Planning for a romantic getaway that includes a movie date? If ever there is a single thing that can trigger nostalgia, if not romance, it may be the drive-in movie theater. Drive-ins hearken back to enjoying warm summer nights, jostling sometimes scratchy speakers to get the sound just right and munching on freshly made popcorn or corn dogs from the concession stand. For many of a certain age, though, a drive-in was the place to go for a first date.
At the height of their popularity in the 1950s, more than 4,000 drive-in movie theaters once peppered the U.S. But now, according to the online statistical service of DriveInMovie.com, 335 drive-ins remain in America, in all but three states. Pop-ups notwithstanding, Alaska has no drive-ins although the star-filled skies and northern lights can certainly provide plenty of natural entertainment. Hawaii bid aloha to the last of its outdoor theaters in the 1990s, while North Dakota’s Lake Park Drive-In, the only one in the state, closed in 2012.
As you might expect, then, planning for romantic travel that includes a date to a drive-in theater requires some thought and strategy. Some states, like New York and Pennsylvania, have a couple of dozen drive-ins, while others, including Louisiana and Delaware, have only one each. If you’re going north, way north, to Canada, you'll find 37, with about half of those in Ontario near Ottawa and Toronto. Australia comes in third in the numbers of drive-ins, with fewer than 20 in a country that’s almost 3 million square miles, so finding a drive-in in the land Down Under might be more difficult than finding a kangaroo in the Outback.
The history of the drive-in dates to a late spring night in June 1933 when the first one opened at the Camden Drive-In in New Jersey's Pennsauken Township. Moviegoers paid 25 cents per car, plus 25 cents per person, to see “Wives Beware,” a 1932 British comedy starring Adolphe Menjou and Margaret Bannerman, flicker on the big screen. Its plot centers on a husband in an unhappy marriage who fakes amnesia so that he can pursue other women. At the time, the year-old “Wives Beware,” first released as “Two White Arms,” was selected for play so that it wouldn’t conflict with newer major releases of the era. To commemorate the event, National Drive-In Movie Day is held June 6 of each year.
While Camden Drive-In may have been the first drive-in to open — it closed for good in 1935 — Shankweiler’s in Orefield, Pennsylvania, was the second to be built. It opened in 1934 and is still in operation, except for a brief period in 1955 after Hurricane Diane leveled the projection booth and screen, making it America’s longest continuously running drive-in.
What’s in a name? According to driveinmovie.com, the most popular name for a drive-in is Starlite or Starlight, with Skyview or its alternatives, Sky View and Sky-Vu, sliding in for second place.
Plenty of reasons abound to consider a drive-in for romance. Drive-in dates are often less expensive than a traditional movie theater date, as most charge by the car instead of per person, so there’s that. Plus, you don’t have to worry about social distancing when you’re in the privacy and comfort of your own vehicle. No one is going to sneeze or cough on you.
Then, of course, there’s the cuddle factor with your significant other. You can get as close as you want without having to worry what others think of your public displays of affection.
Here's what to take and not to take to a drive-in. First, don’t worry about food. Most drive-ins have concession stands with the usual theater fare of popcorn, nachos, pretzels, hot dogs and candy. Think Milk Duds, M&Ms, Junior Mints and Sno-Caps in perfectly sized, easy-to-handle boxes. If it’s cool out, take a blanket to snuggle under, or if it’s hot, maybe a lawn or camping chair so you can sit outside of the vehicle. If you’re in an insect-prone area — the South especially is famous for its skeeters — bug spray is an excellent accessory. Pillows come in handy for comfort, and a flashlight, one that is small and battery-operated, works wonders for seeing your way to the powder room or for when you drop your phone between the seats.
Here's the best thing. Drive-ins are not swanky. They are not fancy. They do not require a coat and tie. Whether it’s your first date or a celebration of your 50th anniversary, you can wear what you want and without judgment. It just doesn’t matter, because no one, outside of possibly of the concessionaire, is going to see you. Drive-ins operate at nighttime, and it’s going to be dark, so feel free to wear pajamas, sweatpants or ratty old T-shirts. Bad hair day? No shoes? No time for a shower? No problem. Your kingdom is your car, and you can rule over it any way you wish.
Pack up the lawn chairs or blankets, load up on bug spray and then take a look at the state-by-state listing at www.driveinmovie.com to see if one of these outdoor treasures is near you. In the maddening, ever-changing and oftentimes overwhelming world of streaming services and their gazillion movie choices, electronic gizmos and gadgets, and traditional walk-in theaters, a date at a drive-in provides a return to simplicity, the romance of Americana and the chance to watch a movie under the stars.
____
