Drive-in movie theaters have been around for almost 100 years, but their success has been anything but linear! Join me as we dive into their highs and lows, and explore how shopping malls, X-rated movies, and the coronavirus shaped the history of drive-in cinema. This is the Birth, Death, and Rebirth of Drive-ins.
01:04 The Birth
04:36 The Death
06:44 The Rebirth
08:00 The Future?
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They had a chance to bring back and reinvent the drive in during the COVID quarantines. Talk about a missed opportunity.
I love the concept of drive in movies! I think they are so unique and such a fun experience. I’d love to see them pop up more. I saw there may be a Tesla drive in theater opening up soon. Any thoughts on that?
I agree with so many of your observations. I have such fun fond memories of going to the drive-in throughout my 60 plus years of life. I have eternal hope of a revival on a larger scale. I see, living in Los Angeles, many different adaptations of the drive-in movies. Parking lots and roof tops. I don't think this will end and I will take your advice and patronize available drive-ins. Very interesting facts and I am jealous of the ones that had golf courses, hotels and pools….
Good video. I fondly remember one of my first jobs was the summer of 1981 when I worked at the Fountain Valley (CA) Drive-In. Superman 2 was the first movie shown during the summer (with Bustin' Loose I think as the 2nd feature?). It was hugely popular for almost two months (all of the employees were so used to the movie that we started noticing goofs in the movie), but when it was finally replaced by An American Werewolf in London, the crowds went way down and I realized it was about time to head off to college for my next adventure. Good times.
Even during the pandemic I never got the chance to go to a drive in theater ! I think as long as people are obsessed with retro culture, it will always be a thing to some capacity ! Ive always thought it was sooo cool !!!
As somebody who actually owns a drive-in, I promise there were more than 30 drive-in theatres in operation in 2019. In 2019, there were 12 operating just in the state of Tennessee. There are currently about 290+ drive-in theatres operating in the United States.