Growing up in the 1980s, I had the luxury of going to a local drive-in theater. My parents raised five children, so going to the movies was rare. When we did, it was usually at a drive-in, because, just as it is today, drive-in theaters are a cheap form of entertainment. The theater I frequented as a child no longer shows movies; instead a swap meet now occupies its property.
Unfortunately, since the first drive-in theater opened in Camden, New Jersey in 1933, the United States has seen the rise and fall of this former “icon of American culture.” Drive-ins once were:
“a typical weekend destination not just for parents and children but also for teenage couples seeking some privacy.”
At its peak in the 1950s, drive-in theaters grew to 4,644 locations nation wide. Today, there are less than 340.
The decline in drive-in theaters resulted from:
“the rising price of real estate, especially in suburban areas, combined with the growing numbers of walk-in theaters and the rise of video rentals to curb the growth of the drive-in industry.”
Despite the decline, new drive-in theaters have popped up in both New York and Alabama within the last six years.
Even with the advent of luxury theaters, with their reclining seats and restaurant style service, a drive-in theater is nostalgic and an adventure that kids and adults alike should experience more than once. The problem is, where do you find one?
If you live in New York or Ohio, who each boasts 28 drive-in theaters each, finding a drive-in is relatively easy. In every other state finding a drive-in is not so simple. I am sure you can simply google this information, but there are two websites that have already done the search for you.
The first website is Drive-ins.com. This website not only provides interesting information on drive-ins in general, but it also has a drive-in locator. All you need to do is simply enter your zip code to find the one closest to you.
The second website is Braid.io. This online magazine includes various interactive maps, including one for drive-in theaters. You can click on this link here to find an interactive map that shows the locations of all drive-in theaters, both closed and active.
Once you find a drive-in theater near you, take your children or a loved one and revel in the experience under blankets, pillows, and your own snacks.
Featured image is a screenshot from mentalfloss.com.
