Drive - in theater - wikipedia Drive - in theater A drive - in with an inflatable movie screen in Brussels, Belgium Bass Hill Drive - In Cinema, Sydney, Australia A drive - in theater or drive - in cinema is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor movie screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles. Within this enclosed area, customers can view movies from the privacy and comfort of their cars. Some drive - ins have small playgrounds for children and a few picnic tables or benches. The screen can be as simple as a wall that is painted white, or it can be a steel truss structure with a complex finish. Originally, the movie 's sound was provided by speakers on the screen and later by individual speakers hung from the window of each car, which were attached by wire. These systems were superseded by the more economical and easier to maintain method of broadcasting the soundtrack at a low output power on AM or FM radio to be picked up by a car radio. This also allows the soundtrack to be picked up in stereo by the audience on an in - car stereo system which is typically higher quality and fidelity than the simple speakers used in the old systems. Contents 1 History 2 Peak 3 Decline 4 Revival 5 Digital conversion 6 See also 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External links History A partial drive - in theater -- Theatre de Guadalupe -- was opened in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on April 23, 1915 : Seven hundred people may be comfortably seated in the auditorium. Automobile entrances and places for 40 or more cars within the theater grounds and in - line position to see the pictures and witness all performances on the stage is a feature of the place that will please car owners. The first movie shown by the Theatre de Guadalupe was Bags of Gold, produced by Siegmund Lubin. Theatre de Guadalupe soon was renamed De Lux Theater before closing in July 1916. First drive - in theater, Pennsauken, New Jersey, 1933 In 1921, a drive - in was opened by Claude V. Caver in Comanche, Texas. Caver obtained a permit from the city to project films downtown. With cars parked bumper - to - bumper, patrons witnessed the screening of silent films from their vehicles. In the 1920s, `` outdoor movies '' became a popular summer entertainment, but relatively few `` drive - in '' experiments were made due to logistical difficulties. The drive - in theater was patented in Camden, New Jersey by chemical company magnate Richard M. Hollingshead, Jr., whose family owned and operated the R.M. Hollingshead Corporation chemical plant in Camden. In 1932, Hollingshead conducted outdoor theater tests in his driveway at 212 Thomas Avenue in Riverton. After nailing a screen to trees in his backyard, he set a 1928 Kodak projector on the hood of his car and put a radio behind the screen, testing different sound levels with his car windows down and up. Blocks under vehicles in the driveway enabled him to determine the size and spacing of ramps so all automobiles could have a clear view of the screen. Hollingshead applied for a patent of his invention on August 6, 1932, and he was given U.S. Patent 1,909,537 on May 16, 1933. Hollingshead 's drive - in opened in New Jersey June 6, 1933, on Admiral Wilson Boulevard in Pennsauken Township, a short distance from Cooper River Park. Rosemont Avenue now runs through the prior location. It offered 400 slots and a 40 by 50 ft ( 12 by 15 m ) screen. He advertised his drive - in theater with the slogan, `` The whole family is welcome, regardless of how noisy the children are. '' The first film shown was the Adolphe Menjou film Wife Beware. Failing to make a profit, Hollingshead sold the theater after three years to a Union, New Jersey theater owner who moved the infrastructure to that city, but the concept caught on nationwide. The April 15, 1934, opening of Shankweiler 's Auto Park in Orefield, Pennsylvania, was followed by Galveston 's Drive - In Short Reel Theater ( July 5, 1934 ), the Pico Drive - In Theater at Pico and Westwood boulevards in Los Angeles ( September 9, 1934 ) and the Weymouth Drive - In Theatre in Weymouth, Massachusetts ( May 6, 1936 ). In 1937, three more opened in Ohio, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, with another 12 during 1938 and 1939 in California, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Texas and Virginia. Early drive - in theaters had to deal with sound issues. The original Hollingshead drive - in had speakers installed on the tower itself which caused a sound delay affecting patrons at the rear of the drive - in 's field. In 1935, the Pico Drive - in Theater attempted to solve this problem by having a row of speakers in front of the cars. In 1941, RCA introduced in - car speakers with individual volume controls which solved the noise pollution issue and provided satisfactory sound to drive - in patrons. Just prior to World War II, 9 of the 15 drive - in movie theaters open in the United States were operated by Philip Smith, who promoted a family - friendly environment by allowing children to enter free and built playgrounds. Peak Classic googie architecture at