The Long Lost Golden Era of Drive-In Movies

Did You Know? The first drive-in theater opened in Camden, NJ on Jun 6, 1933. They had to do experiments to figure out how to make motion pictures work outdoors, and a big audience in cars. The ad slogan for the first theater was,”The whole family is welcome, regardless of how noisy the children are,” and the first film shown was the Adolphe Menjou film Wife Beware. Many drive-ins devised very elaborate and sometimes quirky modes of comfort. Some drive-ins provided small propane heaters, attempting to entice their patrons to come in colder months. Some drive-ins provided a heating or air-conditioning system via underground ducts to heat or cool patrons. During their height, some drive-ins used attention-grabbing gimmicks to boost attendance. They ranged from small airplane runways, unusual attractions such as a small petting zoo or cage of monkeys, actors to open their movies, or musical groups to play before the show. I remember being taken to drive-ins quite a bit as a boy, including one that had a playground for kids in front of the screen (for use before the movie began). I have fond memories of going, except for that time I got sick as a dog with food poisoning and had to lay in the back, wanting to just go home and die, while everyone else watched the show. LEARN MORE.