Hello, Southern California was a center of drive-in theaters. It seemed like wherever we drove, there was a drive- in theater located in that city. Our local Long Beach city was not the largest city in the Los Angeles basin, but it was large enough to have 4 separate area drive-in theaters. On one the Westside of Long Beach near our house and Lion’s Dragstrip(Long Beach drive-in), one near Bixby Knolls(Los Altos), one in Lakewood (Lakewood drive-in)and one in the Southern traffic circle area called the Circle Drive-In Theater. It was lucky for us as we had choices if we wanted to see any movie. 4 screens and 4 areas, all within our cruising grounds. Inside each area, the teens knew where the other teens were from different schools. So, there was no clashing of values or localism. It was usually date night or the group of friends out for a movie and camaraderie. Jnaki The only tense moment may have been the snack bar when everyone took a break to get something to drink or eat. Then seeing other teens was a little hectic. There were lots of stares to go around during the intermission. Since no one wanted to lose money spent to get inside, no one wanted to get thrown out due to teenage stuff. So, all was well in the 4 different area drive in theaters in the greater Long Beach area. Localism was there, but it was not as important as getting thrown out and losing money. Yikes! But, as "not aware" teenagers leave the drive-in theater, sometimes accidents happen and 10 miles later at home, a surprise was sitting in the floor area of the back seat. No, that is not what I was referring to, but a nice memorabilia from those drive-in movie times. A left over drive in speaker accidently torn out by mistake as one left the drive-in parking spot. The sound of a thump was heard, but it might have been a Coke Can or sealed drink container being crushed… Note: Much like the quick release gas hose line disconnect from an errant drive away with the hose still in the hole, these speakers seemed like they were also a weak link as they did come off easily. Yikes… Note: Many years later, the speakers were history and the heavy duty wires were also gone. In their place were thin wires with clips on the end to clip on to your own antenna. Two things happened, the sound was better as it came through your own speakers. Two, no antennas were harmed with the clips on them. Everyone took those off and placed them on the poles. Some of the more advanced drive-in theaters had no poles or wires. They had each car tune into the specific AM frequency or some used FM, so the sound still came through your own speakers. Less cost, no poles and wires along with less maintenance. One had to have a good battery for a dual movie shown from dark to late at night. YRMV Note 2: At one time, the greater Los Angeles area down to the San Diego county line had theater locations with single screens. Then as they became really popular, multi-screen locations popped up. A central snack bar projector location with 4 cameras shooting in 4 directions. Yes, one could see the other screens, but there was no sound in your own speakers.
I saw one of those "parade floats" of a car from the seventies for sale the other day for sale. I noticed in that picture the front plate on the car which in Ontario is still legally required.
Every time I see a photo of a drive in theater speaker it takes me back to my high school senior year. I grew up in Tampa and the Twentieth Century Drive Inn was the place to be on Friday nights. At that time I had a beautiful 55 Bel Air hardtop. 327 Muncie. Just after midnight after viewing Two Lane Blacktop I managed to roll the car after running over one of the speakers in the pitch blackness. The pole some how gat lodged next to the transmission and pitch the car over onto the passenger side. I pulled the engine and transmission and juked the remains.
The Jalopy Journal