this Ohio drive - in The Sandell Theater ( 2000 photograph ) off Texas State Highway 70, was a reminder of by - gone days, having closed in 1984. The theater reopened in 2002 in Clarendon, Texas. The drive - in 's peak popularity came in the late 1950s and early 1960s, particularly in rural areas, with some 4,000 drive - ins spread across the United States. Among its advantages was the fact that older adults with children could take care of their infant while watching a movie, while youth found drive - ins ideal for a first date. Revenue is more limited than regular theaters since showings can only begin at twilight. There were abortive attempts to create suitable conditions for daylight viewing such as large tent structures, but nothing viable was developed. During the 1950s, the greater privacy afforded to patrons gave drive - ins a reputation as immoral, and they were labeled `` passion pits '' in the media. Beginning in the 1970s, many drive - ins changed from family fare to exploitation films, as a way to offset declining patronage and revenue. Also, during the 1970s, some drive - ins began to show pornographic movies in less family - centered time slots to bring in extra income. This allowed censored materials to be viewed by a wide audience, some for whom viewing was still illegal in many states, and it was reliant upon the whims of local ordinances controlling such material. It also required a relatively remote location distant from populated areas such as towns and cities. A snack bar ad shown at a drive - in During their height, some drive - ins used attention - grabbing gimmicks to boost attendance. They ranged from drawings for prizes and free admission, small airplane runways, unusual attractions such as a small petting zoo or cage of monkeys, personal appearances by actors to open their movies, or musical groups to play before the show. Some drive - ins held Sunday religious services, or charged a flat price per car on slow nights like Wednesdays or Sundays. On `` buck '' nights during the 1950s and 1960s, the admission price was one dollar per car. One of the largest drive - in theaters was the Johnny All - Weather Drive - In in Copiague, New York. Covering over 29 acres, it could park 2,500 vehicles. It had a full - service restaurant with seating on the roof, and a trolley system to take children and adults to a playground and a large indoor theater for bad weather or for those who wanted to watch in air - conditioned comfort. Decline Hollywood Drive - in located in Averill Park, New York ; closing credits roll for Aliens in the Attic, 2009 The shift in content of drive - ins was less of an issue than competition from home entertainment, from color television to VCRs and video rentals. As well, the 1970s energy crisis, led to a sharp decline of attendance, which combined with the widespread adoption of daylight saving time ( which made the shows start an hour later ). These changes made it harder for drive - ins to operate successfully. Real estate interest rate hikes in the eighties made the large land tracts increasingly expensive, and thus far too valuable for businesses such as drive - ins, which were often open only in the summer months. Drive - ins were also subject to the whim of nature as inclement weather often caused poor attendance or cancellations. Fewer than two hundred drive - ins were in operation in the U.S. and Canada by the late eighties. Since the nineties they have lapsed into a quasi-novelty status with the remaining handful catering to a generally nostalgic audience, with many drive - ins continuing to successfully operate in some areas, mostly on the West Coast. By 2013, drive - ins comprised only 1.5 percent of movie screens in the United States, with 389 theaters in operation. At the industry 's height, about 25 percent of the nation 's movie screens were found at a drive - in. Many drive - in movie sites remain, but re-purposed as storage or flea market sites, often after residential housing or other higher value uses came to the lightly populated or unpopulated areas where the drive - ins were located. The largest drive - in theater in the world, the Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop, doubles as the world 's largest daily flea market. Former drive - in properties in Michigan have become industrial parks, shopping centers, indoor theaters, and even churches ( as with the Former Woodland Drive - In in Grand Rapids, MI ). In Philadelphia, the South City Drive In became the location of the original Spectrum in the late 1960s, with a small portion of its old property line extending into what would become the ( now demolished ) Veterans Stadium complex. ( Today that small portion, combined with the original Spectrum location, is part of Xfinity Live ! Philadelphia. ) Another example of a drive in - turned - flea market is Spotlight 88 in North Sewickley Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, which ended business as a drive - in after an F3 tornado destroyed much of the property on May 31, 1985. As a joke after the tornado hit, the owners put up in the `` now - showing '' sign Gone with the Wind. It was most likely