The comeback of drive in theaters

[Tonytone]

With drive in theaters being a big thing in the 50's & later years we are now seeing a comeback of them in makeshift ways such as blow up screens & sides of buildings.

My question to you all is will we see them being built again? I think we could. To be honest im not sure why they were ever closed down. I know some do exist still but in small numbers across the country.

I would see plenty of more movies if we had drive in theaters. Way better to see a movie in your own climate inside or outside the car, food, snacks, your own reclining seat & etc.

Does anyone know what killed the drive in theaters? I cant see anyone picking an indoor theater other then a select few & the movie theaters companies them selves wanting to make more money off of the snacks & amenities even though snacks can still be sold in an drive in theater.


iPhone

[Scott5114]

A drive-in theater takes up way more space than a regular theater does, and for all that space can only show one film at a time. If you don't care about the movie they're showing, too bad. You also can't really do a matinee at the drive-in, it has to be after dark.

That, and it really depends on the climate. A drive-in might make sense in Delaware, but in Oklahoma in the summer when it's 80° and muggy even late at night, I can't imagine it being too much fun. A movie can get rained out. And I don't think the drive-ins operated in the winter when it's freezing.

Before the pandemic, the trend was more toward things like Alamo Drafthouse, where you basically had a restaurant experience going on at the same time as the movie.

[Tonytone]

A drive-in theater takes up way more space than a regular theater does, and for all that space can only show one film at a time. If you don't care about the movie they're showing, too bad. You also can't really do a matinee at the drive-in, it has to be after dark.

That, and it really depends on the climate. A drive-in might make sense in Delaware, but in Oklahoma in the summer when it's 80° and muggy even late at night, I can't imagine it being too much fun. And I don't think the drive-ins operated in the winter when it's freezing.

Before the pandemic, the trend was more toward things like Alamo Drafthouse, where you basically had a restaurant experience going on at the same time as the movie.

You know what it didnt even cross my mind that a drive in is only one screen/one movie. I guess if they could make a new type of drive in theater with a hybrid layout, maybe 3 small screens & 1 mega screen it would be more worth it.

Ehh weather might not be a factor except in the winter or if conditions are bad. People still go out in the heat & freezing cold they just prepare. Cars are even more capable with their Climate control systems. Its amazing how well they keep cars comfortable now.

The new wave of theaters with reclining seats & food service is pretty nice. Gives you more of a relaxing feeling while watching a movie compared to the old lets see how many people we can cram into this one theater.


iPhone

[Scott5114]

You know what it didnt even cross my mind that a drive in is only one screen/one movie. I guess if they could make a new type of drive in theater with a hybrid layout, maybe 3 small screens & 1 mega screen it would be more worth it.

That still takes up quite a chunk of real estate. Wikipedia says the thing that started causing drive-ins to close was that the land they were on became more valuable than the business was.

Ehh weather might not be a factor except in the winter or if conditions are bad. People still go out in the heat & freezing cold they just prepare. Cars are even more capable with their Climate control systems. Its amazing how well they keep cars comfortable now.

But, in most cars, to use the heating and cooling, the car has to be on. That means you have to leave the car running for two to three hours. People may not be willing to do that, either due to the price of gas, or due to wasteful carbon emissions.

[Road Hog]

I think if the Rona sticks around we might see drive-ins take off in earnest.

[ozarkman417]

There are a few drive-in movie theaters around here that still play movies for old time's sake. They can't show new releases, unfortunately, so they opt for showing older ones like Ghostbusters or How to Train Your Dragon. They naturally allow you to social distance unless you are in line to pay or get concessions.. on the topic of concessions, this would be a huge loss for the theater as it is much easier to bring your own food and beverage. I would much rather buy a sharing size M&M and a 44oz from the Kum & Go across the street than get whatever overpriced garbage they already have at the theater. Lastly, bringing a lawn chair to place next to the car is an option if you don't want to actually sit in it and kill the battery.

[Konza]

Does anyone know what killed the drive in theaters?
iPhone

The real estate values definitely played into it, especially in expanding and developing metropolitan areas.

I think the biggest thing, though, was air conditioning, coupled with television.  When you can sit inside and watch something for free, why pay to go watch it sitting in your car?  Even with the improved sound (FM radio instead of the traditional wired speakers) it was hard for the drive-ins to provide a competitive experience.

It would also make sense to add that the indoor cinema experience definitely improved, and while a drive-in could only offer a couple of showings a day, the indoor cinema could offer as many as five, depending the length of the movie.  plus indoor cinemas can be open twelve months out of the year, and aren't subject to weather.

