Looks like a cool event!
drive in cinema meeting "American Graffiti"
- Thread starter fc7_plumcrazy
- Start date
fc7_plumcrazy
Old Man with a Hat
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here are a few more Mopars&other cars that showed up
This is in Germany? Wow! Looks like US cars are loved there! Excellent!
MoPar Maniac
Well-Known Member
Actually the first drive in theater was in Las Cruces, NM in 1915.
polara71
Old Man with a Hat
You need to prove that to me
Ironwolf
Senior Member
Who knew ????? 
Drive-In Theater History: Discover The Rise And Fall Of An American Pastime
Drive-In Theater History: Discover The Rise And Fall Of An American Pastime
For decades, drive-in movie theaters were the go-to choice for families to watch the latest Hollywood hits on the big screen, but few people know drive-in theater history and the factors that led to its downfall.
Pinterest
Enjoy this journey through the past as we discuss a drive-in that opened nearly two decades before the first “official” drive-in theater, early obstacles the theaters faced, a modern resurgence, and more drive-in theater history. How many movies did you watch on drive-in screens growing up?
1. The First ‘Official’ Drive-in
Getty Images
On June 6, 1933, Richard M. Hollingshead, Jr., opened the first official drive-in movie theater in Camden, New Jersey (pictured) after securing a patent for the invention a few weeks earlier.
The drive-in was located on Admiral Wilson Boulevard in Pennsauken Township.
However, Hollingshead’s drive-in wasn’t the first to ever open.
2. The First Drive-in Opened in 1915
Pinterest
While Hollingshead opened the first “official” drive-in movie theater in 1933, it was nearly two decades earlier that the first partial drive-in theater opened in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on April 23, 1915 (not pictured).
3. Theatre de Guadalupe
KRQE.com
The drive-in theater in Las Cruces, New Mexico — the drive-in pictured here was in the Bronx in New York City — was called Theatre de Guadalupe. The first movie shown was Bags of Gold, produced by Siegmund Lubin.
Theatre de Guadalupe was renamed De Lux Theater, but it wasn’t financially stable and closed by July 1916.
4. Everything’s Bigger in Texas
Getty Images
Five years after De Lux Theater closed in New Mexico, Claude V. Caver opened a drive-in movie theater in Comanche, Texas.
With cars parked bumper to bumper, moviegoers watched silent film screenings. “Outdoor movies” became a popular summertime activity.
5. Backyard Theater Tests
Getty Images
In 1932, a chemical company magnate in Camden, New Jersey, began to conduct outdoor theater tests in his backyard. His family owned and operated R.M. Hollingshead Corporation, but it seemed like he wanted to give fans of Hollywood movies a different way to watch.
6. An Idea Takes Shape
Getty Images
Richard Hollingshead, Jr., nailed a screen to trees in his backyard and set a 1928 Kodak projector on the hood of his car. He placed a radio behind the screen, testing different levels of sound with his windows rolled up and then rolled down.
Hollingshead used blocks under vehicles in his driveway to determine the correct height and spacing of ramps so vehicles in the back could have a clear view of the screen.
With the plans all in place, Hollingshead applied for and was eventually granted U.S. Patent 1,909,537 on May 6, 1933.
7. The First Film Shown in Camden
Getty Images
Hollingshead’s Camden theater opened with 400 available slots and a 40 by 50 ft. screen. The first film shown was Wife Beware, by Adolphe Menjou.
The theater, however, failed to gain steam and after three years had not made a profit. Hollingshead sold it to a Union, New Jersey theater owner, who moved the infrastructure to Union.
Little did Hollingshead know, his idea had begun to take root nationwide.
8. Drive-ins Expand
PinsDaddy
While Hollingshead’s Camden location was struggling, other drive-in theaters began to pop up in various locations across the country.
In April 1934, a drive-in opened in Orefield, Pennsylvania, followed by another in Galveston, Texas, in July. By September, a third was opened in Los Angeles, and yet another popped up in early 1936 in Massachusetts. Between 1937 and 1939, at least 15 more opened across the nation, including in Ohio, Rhode Island, Florida, Maryland, and New York.
9. Early Obstacles in Technology
Pinterest
The first drive-in theaters struggled to gain popularity because of frequent problems, the biggest of them being sound issues.
With speakers placed behind the screen, patrons at the rear of the drive-in would often experience sound delays since sound travels slower than light.
Another unforeseen issue was noise pollution in the areas around the theaters.
10. RCA to the Rescue
Getty Images
To help solve the problem of audio delay at drive-in theaters, RCA introduced the in-car speaker system in 1941 (pictured above, being modeled by actress Natalie Wood). The speakers came with individual volume controls, which provided satisfactory sound to patrons, while simultaneously solving noise pollution issues that had arisen in areas surrounding the drive-ins.
11. Peak Popularity
thinglink.com
Drive-in theaters were at their most popular in the 1950s and 60s, with approximately 4,000 in operation across the United States.
One of the largest factors of their success was the family-friendly atmosphere provided by the drive-in, in which a family could take its young children and not have to worry about cranky kids disturbing a closed-in theater of moviegoers.