copied from a Taylor, Michigan Drive in called Ecorse Drive - In. On July 16, 1980, a freak derecho storm with 150 mph straight line winds swept the Drive - In away leaving only the `` now - showing '' sign with the letters `` Now Playing Gone with the Wind ''. They rebuilt the screen, but it never recovered ; by 1989, it was sold and now is a Kroger grocery store. Revival A newly built drive - in screen near Superior, Iowa, 2009 Stars & Stripes Drive - in at 5101 Highway 84 West in Lubbock, Texas, 2010 The resurgence of the industry of the late 1990s led to the inception of the `` do - it - yourself '' drive - in beginning in 2001, which utilized contemporary tools such as LCD projectors and micro-radio transmitters. The first was the Liberation Drive - In in Oakland, California, which sought to reclaim under - utilized urban spaces such as vacant parking lots in the downtown area. The following years have seen the rise of the `` guerrilla drive - in '' movement, in which groups of dedicated individuals orchestrate similar outdoor film and video screenings. Showings are often organized online, and participants meet at specified locations to watch films projected on bridge pillars or warehouses. The content featured at these screenings has frequently been independent or experimental films, cult movies, or otherwise alternative programming. The best known `` guerrilla '' drive - ins include the Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive - In in Santa Cruz, California, North Bay Mobile Drive - In in Novato, California, MobMov in San Francisco, California and Hollywood, and most recently Guerilla Drive - In Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia. Faced with the closure of Hull 's Drive In in Lexington, Virginia, in 1999, the non-profit group Hull 's Angels formed to raise funds, buy the property and operate the theater as a non-profit venture specializing in family - friendly films. Hull 's continues to be the nation 's only non-profit drive - in. As of March 2014, a figure of 348 drive - ins has been published for the United States. In fall 2014, the burger chain Johnny Rockets announced that it would team up with USA Drive - Ins to open 200 drive - ins by 2018 serving Johnny Rocket 's food at the concession stands. Digital conversion The ongoing conversion of the film distribution network to be exclusively digital distribution is also putting additional pressure on drive - in theaters. Most small drive - ins lack the finances ( beginning at $70,000 per screen ) needed to convert to digital projection. The lack of multiple screens with many daily showings means the low volume of ticket sales will make it hard for many drive - ins to justify the cost of installing digital projection. Conversion of the projection booth to digital is more complex for drive - in theaters. The projector needs a more powerful bulb due to an increased screen size and light pollution. In addition, digital projection equipment may require an Internet connection, and the booth must be retrofitted with special glass, more vents and stronger air conditioning as well as heat in northern climates. With installation of Jumbotrons or similar digital display equipment in drive - in theatres, restrictions of the projector booth can be avoided ; that is, no projector is needed. See also Companies portal Film portal List of drive - in theaters Outdoor cinema References Jump up ^ `` A New Comer To Las Cruces ''. The Rio Grande Republican. 16 April 1915. p. 1. Jump up ^ Thomas, David G. ( 2015 ). Screen With A Voice - A History of Moving Pictures in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Doc45 Publications. pp. 43 -- 44, 168. ASIN B018CYWZ4O. Jump up ^ `` Claude Caver Dies at Home. '' Dallas Morning News, 20 February 1959., p. 5. Jump up ^ `` The `` Drive - in '' Movie '' ( PDF ). Electronics. New York : McGraw - Hill Publishing Co. 6 ( 8 ) : 209. August 1933. Retrieved October 25, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Richard Hollingshead and the First Drive - In Theater ''. About.com. Retrieved October 16, 2017. Jump up ^ `` 82 years ago today, first U.S. drive - in theater opened in N.J. '' NJ.com. June 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2017. Jump up ^ Strauss, Robert ( July 23, 2004 ). `` The Drive - In Theater Tries a Comeback ; Looking for a Few Hundred Adventurous Moviegoers ''. The New York Times. Retrieved March 26, 2008. The nation 's first drive - in theater was built by the Hollingshead family along the tawdry Admiral Wilson Boulevard in Pennsauken, N.J., in 1933. ^ Jump up to : `` Movie theater lets cars drive right in ''. Popular Science. New York : Popular Science Publishing Co. 123 ( 2 ) : 19. August 1933. Retrieved October 25, 2014. ^ Jump up to : Lewis, Mary Beth. `` Ten Best First Facts ''. Car and Driver ( 1 / 88 ) : 92. Jump up ^ `` Drive - In Movie Holds Four Hundred Cars '' Popular Mechanics September 1933 Jump up ^ `` This Month in History ''. Smithsonian. June 2003. Jump up ^ `` PHOTOS : Happy birthday, drive - in movies, a N.J. invention ''. NJ.com. June 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2017. Jump up ^ `` The