SAY GOOD-BYE TO ONE OF NORTH AMERICAS DRIVE-INS

I JUST WANT TO GIVE THE BIG MIDDLE FINGER TO THE DICKHEADS WHO SOLD OUT FOR CONDOS. TEARING DOWN OUR BELOVED OLD SCHOOL DRIVE IN WAS JUST A LOW BLOW TO US OLD SCHOOLERS. I DIDN'T GO EVERY WEEK BUT I WAS THERE ENOUGH TO SUPPORT. WE WILL MISS YOU AND CHERISH THE MEMORIES. IF ANYONE HAS ANY PICS FROM THIS OR ANY OLDSCHOOL DRIVE IN SEND EM IN I WOULD LIKE TO SEE EM. i THINK DRIVE-INS ARE KICKASS AND SHOULD BE PUT IN PLACE OF RUN DOWN CRACK HOUSES! JUST TO KEEP ALIVE WHAT WAS FUN FROM THE GOOD OL DAYS. NOTHING LIKE WATCHIN JAWS, TWO LANES BLACK TOP , OR TRON EVEN FOR THAT MATTER HAH! DAMN. I'LL MISS YA ! BUICKNAILHEAD

 

OH NO!! Sorry to hear it.......

As a side note: while going thru Johannesburg last week on the way to the airport, I saw a Drive-In.....In South Africa (yes, I know that's where Jo'burg is......but AFRICA!!)of all freakin' places!! It's located on top of a tailings pile (from the gold mines that litter the area). Must be the world's highest drive-in!

 

THAT SUCKS, there were 2 in my town that just got ran down over the years and still just desert there now. You can check it out in the movie "spys like us" with Dan Akroyd, they filmed a scene at the drive-in down the street from me.

 

Saw that on the news. It bites. We have to drive close to an hour to get to a drive-in, but apparently Saskatchewan has the most drive-ins per capita of any place in Canada (4). That tells you the old institution ain't what it used to be.

O/T Did you hear about the Newfie who froze to death at the drive-in? He went to see "Closed for the Season". GGRROOAANN!!!!!

 

Hey Buicknailhead, I feel your pain. We found out this summer that our beloved Cinderella Twin Drive-In in Englewood, Colorado would be closing for the last time this fall. The old car community pulled together and really supported the new owner when he bought it about 6 or 8 years ago. He promised everyone that he was here for the duration and the Cinderella would live on for many years. A few years ago Wal-Mart was looking for a place in Englewood to build a new store and everyone thought that he would sell out to them. Well, to his credit he didn't. Wal-Mart found a place in the new Englewood Town Square where the old Cinderella City Mall used to be. Whew! Close one! Everyone thought we were in the clear. Last summer we hit the Drive-In alot and we never heard anymore sell out talk. Then, this year the announcement came.......He sold out to build condos! What a jerk! After we all supported it to show him the Denver area loved the old drive-in, he sold out anyway. No one really understands why. Money I guess. All summer long if you don't get to the theater by 6:30 or so, you might not get in. It packed out every night! Go figure!

A big group of car people were planning on going last night, but a few unexpected things came up so we had to reschedule for next Saturday. We are all going to go real early before the crowds show up and take lots of pictures. Soon it will all just be a memory. I hope the weather holds up for just one more weekend and one more "night at the Drive-In".

 

I re-read my post after it went up and it got me to thinkin'. This makes 2 Drive-Ins that are closing that we know of. Who knows how many more will be closing for good when the cold weather sets in? The Drive-In is truely a quickly disappearing part of Americana. Damn, thinking about this really bums me out........................

Two years ago, a few KKOA members got together and planned a night at a Drive-In in Fort Collins. (Fort Collins is a town about 60 miles north of Denver.) Our car club heard about it so we decided to head north and check it out. It was a nice evening in late August. We got there way before anybody else and took some neat pictures. We lined up at the gate and just sat around BSing until other people started showing up. Shortly after the employees showed up and "opened the gates" and let us in. I'd say that maybe 15 cars showed up. Not a big turn out, but it was a kool, laid back, mellow atmosphere that was alot of fun. Looking back, it was one of the most enjoyable "kar events" that I have ever been to. Funny how the simple things in life are the best things in life, huh?

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL DRIVE-IN, THE DRIVE-IN YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN!

 

Dammmit!!

