What happened to drive-in movie theaters?

[jambo101]

Would seem like a good solution to todays self isolation problem when feeling the need to go se a movie..

[chowder66]

1. We have them here in California.

My favorite Drive-In is this one;

https://missiontiki.com

[Make7]

2. Apparently you're not the only one thinking that...

https://www.google.com/search?q=drive-in+movie&tbm=nws

[gibraltar72]

3. In my area the land became too valuable to only be used as a drive in.

Very few survived that. I have one about 30 miles from my house that still thrives and has been updated over the years. Another one about 25 miles away that tried to hold on I believe it was last used as a drive in church. But I think it is vacant now.

[mahina]

4. Maybe, guessing though, increasing rents, and so the need to show movies all day.

In Honolulu we had a nice area I remember watching Sleeping Beauty when I was a little kid. That’s a Cemetary now? Or if it’s the lot next door, which it could be, it’s a storage building, which prints money.

The other one I remember was in Kailua and is now the home of a very expensive and dubious private school. Dubious in the value given. And I’ve gone to public and private schools, fam too. I support public schools whether I attend them or not. This is not that. This is just a reaction to having some pretty bad public schools in the area. Why do Hawaii schools suck? They don’t have to. They didn’t always.

I went by one in Kalihi yesterday within a mile of a prison and I swear it looked like a feeder school for the prison. Depressing, nothing fun or beautiful or well cared for.

And in Hawaii, in theory if not in practice, all schools are supposed to get the same money per kid.

Pardon the branch off topic. Might make an OP after I take cover!

[Mike 03]

7. Number of screenings per day is a huge deal.

Great movies have been destroyed (edited/shortened) in order to make it possible to screen them more times per day.

Also, just in general, more theaters were built in the 80s and 90s and they were luxurious (or at least comfortable) multiplexes. Families could go to one of these and mom and dad could watch Animal House while the kids watched Jaws 2. They made it so easy to go the movies and tie it in with other things, like shopping at the mall, grabbing lunch. Theaters could charge more too, and finance state of the art sound systems and experimental things like 70 Millimeter, THX Sound, Sensurround, quadraphonic sound, to enhance the movie going experience.

Imagine watching something like Apocalypse Now, or Altered States, or a really high-tech movie at a drive-in. The drive in experience, for many, lost its appeal as films became more technologically evolved and moviegoers didn't want to miss out on the experiential aspect. (at least that's my theory).

I don't know the answer to this question: Could you screen a movie in 70mm at a drive in? (Just curious)

[captain queeg]

5. There are a few around. I'm guessing mostly it's due to generally more wealth

Used to be drive ins charged by the carload, at least some nights. Families were bigger; mom used to pack us all in. But as much fun as they were I don’t miss the mosquitos. On a hot humid summer night you’d either keep the windows up and suffer or roll them down and get eaten alive. Still, mostly fond memories.

[kaycee22]

6. There's one near me

They opened for the season this weekend.

[Totally Tunsie]

8. You must have missed the discussion here a couple of weeks ago.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213428896

They're quite alive and gaining in popularity during COVID.

[phylny]

9. There was one near me but

they had a fire in the diner on the premises, closed, and the screen was taken down.

[snowybirdie]

10. My granddaughter

Went to one in Chicago suburbs last week. Start of a new trend.

[doc03]

11. TV nt

[Goodheart]

12. Air conditioning happened.

Drive in theaters were a good choice until movie houses air-conditioned their buildings. The decline wasn't immediate but it was real and steady.

[delisen]

13. Bingo!

[MineralMan]

14. VHS happened.

[PJMcK]

20. Or Betamax

(wink)

[womanofthehills]

15. The mayor of our small NM rural town

Said he is working to get us one. Next week- he has a “let’s cruise around town” - driving around town, waving at each other while listening to music.

[raccoon]

16. They were a really good deal for a family. Nt

[JCMach1]

17. Fundamentalism and Malls

[Srkdqltr]

18. There are several in my area and a mall wants to show movies on a big screen outside.

Probably with the next phase of opening.

[GulfCoast66]

19. Drive to Florida. Or a Louisiana or Alabama. In July.

At 7:00 pm. Turn off your car and sit in it for 1 1/2 hours.

You’ll have your answer. If the heat, humidity and thunderstorm don’t get you the misquotes will carry you off.

When no one had AC they were a way to be entertained while suffering. Now suffering is no longer required.

[pstokely]

21. high land prices

land became worth more than the business itself

[JI7]

22. Home Entertainment is better than ever . Drive Ins are not going to come back