In the earliest days of the Drive-In Theatre, there was an entry fee per car, not per person. With no seat belts in those days, the cars entering the drive-ins resemble a conveyor belt full of sardine cans…truly ‘packed to the rafters’. Once safely past the ticket box and inside, all the extras could pile out of the car and find a seat in the outdoor viewing area provided. A bit too chilly sometimes, but the ‘foot’ persons chose their nights.
And that was not counting the ‘stowaways’ in the boot, who would creep out after dark, when a secret rat-tat-tat on the lid of the boot would signal it was safe to emerge. www.haytheatre.com(Otherwise, anyone on foot had to pay a nominal entrance fee). I don’t know how soon the ticketing system changed…but one imagines, quite fast! Likewise the fast growing trees planted around the perimeters – to discourage people sitting in their cars, out on the road, getting a ‘freebie’ viewing (and able to hear most of the dialogue, as well).
Alternatively, it was not uncommon to see one of the large sedans like a Plymouth or Ford, have just two teenage occupants, who would promptly vacate the front seat for the back (also a single large bench seat). Inexplicably (?) they seemed to feel the vision and acoustics were superior way back there in the dark. And the fogged up windows?…we won’t go there! Ah-h-h…we were SO young!
Meanwhile, the ‘family’ scenario included folk coming early to secure ‘favourite’ spots, complete with sandwiches, thermos flasks, maybe the odd bottle of beer…and even hot water bottles and rugs for the later, much cooler hours. Some drive-ins were obliging enough to refill thermoses and hot water bottles with hot water at interval time – if asked kindly. Was Life really that simple and people that generous? Well, yes actually.
And at any time the movies became boring for the little folk – and most certainly at interval time – out front of the ‘snack-bar’, with its bright lights and even more dazzling array of ‘goodies’ – the playground would be full of children in their pajamas and slippers, maybe dressing gowns… as the weather dictated. Things would become amazingly quiet after interval, and drinks, and munchies, and the necessary ‘comfort’ stops – when finally, sleepy heads succumbed to their own personal dreamworld, whilst Mum and Dad enjoyed an ‘escape’ into theirs..
The large ‘heavy metal’ speakers that were hooked up in pairs to steel posts between the vehicles, demanded careful choice of where they should hang (front or back side window?), and volume adjustment was an art form in itself. Luckily, there were no electric windows in cars in those days – cannot imagine the potential for disaster if you didn’t have the fine control afforded manually, to get the space just right.
The final trick of the night would be not to forget to hang the speaker back on its hook. Always wondered how many shattered side windows from a memory lapse? Glass would certainly give way long before the strength of those heavy steel speakers.
Slowly but surely, TV and then Videos eroded the appeal of the Drive-in Theatre. When there was a choice, turning out into the cold, to watch a move in the rain or thick fog, somehow lost its charm. More and more people preferred their warm fire and comfy Lounge…and a couple of videos to watch on their own television set, instead – and so the Drive-in all but died.
In our state of Australia, from a peak of 37, there are now only 2 still open. And in the whole of Australia, from a total of over 300, there are now just 20 still operating. Worldwide, the numbers reached over 700. Much of the decline is also blamed on rapidly increasing real estate prices, caused by a burgeoning population..and when you consider many drive-in theaters occupied up to 20 acres of land, their demise was sadly inevitable.
Imagine having lost the ability to interact with a movie, with a loud (approving or disapproving) beeping of car horns, and rapid flashing of headlights. And do you believe we queued…to get in, and to get out…and never ever had road rage! Maybe the odd beep if someone was slow in moving forward, but it was all pretty light-hearted.
Ah-h-h…the Drive-in Theater culture. SO special…SO appealing for a one-night getaway – and escape from the humdrum; from the suspiciously watching eyes of elders; from the ‘conventional’ entertainment of the day. ©
2011 Christine Larsen All Rights Reserved Worldwide
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