This it from there website.
Recent news reports have stated that the Cinderella Drive-In will close permanently after the 2003 season. While this is a possibility it is ABSOLUTELY NOT CONFIRMED at this time.
According to Theatre owners, There is a good chance that the redevelopment of the theatre property will be delayed. In such a case the theatre will continue to operate for one or more years after the 2003 season.
-- The Management Team
Cinderella Twin Drive-In Theatre
Return to Home Page

 

I hate to see em go but actually the decline of drive-ins has stopped and we are gaining new ones!!!!

I will say we had 3 in this town while I was a kid. One is now an open pit limestone mine, one is soon to be part of a new interchange and the other has been abandoned for 10+ years.

On another note, Lusk Wyoming still has one.last time through though there was a for sale sign on the property.

 

As a card carrying Ozoner (It's true I have a card) I couldn't let this post go with out my input. Drive-In theatres are as much a part of car culture as white walls and we all need to educate the next generation on what they are missing out on. Here's a link that will help out.

www.drive-ins.com

On the upbeat side of things. One of the guys from our car club owns a theatre in Mt. Sterling,Ky. The Judy Drive-In has been open since 1952 with no signs of closing. At that it's getting better all the time.
I've got some shots of it in my web shots albums
http://community.webshots.com/user/kentuckyjohn
And while I'm posting links, here's one to the Judy www.judydrivein.com

All you guys need to hook up with the owners of these classic treasures and try to arrange a old car night or something along those lines. Most DIs work on a tight budget and don't have a lot of advertising money, so word of mouth means alot. Also keep in mind, that most theatres only get about 10 to 20 percent of the money from the admission, they depend on the concession stand to make their profit.

 

I grew up going to the drive-in... that is really sad...
ours was 59 outdoor theatre..... and next door was a mom and pop rootbeer stand - John's rootbeer... they made the best home-made rootbeer that you could take home in quart jugs...so you'ld buy some rootbeer and sneak it into the drive-in...those were good times..... the 59 was torn down in the 80's...

 

The Getty Four in Muskegon has been in its "last season" for three summers now. I didn't go this summer, because I never could convince anyone to go with me. If it lasts another season, you know I'll be there.

Everything I've heard is that drive-ins are too expensive to operate versus the property value of the land they take up. Owners end up paying more in property taxes than they take in from customers. What really needs to happen is for local historical societies to sit up and take notice. Operation by non-profit organizations would be cheap (reduced or no property taxes in some areas for historical sites) and could make operations money for other areas of the society. Not to mention that the old "passion pits" would be preserved for newer generations! Naturally it would be the end of first-run movies, but surely the societies could dig up enough old B-movies to show on the projectors for each season. Heck, I just saw a bunch on DVD at Meijer!

 

I wonder if there is a Drive In in the Joplin, MO area that we could all hit after the HAMB Drags next year. Wouldn't that be a cool place to socialize in our hot rods afterwards.

 

[ QUOTE ]
I wonder if there is a Drive In in the Joplin, MO area that we could all hit after the HAMB Drags next year. Wouldn't that be a cool place to socialize in our hot rods afterwards.

[/ QUOTE ]


Denise, easy enough to find out. go to www.drive-ins.com and do a data base search. If you have the zip code of the Dragstrip you can get results with the closest one first.

 

yeah i can relate. they just closed down the "local" drive in in oregon. and get this, there doin' this to EXPAND a freakin' wal-mart thats just next door! i couldnt believe when i heard it. but eventhough the theatre was only profitable durin' the summer it would always sell out no matter what was playin'. the thing had to make some pretty good greenie, plus it was the only thing that kept people comin' to the town. oh well...

 

Denise, Just for you.

The two closest to Asbury,MO. are

66 Drive-In - Carthage,MO. approx. 19 miles away
http://www.comevisit.com/66drivein/

Barco Drive-In - Lamar,MO. approx. 22 miles away
No web site but here's the Drive-ins.com link
http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/mobarc

Hope I've been of some service.

 

[ QUOTE ]
yeah i can relate. they just closed down the "local" drive in in oregon. and get this, there doin' this to EXPAND a freakin' wal-mart thats just next door! i couldnt believe when i heard it. but eventhough the theatre was only profitable durin' the summer it would always sell out no matter what was playin'. the thing had to make some pretty good greenie, plus it was the only thing that kept people comin' to the town. oh well...

