and I thought it would be neat to go there so we did that once about 9 years ago. It was interesting but I'd much rather go to an actual movie theater.
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
21 Aug 12
Oh shaggin, why would you prefer a theater? I love being outdoors and able to bring a variety of treats to the movie, plus the kids are able to get up and walk around if they get tired of sitting, especially good for little ones. I guess because I grew up going to a drive-in as a kid, it is something I thoroughly enjoy, even if I didn't have any kids. Of course now I only have my 10 y/o, but I think even in 10 years I would still want to go...
2 people like this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
22 Aug 12
Shaggin, I like the 3D that the theaters have. I like the theaters if a movie is almost done playing so hardly anyone is in the theater. People tend to talk and there are lots of distractions when the theater has lots of people. Like someone getting upa nd going to the bathroom or someone talking. I like the new theaters with the graduated seats. When they were level, taller people in front of me were a pain. I had to keep changing seats.
Carmelanirel, I like the outdoors because it does remind me of when I was a teen. You don't have to worry about people talking and you miss something like in theaters. Whether it's full or there is hardly anyone there, it's still fun.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (74987)
• United States
23 Aug 12
I dont know it just feels kind of creepy sitting in my car in the dark watching the movie. Its generally chilly out at night to be outside in the dark watching a movie. It would be better for the kids to be able to get out and move around but by the time its dark they are in bed anyway so a drive in movie usually wouldnt work unless I kept them up past their bedtime for it. I like the comfort of sitting in the movie theater better.
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
21 Aug 12
Last time I went was a couple years ago I think, when "Cats and Dogs II" came out. Yes I knew about how it is better to be in a bigger vehicle because of all the vans and SUV's. We have a van, so we do park further back for the cars. Also the outside speakers have not been around the drive in we go to, for years, at least 10-15 if not more. One time our radio quit, so we brought a portable radio to listen to the movie..:)
As for recharging the batteries, who does that? The drive-in or the individual? I never saw anyone with problems with their battery going low, ours lasted through both movies...
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
22 Aug 12
Wow, I never considered that an older battery wouldn't last long. I guess my husband made sure our battery was really good, we never had any problems..
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
25 Aug 12
Up here, 5 year batteries often only last 3 years. We have subzero weather for one day to weeks at a time depending on the year. See you husband does some things so well, you didn't even notice he did them well.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
22 Aug 12
Recharges are the theater people, I guess. That's what it sounded like when my brother was telling me. We saw one guy with cables and his batter was already gone after just the cartoons and first movie.
1 person likes this
@eagletrek2 (5514)
• Kingston, New York
21 Aug 12
Hi in my area the drive in move are malls or walmart now
there is no more drive in in other area they are fleamarkets
i wish they were still around to day for me to close im going to get to a drive in
is have my smart phone on at night in the car playing hulu tv shows
ok have a good day
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
22 Aug 12
We have to drive pretty far to go to a drive in because most of ours went under. Some places have flea markets by day and drive ins by night.