One of the largest drive-ins in operation was the 29-acre, 2,500-vehicle park in Copiague, New York.
12. Technology Cuts in
Getty Images
Though popular for a time, drive-ins would begin to see increased competition from various sources.
As TVs became more popular in households across America, the home entertainment began to compete with drive-in attendance. New advances in color TVs and VCRs made video rentals far more popular.
Additionally, the energy crisis of the 1970s, as well as the widespread adoption of daylight savings time (later sunsets in the summer) led to a sharp decline in drive-in attendance.
Pictured here is the famous Mel’s Drive-In from American Graffiti.
13. Rapid Decline
Atlas Obscura
All those factors helped usher in a rapid decline in drive-ins across North America. By the late 1980s, there were less than 200 drive-ins in operation in the U.S. and Canada.
14. (Almost) Gone, but Not Forgotten
Roadtrippers
Even though most of the drive-in theaters across the country are now defunct, many still love the novelty of this once-great moviegoing experience. Areas with relatively dry, clear weather (particularly on the U.S. West Coast) still operate many drive-in theaters.
15. Call It a Comeback?
Getty Images
According to a 2013 Los Angeles Times report, there were 389 drive-in theaters across the United States (1.5 percent of all movie screens in the country).
But is the revival short-lived?
Pictured here: Me, Myself, and Irene and Chicken Run play on dual screens at a drive-in in Carlsbad, New Mexico in 2000.
16. Digital Hurdle
Source: Getty Images
While drive-ins have experienced a slight resurgence in recent years, the trends toward digital technology in the film industry are presenting new obstacles to operational drive-ins.
Due to a drive-in’s limited viewing schedule, upgrading to digital screens (which can cost upwards of $70,000) is seen as not feasible for most drive-in operators.
Will the digital shift finally put the nail in the coffin for drive-in theaters? Only time will tell!
Source: yourdailydish.com
Do you remember going to drive-in theaters when you were younger? Share your experiences in the comments!
Drive-In Theater History: Discover The Rise And Fall Of An American Pastime
Drive-In Theater History: Discover The Rise And Fall Of An American Pastime
For decades, drive-in movie theaters were the go-to choice for families to watch the latest Hollywood hits on the big screen, but few people know drive-in theater history and the factors that led to its downfall.
Enjoy this journey through the past as we discuss a drive-in that opened nearly two decades before the first “official” drive-in theater, early obstacles the theaters faced, a modern resurgence, and more drive-in theater history. How many movies did you watch on drive-in screens growing up?
1. The First ‘Official’ Drive-in
Getty Images
On June 6, 1933, Richard M. Hollingshead, Jr., opened the first official drive-in movie theater in Camden, New Jersey (pictured) after securing a patent for the invention a few weeks earlier.
The drive-in was located on Admiral Wilson Boulevard in Pennsauken Township.
However, Hollingshead’s drive-in wasn’t the first to ever open.
2. The First Drive-in Opened in 1915
While Hollingshead opened the first “official” drive-in movie theater in 1933, it was nearly two decades earlier that the first partial drive-in theater opened in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on April 23, 1915 (not pictured).
3. Theatre de Guadalupe
KRQE.com
The drive-in theater in Las Cruces, New Mexico — the drive-in pictured here was in the Bronx in New York City — was called Theatre de Guadalupe. The first movie shown was Bags of Gold, produced by Siegmund Lubin.
Theatre de Guadalupe was renamed De Lux Theater, but it wasn’t financially stable and closed by July 1916.
4. Everything’s Bigger in Texas
Getty Images
Five years after De Lux Theater closed in New Mexico, Claude V. Caver opened a drive-in movie theater in Comanche, Texas.
With cars parked bumper to bumper, moviegoers watched silent film screenings. “Outdoor movies” became a popular summertime activity.
5. Backyard Theater Tests
Getty Images
In 1932, a chemical company magnate in Camden, New Jersey, began to conduct outdoor theater tests in his backyard. His family owned and operated R.M. Hollingshead Corporation, but it seemed like he wanted to give fans of Hollywood movies a different way to watch.
6. An Idea Takes Shape
Getty Images
Richard Hollingshead, Jr., nailed a screen to trees in his backyard and set a 1928 Kodak projector on the hood of his car. He placed a radio behind the screen, testing different levels of sound with his windows rolled up and then rolled down.
Hollingshead used blocks under vehicles in his driveway to determine the correct height and spacing of ramps so vehicles in the back could have a clear view of the screen.
With the plans all in place, Hollingshead applied for and was eventually granted U.S. Patent 1,909,537 on May 6, 1933.
7. The First Film Shown in Camden
Getty Images
Hollingshead’s Camden theater opened with 400 available slots and a 40 by 50 ft. screen. The first film shown was Wife Beware, by Adolphe Menjou.
The theater, however, failed to gain steam and after three years had not made a profit. Hollingshead sold it to a Union, New Jersey theater owner, who moved the infrastructure to Union.
Little did Hollingshead know, his idea had begun to take root nationwide.
8. Drive-ins Expand
PinsDaddy
While Hollingshead’s Camden location was struggling, other drive-in theaters began to pop up in various locations across the country.