[/ QUOTE ]

In the Drive-In business a full lot doesn't mean a successful night. Keep in mind that the owner probably usually only gets 20 percent of the gate. So if it cost $5.00 a head to get in, they are only getting one dollar of that. The studios and the booker of the movie get the rest. So if there's no support of the concession stand then there is no profit. Something else to keep in mind. Alot of these theatres have been run by the same people for decades. People who now want to retire but can't find anyone willing to take over. Willing to give up their friday and saturday nights during the summer. So they sale to the highest bidder. It's a sad thing and I feel heartbroken everytime I pass a defunct ozoner.

 

there she stood from 1953-2003.im surprized it lasted that long? at least i got to see american grafitti there!the screen almost blew down a few years ago and they were going to shut it down then....later..craig

 

Yeah I got to see alot of cool movies there as well. I guess if I put myself in the owners shoes I would still have a decent mind to keep it going for the fact that Langley is pretty much the cool car capital of B.C. And the fact that we hold one of the bigger shows that attract ppl from everywhere to take part including the drive-in. I would rather drive by a baren drive in lot then to see more bullshit condos in my town congesting my roads and making traffic a nightmare with silly hondas everywhere , and people whom don't know how to drive cuz they are to busy watching the t.v screen in the Escalade. I think I might just buy my ol Ford van back and go through with the bush bar MAD MAX theory. i fuckin hate too many ppl in small towns. it makes no sence at all. greedy ass'd mofo's need to be shot. I know I will just move to a small town just east from here and greedy fucks will be right behind me in months to come. "plunk" a wal-mart...."plunk" a home-depot
"plunk" a highway for assholes clearcutting. anyone have a spaceship,timemachine, or large quantity of rat poison?

 

Mr57, being from Saskatchewan I remember the days of the Coral Drive-In (in Saskatoon); I used to be a projectionist there. The season was short and the owner only kept it alive because he wanted to try and make money from his investment.

Quote: Bigcheese327
“Everything I've heard is that drive-ins are too expensive to operate versus the property value of the land they take up. Owners end up paying more in property taxes than they take in from customers.”

The Drive-In I worked at was originally built on the outskirts of the city, after a few years the drive-in became surrounded by development and the owner “caved in” to taxes.

Quote: John B
“In the Drive-In business a full lot doesn't mean a successful night. Keep in mind that the owner probably usually only gets 20 percent of the gate. So if it cost $5.00 a head to get in, they are only getting one dollar of that. The studios and the booker of the movie get the rest. So if there's no support of the concession stand then there is no profit.
Something else to keep in mind. A lot of these theatres have been run by the same people for decades. People who now want to retire but can't find anyone willing to take over. Willing to give up their Friday and Saturday nights during the summer. So they sell to the highest bidder. It's a sad thing and I feel heartbroken every time I pass a defunct ozoner.”

John, sadly you have identified the problems that closed the drive-in that I worked at. The owner spent 45 years running the place and when it came time to sell, could only find people that wanted to redevelop the property.

 

just to throw it in here

in coldwater Mi
there is a drive in that is still open
in fact they have 2 screens going

 

[ QUOTE ]
just to throw it in here

in coldwater Mi
there is a drive in that is still open
in fact they have 2 screens going

[/ QUOTE ]


You mean the Capri?
http://www.capridrive-in.com

 

<font color="green"> I wrote this a couple years ago. Remembering when the Tahlequah Drive In Theatre closed. I had worked there for six years with some of my best friends.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________


The Tahlequah Drive-In Theatre was always crowded on Wednesdays. It was only five dollars per car-load. People with vans became very popular on Wednesdays.

We all have our assigned tasks. Dennis, the owner, runs the box office and starts the projector, if we’re too busy in the concession stand to start it. Jen takes orders and gets drinks, Jon coordinates all of us and runs the register, Andy gets the nachos, hot dogs and the rare ‘Denny Dog’ and I run the Manley popcorn machine. I am the popcorn GOD.

Dennis will open the gates when, from the concession stand, we can see a car or two lined up (that means there were about four in line hidden behind the trees). Usually this is about an hour before the movie is set to begin but sometimes as much as two hours before. As long as they don't get lined up on the highway we we’re safe.