Victoria Advocate - Google News Archive Search ''. news.Google.com. Retrieved October 16, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Admiral Wilson Boulevard - Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia ''. PhiladelphiaEncyclopedia.org. Retrieved October 16, 2017. ^ Jump up to : Nelson, Laura J. ( 2013, January 19 ). Digital projection has drive - in theaters reeling. The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 1 / 19 / 2013 : http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-drive-ins-digital-20130120,0,5280624,full.story Jump up ^ `` Popular Mechanics ''. google.com. Jump up ^ Fielding, Raymond ( May 1968 ). Technological History of Motion Pictures and Television. University of California Press. p. 215. ISBN 978 - 0 - 520 - 00411 - 5. Jump up ^ Los Angeles Times : `` General Cinema More Wall St. Than Hollywood : Investments Pay Off Handsomely for Bottler and Theater - Chain Operator '' by Kathryn Harris August 11, 1985 Jump up ^ `` farmingdale drive - in - Drive - In Theater Adventures ''. DriveInAdventures.Wordpress.com. Retrieved October 16, 2017. Jump up ^ Million - Dollar Drive - In Offers Films, Fun and Food. '' Popular Science, September 1957, pp. 119 -- 121 Jump up ^ `` NWS Detroit / Pontiac -- July 16th, 1980, Derecho ''. noaa.gov. Jump up ^ Philp, Rowan ( 17 July 2000 ). `` The Best Picture Show ; Drive - In Movie Fans Band Together To Keep a Screen From Going Dark ''. The Washington Post. Retrieved November 2, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2013 - 12 - 04. Retrieved 2013 - 12 - 01. Jump up ^ Epstein, Adam. `` There are barely any drive - in movie theaters left in the US ''. QZ.com. Retrieved October 16, 2017. Jump up ^ Wong, Vanessa ( October 1, 2014 ). `` At Johnny Rockets, the Future of Retro is Drive In Movies ''. Business Week. Jump up ^ `` Old Linton Drive - In To Be Resurrected And Open By August ( 2012 ) ''. WBIW. Further reading `` Drive - in '' ( 2001 ). The Film Encyclopedia, 4th ed., Ephraim Katz ( ed ). HarperCollins, New York. Don Sanders, Susan Sanders, ( October 2003 ) The American Drive - In Movie Theater. Motorbooks International. ISBN 0 - 7603 - 1707 - 0 Elizabeth McKeon, Linda Everett, Liz McKeon ( December 1998 ). Cinema Under the Stars : America 's Love Affair With the Drive - In Movie Theater. Cumberland House. ISBN 1 - 58182 - 002 - X. Sanders, Don and Susan. Drive - in Movie Memories. Middleton : Carriage House, 2000. Segrave, Kerry. Drive - in Theaters : a History from Their Inception in 1933. Jefferson : McFarland and Company, Inc., 1992. `` The Drive - in Theater History Page ''. Drive in Theater. 20 April 2007. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Drive - in theater. This article 's use of external links may not follow Wikipedia 's policies or guidelines. Please improve this article by removing excessive or inappropriate external links, and converting useful links where appropriate into footnote references. ( October 2017 ) Honda Launches Project Drive - In to Save Drive - Ins Across the Country BBC : `` Drive - in theatres refuse to fade away '' Time Magazine : `` Movies that star the stars '' San Francisco Chronicle : `` Reviving drive - in culture '' `` For Drive - In Theaters, an Unexpected Revival '', Nancy Mullane, All Things Considered, April 21, 2008. A freely downloadable collection of drive - in intermission advertisements `` Starlit Screens : Preserving Place and Public at Drive - In Theaters, '' Robin Conner and Paul Johnson, Southern Spaces, October 10, 2008. http://southernspaces.org/2008/starlit-screens-preserving-place-and-public-drive-theaters Will the endangered American drive - in fade to black ? - CNN United Drive - In Theatre Owners Association Richard Kuipers ' article about Australian Drive - In theatres, and their depiction in Australian films, on australianscreen Drive-ins.com searchable archive of over 5000 drive - in movie theaters past and present Garden State Drive In Chronology DriveInMovie.com lists all currently open drive - in theaters in the U.S., Canada and Australia. The site is constantly updated with openings and closures. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Drive-in_theater&oldid=853967977 '' Categories : Drive - in theatres Cinemas and movie theaters Audiovisual introductions in 1932 Cultural history of the United States Car culture American inventions Hidden categories : CS1 : Julian -- Gregorian uncertainty All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from February 2010 Articles containing potentially dated statements from March 2014 All articles containing potentially dated statements Wikipedia external links cleanup from October 2017 Wikipedia spam cleanup from October 2017 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Afrikaans Asturianu Deutsch Español Français 한국어 עברית 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska 中文 7 more Edit links This page was last edited on 8 August 2018, at 02 : 46 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. 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Question: how do you hear the movie at a drive in theater
Answer: on AM or FM radio