In April 1934, a drive-in opened in Orefield, Pennsylvania, followed by another in Galveston, Texas, in July. By September, a third was opened in Los Angeles, and yet another popped up in early 1936 in Massachusetts. Between 1937 and 1939, at least 15 more opened across the nation, including in Ohio, Rhode Island, Florida, Maryland, and New York.
9. Early Obstacles in Technology
The first drive-in theaters struggled to gain popularity because of frequent problems, the biggest of them being sound issues.
With speakers placed behind the screen, patrons at the rear of the drive-in would often experience sound delays since sound travels slower than light.
Another unforeseen issue was noise pollution in the areas around the theaters.
10. RCA to the Rescue
Getty Images
To help solve the problem of audio delay at drive-in theaters, RCA introduced the in-car speaker system in 1941 (pictured above, being modeled by actress Natalie Wood). The speakers came with individual volume controls, which provided satisfactory sound to patrons, while simultaneously solving noise pollution issues that had arisen in areas surrounding the drive-ins.
11. Peak Popularity
thinglink.com
Drive-in theaters were at their most popular in the 1950s and 60s, with approximately 4,000 in operation across the United States.
One of the largest factors of their success was the family-friendly atmosphere provided by the drive-in, in which a family could take its young children and not have to worry about cranky kids disturbing a closed-in theater of moviegoers.
One of the largest drive-ins in operation was the 29-acre, 2,500-vehicle park in Copiague, New York.
12. Technology Cuts in
Getty Images
Though popular for a time, drive-ins would begin to see increased competition from various sources.
As TVs became more popular in households across America, the home entertainment began to compete with drive-in attendance. New advances in color TVs and VCRs made video rentals far more popular.
Additionally, the energy crisis of the 1970s, as well as the widespread adoption of daylight savings time (later sunsets in the summer) led to a sharp decline in drive-in attendance.
Pictured here is the famous Mel’s Drive-In from American Graffiti.
13. Rapid Decline
Atlas Obscura
All those factors helped usher in a rapid decline in drive-ins across North America. By the late 1980s, there were less than 200 drive-ins in operation in the U.S. and Canada.
14. (Almost) Gone, but Not Forgotten
Roadtrippers
Even though most of the drive-in theaters across the country are now defunct, many still love the novelty of this once-great moviegoing experience. Areas with relatively dry, clear weather (particularly on the U.S. West Coast) still operate many drive-in theaters.
15. Call It a Comeback?
Getty Images
According to a 2013 Los Angeles Times report, there were 389 drive-in theaters across the United States (1.5 percent of all movie screens in the country).
But is the revival short-lived?
Pictured here: Me, Myself, and Irene and Chicken Run play on dual screens at a drive-in in Carlsbad, New Mexico in 2000.
16. Digital Hurdle
Source: Getty Images
While drive-ins have experienced a slight resurgence in recent years, the trends toward digital technology in the film industry are presenting new obstacles to operational drive-ins.
Due to a drive-in’s limited viewing schedule, upgrading to digital screens (which can cost upwards of $70,000) is seen as not feasible for most drive-in operators.
Will the digital shift finally put the nail in the coffin for drive-in theaters? Only time will tell!
Source: yourdailydish.com
Do you remember going to drive-in theaters when you were younger? Share your experiences in the comments!
polara71
Old Man with a Hat
Official? Unofficial? No photos ? Openened in Camden in Pennsauken Township? Huh? WTF?
Let me know when this gets sorted out
Let me know when this gets sorted out
There is still one in operation in Sacramento, 6 screens. I saw American Graffiti here when it was first released.
West Wind Sacramento Drive-in Movie Theater in Sacramento, CA | Weekend Entertainment, Date Night and Family Fun
West Wind Sacramento Drive-in Movie Theater in Sacramento, CA | Weekend Entertainment, Date Night and Family Fun
stubs300
Senior Member
HEY, Here's a couple website for y'all!
Drive In Theater Showtimes, History, Photos and More | Drive-ins.com
Drive-In Theater
Drive In Theater Showtimes, History, Photos and More | Drive-ins.com
Drive-In Theater
Thanks for posting all the photos Carsten. Very nice cars and some very unique ones too that I rarely see over here.
Also was wondering since you are pretty well-connected over there whether you know if this is the 69 Roadrunner that I sold to Torsten back in late 2012? I think I heard it might have changed hands since then, but it sure looks exacly like the one I had at least (except for the wiper blade refills!).
Also was wondering since you are pretty well-connected over there whether you know if this is the 69 Roadrunner that I sold to Torsten back in late 2012? I think I heard it might have changed hands since then, but it sure looks exacly like the one I had at least (except for the wiper blade refills!).
fc7_plumcrazy
Old Man with a Hat
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no Steve.
This is a T5 bronze Runner.
Torsten sold your old K2 vitamin C Runner a few years ago.
Here are some pics when I saw it back in 2013
This is a T5 bronze Runner.
Torsten sold your old K2 vitamin C Runner a few years ago.
Here are some pics when I saw it back in 2013
this one is sooooo out of date on their infomation
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