I'll have the Manley loaded with popcorn in about ten minutes (I am the popcorn GOD ). The cheese and chili are just right and the dogs are barkin hot. We’ve left the gates and doors to the concession stand closed so we can finish setting up but, we can hear the line growing longer and longer. When we've got the final task done, the ketchup and mustard 'udders', we let the people in.

The first words spoken are always a nice, pleasant greeting, either from us or the customer, and are always said with a smile. Thanks to our little vent fan in the ceiling of the concession stand, the smell of the popcorn has gotten to all corners of the lot. And people are hungry for it. They come in hungry and there’s the Manley, packed full of the golden, fluffy stuff, which just entices them further. "I'll take the special.", says the first customer. The special is THE seller, large popcorn and large drink for $3.25. It'll tide ‘em over ‘til the movie starts. Some get the nachos and hot dogs before but most wait until the movie is in progress and the night air has cooled enough to make ‘em more enjoyable.

When the sun has set I run over to the projection room to start the film. First things first, turn on the rectifier and power up the bulb, ZAP! Turn off the outside lights and turn on and film platters. Step in between the projector and the platters, turn off the radio and open the little, creaky, wooden door so I can see the screen. Start the projector and give the platters a little start by hand. Wait for the mark on the film, aaaaand.......here it comes.....almost.....now! Open the shutter, start the sound bulb and focus. The scratchy, familiar movie soundtrack begins and all is right in the world. One quick check to make sure everything is running smoothly, turn on the A/C and dash back to the stand.

After Dennis locks the gate he walks back to the stand. We ask how many cars and Dennis tells us about two hundred. Only two hundred? The way they packed in the stand you'd think there were five hundred. Well, at any rate we have about ten minutes before the next rush so we need to get the cups stocked and make sure we have enough chili, cheese and dogs. Dennis goes back to the projection room to keep an eye on things. The Manley is a bit empty looking, even though it's been running for an two hours straight. I just need to get caught up. The next rush isn't nearly as bad as we'd expected so we pop out back in pairs and have a smoke break.

A few more customers drift through every once in a while. Another hot dog or more popcorn, another drink. Not much to do so Jen, Jon, Andy and I sit around and talk about the current social scene. Being a college town it’s usually pretty funny to discuss.

Well, now there’s only about twenty minutes left in the movie and it’s really slowed down in here so we start cleaning up. Not bad tonight, I didn’t get too much popcorn or butter flavored topping on the floor. Jen kept the drinks in their cups and Andy made sure not to slosh the chili and cheese all over the steam table. It’ll take about twenty minutes to clean up. We always start with the food and then close the gates. The popcorn machine is the biggest clean up but, I’ve got it down to a science. While everyone else is sweeping, mopping, washing dishes, I’m just taking care of the Manley.

Dennis is very generous as far as paying us, he appreciates the work we do. After a really big night he gives us a twenty to show some of that appreciation. He doesn’t have to, we love working there. Dennis is the greatest boss in the world. It’s more like going to help a friend and getting paid for it. He’s always been a good guy to us and he never lets anyone down. Originally Dennis’ sons bought this place and the whole family ran it. Dennis at the box, the younger son and his daughter ran the stand and his wife helped when they needed her. The oldest son, Randy, ran the projector. They even sold beer there for awhile.

Randy had been sick for some time. Cancer. It took him from Dennis in February 2000. The Drive-In still opened but not with the same enthusiasm. Dennis was pretty down for obvious reasons, Jon, Jen and Andy had moved to Tulsa starting careers and we had competition. A new four screen theatre had opened during the past winter. It was just me and Dennis at first. Then we got Walt back, who had worked there before I started. Walt is huge, about six foot -four and three hundred pounds. He’s an amateur wrestler. Ashley was fifteen and a sweet kid. Dennis was a friend of her family, so she got a good start in the working world. It didn’t last long.

The rushes weren’t as rushed and the outdoor venue didn’t pack ‘em in like before. We were down for the count.

ONE..........Dennis couldn’t turn around without being reminded of Randy

TWO..........The new theatre

THREE..........Rumors that Dennis had died and we were under new management

FOUR...........The heat

FIVE...........

SIX...........

SEVEN...........

EIGHT...........

NINE............God we’re closing aren’t we?

ten..............

</font>

 

Neppy, thanks for the stroll down memory lane!

