Product Thursday
A Drive-in Marquee. Picture by Earl 35.
Every summer our family makes great plans to go to the drive-in theater several times. We go at least once a month and love it every time.
We don’t care about mosquitoes or chilly nights. We have learned what to pack and what to buy for the outing.
Picture by Karpati
Our car will be filled with blankets, snack foods, drinks and play items. Hello, frisbees and soccer balls. We might bring baseballs and gloves as well. Bug spray comes along but I also like the new ‘bug repellant’ bracelets.
My favorite drive-in theatres have a number of great features.
First, a big green area in front of the screen. There does not have to be a swing set here for kids to blow steam before the movie but it should be big enough for at least ten families to throw a frisbee, football or water balloons.
Secondly, the sound system must be in working order. You can have the old-fashioned speakers or present day through-your-radio system. But if neither is working you miss out on the sound and that sucks.
Third, the gravel in the driving lanes must be gravel, not small rocks about the size of an egg. Kids are going to throw them and run on it. Do not provide weapons or create potential accidents for children wearing flip-flops in the summer time.
Picture by Alvimann
Fourth, the concession stand may be the actual money-maker for the business but make it affordable. I might bring in snacks and drinks. But my kids want ice cream, popcorn, nachos and chilly willies. So I will pony up some cash if you will make it so I can still pay the mortgage.
Now, I know what is happening out there. You are wondering if there are any drive-ins left and if one is near you. If you are lucky, there is one less than 20 miles away. If you are like me, you are an hour or so away from a few good choices.
One way to find drive in theaters by states is at drive-ins.com. Another site to try is driveinmovie.com. You might have to sift through many theater listings of gone but not forgotten theaters.
When you find one that is near you, look up starting times. Call ahead to find out current admission pricing and start time. Plan your trip and make a list of items to take along (including bug spray or repellant of some sort). Remember blankets or sleeping bags, fun games to play in the grass and fold up chairs.
Just remember that popular movies means lots of people. Get to your drive in early if possible or go on a less popular night so you are not left outside the theater.
Getting to a drive-in is one of the highlights of our summer. Do you have a favorite drive-in theater?
Every Thursday I review a product or service. If you have something of interest, please contact me at bowmankaryn@sbcglobal.net.
Notes from Rumbly Cottage 
We used to have a lot of drive ins around here..it was such family fun..I will check to see if we have any left at all. Thanks for bringing back nice memories!
Chris
Even at regular movies, let’s just say my wife carries a huge purse. Chilly nights in the summer… ah, that must be nice.
Remember, I live several hundred miles due north of you. Some nights the dew falls while we are at the movies and the kids get a little chilled.
Please tell me more about the bug repellant bracelets. Drive-Ins are fun, the movie is the bonus.
The brand is called Bug Bands. And now one of the companies are advertising a thing that looks like an air freshener. Haven’t tried that one yet.
I haven’t been to the drive-in since my parents took us for a double feature of Poseidon and Deliverance. Good times.
They smuggled us in under blankets, let us watch Poseidon with them while we ate popcorn out of a brown paper grocery sack, dripping through with butter, then made us go down and try not to hear “Squeal like a pig!” through the blankets…
Hm…this could explain a lot, actually, about who I turned out to be…
thanks–I think–for the memories!
blessings
jane
Hey, I did not take you to see Deliverance. I refused to let my then-10-y.o. see the third episode of Star Wars.
I used to love going to the drive-in! We would go in our PJs and take sleeping bags and put them on top of the station wagon. It was great. Thanks for the link to find theaters – I have no idea if there are any near us – I’m sure my daughter would enjoy it.
I live in a small Oregon town with a drive-in theatre – – I think there are only two left in the state. I haven’t been in years! Thanks for the reminder and the fun post.
Thanks for stopping by.
That would be a fun way to spend an evening with kids. I just checked the closest open drive-in movie theater for us is 45 miles away. 😦
My favorite drive-in is about an hour and a half from our house.
There’s a drive-in about fifteen miles from here, but as you mentioned, the mosquitoes keep us away. I just heard about the bracelets. Please tell me they really work!
I have actually tried the Bug Bands and they worked for us. Now in Illinois I am not sure if our misquitos are as nasty as yours. I mean, you hae dandelions that require chainsaws to remove.
Alas, as a kid, there were 4 drive in theatres here. All a short drive away. Like you, I would have to drive well over an hour these days. Remember, Thursdays were load up the car and paid 1 price to get in. Packing ourselves into the car, giggling, sharing popcorn, sodas and we never stopped talking. What fun those days were.
My parents would take us dressed in our pajamas.