 

Nailhead, I totally agree with everything you said. I live out in Tsawwassen and even it's becomming too big of a town for me. It's becomming impossible to just cruise and not worry about stupid traffic. They keep having to build new houses and condos and shit... maybe there's too many people. Ofcourse, my plan for that would put me in jail Anyways, I read that the owner..well, previous owner of Hillcrest is looking for more lang to build another one. Hopefully someone will have the balls to give up their precious field of grass.

 

My first job was in the concession stand of a drive-in which has since been torn down. Luckily there are 3 drive-ins within 30 minutes of Dayton ... hope it stays that way. WWS

 

One night, a long time ago, I remeber being in my dads little whatever it was, only in my Pj's, and my mom, and a close family friend were at the drive in. I remember bits and pieces of it...but I do remember this...The movie was Star Wars. After that night, seeing the images on that screen, how big they were, they seemed larger than life. And they were, to my little eyes. That, I will never forget. As the years went by, we didn't go to the drive in that much, me and the fam, but we went enough....and those times are stored in the same place that the memories of my grandpa and me goin fishin are...almost on the same level. But not quite...hehe..but thats were they are.

Then in the mid 80's, I got my first car......actually a little pick up.....and geuss were I went...The Hillcrest. And I never stopped. I saw all kinds of great movies there, and in the early 90's, I met one of my best friends....and went to that old drive in almost once a week, (depending on what was playing) we would pick a lady to take, and off we'd go on a Friday. And sometimes after work, on a Monday, or a Wednesday, We would go for something to do.

There were some good car shows there. The first time my car (A lowrider T-bird, at the time), made it into a magazine was there, and the first time I had my fittings blow off on my hydraulics was there, and all over The Reverend...again, good memories. And I remember the times that EVERYONE went to the drive-in because you hadn't een each other for awile, and you know what, fuck it! Let's go to the drive-in! And you went to rekindle old friendships and to start knew ones.

But I think the times I remember the best are the times I went with my closet friends, The Reverend, and Nailhead, the guy who started this little "thread" down memory lane. We would go OFTEN. Like damn near once a week, (again, depending on whats playing), and thats were we would go to relax from the hell that is our jobs, and enjoy a corndog and a couple flicks...and it didn't matter what time of the year, because the fog couldn't reach us!

On Sept 28th, 2003, My friend The Hillcrest, Closed for the last time, and to see the owner of the place, was tough. You see, Jay was the owner of The Hillcrest. That means, he owned the screen, the projectors, the little white speaker poles, everthing...that wasn't the LAND. THAT, is owned by some laywer guy in Toronto....(the armpit of Canada, by the way), and HE is the one who started the development for townhouses. Not Jay. And to see him on that last night......man.......it was tough....especially because of how good of friends we are with him, again, because of that drive-in. He took everyone on a tour of the projector room, letting them take pictures, and asking him questions about the equipment, and of course, the most asked, "Will you build another one?" and his answer was always the same, " I am looking and looking, and I feel good about the future,". And with that, the dads and moms would take their kids out, content with the fact that they, hopefully, will be able to take their kids to the drive-in again someday.......we can only hope. So on the last night of the life of the Hillcrest, The Reverend, our friend Dave, Alishia, and her 2 friends Carlie and Nick, (3 who had NEVER been to the drive in) and myself, settled in and watched Sinbad, Matchstick Men, Once upon a time in Mexico, and Terminator 3......the last movies ever shown at "The Drive-in" I wish my brother Nailhead and his wife could have been there, but they couln't make it......but I know that they will be there on opening night when the NEW Hillcrest is opened.....and it will..oh yes, and it will be a glorious evening when it does. And like the people who were in the line up at 10 a.m. in the morning on the final night, I will be there on the opening day.

I guess I have to thank everyone who actually took the time to read this, I know that it doesn't have much to do with cars...it is one guys memories of an old friend, who passed on to make way for "progress". Fuck progress! But this is a car site, and I'm not gonna get political, although it's been tough not too. I am goin to put some pics up that I took the night of the closing. Some pics of the site, and even of the dancing wiener! Just so everyone can see what the 'ol theatre on the hill in Cloverdale looked like. So you can enjoy it to......but not with the same teary eyes that I have been using Hehe..didn't realize that this was gonna be this long, and this tough.....

The concession is now.......closed

 

another

 

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