[ErmineNotyours]

You can have more than one screen at the drive-in.  I think the biggest one was the Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop which had 14 screens at one time, but is now down to nine. https://www.floridaswapshop.com/ Google Satellite View.

[ErmineNotyours]

Also, indoor theaters used to be very formal, where people used to have to get dressed up to attend one.  Drive-ins were informal, and were the first to realize the profits one could make from snack sales.

[GaryV]

There was a story about a month ago in the newspaper that an indy film from Michigan was the top grossing film of the weekend, because it played at several drive-ins.  Something like 300k, where normal film grosses are in the millions for a weekend.  But hey, they're in the records.

[formulanone]

You can have more than one screen at the drive-in.  I think the biggest one was the Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop which had 14 screens at one time, but is now down to nine. https://www.floridaswapshop.com/ Google Satellite View.

Preston Henn made a decent living out of using the space for swap meets / flea markets during the day light hours, so he'd found a way to profit from all that troublesome sunshine. Over the years, he also had some parts of it put indoors, which probably ate up the drive-in screen space. He had a lot more of drive-in theaters but the flea markets did better when they were consolidated into one spot. Great places to look for weird things and knock-off stuff, but be prepared for a carnival atmosphere (for better and for worse). While we're at it, Opa Locka also has you covered for your second-hand-ish needs. [earworm warning]

The Swap Shop's advantage was that if you didn't like one movie, you could just drive to another...I bet they stopped that practice.

[ErmineNotyours]

The Swap Shop's advantage was that if you didn't like one movie, you could just drive to another...I bet they stopped that practice.

That may not be possible in all parts of the lot.  Here you can see three screens at once, so it's just a matter of tuning to a different radio frequency.  Three people in one car with headphones can watch and listen to three different movies.  I don't know if they avoid showing family movies and raunchy R-rated sex movies on adjacent screens.

[DandyDan]

Does anyone know what killed the drive in theaters?
iPhone

The ones I knew about went in the direction of showing more adult-oriented movies, and less family-oriented movies, which eventually caught up to them.

[23skidoo]

The real estate values definitely played into it, especially in expanding and developing metropolitan areas.

I question this. Most suburban megaplexes (at least the ones I know of) take up a lot of room. The building itself is large as it has to accommodate 20 screens or thereabouts (usually all on a single level), plus a lobby. Not to mention a large parking lot, which takes up several acres. I guess that drive-ins cover the same amount of land, with the added benefit of a lot less infrastructure.

However, the downside is that you can only show one movie at a time. So pre-COVID, you couldn't seat anywhere near the number of people at a drive-in per unit area as a modern megaplex.

[TravelingBethelite]

Business is booming at the one in these parts. Galaxy Drive-In, along I-45 in Ennis, has shifted from being open only on the weekends to all week. They only show one movie per screen now instead of the usual 2, and some of them are older re-releases , due to the trickle of new movies from Hollywood slowing to a drip. But they seem decently busy every night so they're doing something right. Or perhaps I underestimate people's boredom.

[Tonytone]

The real estate values definitely played into it, especially in expanding and developing metropolitan areas.

I question this. Most suburban megaplexes (at least the ones I know of) take up a lot of room. The building itself is large as it has to accommodate 20 screens or thereabouts (usually all on a single level), plus a lobby. Not to mention a large parking lot, which takes up several acres. I guess that drive-ins cover the same amount of land, with the added benefit of a lot less infrastructure.

However, the downside is that you can only show one movie at a time. So pre-COVID, you couldn't seat anywhere near the number of people at a drive-in per unit area as a modern megaplex.

The real estate values definitely played into it, especially in expanding and developing metropolitan areas.

I question this. Most suburban megaplexes (at least the ones I know of) take up a lot of room. The building itself is large as it has to accommodate 20 screens or thereabouts (usually all on a single level), plus a lobby. Not to mention a large parking lot, which takes up several acres. I guess that drive-ins cover the same amount of land, with the added benefit of a lot less infrastructure.

However, the downside is that you can only show one movie at a time. So pre-COVID, you couldn't seat anywhere near the number of people at a drive-in per unit area as a modern megaplex.

Exactly my thinking, megaplexes take up so much space & then when you include the parking lot its damn near 3 drive in theaters.

If they would have never closed I know they would have been a booming market.


iPhone

[Scott5114]

Except indoor megaplexes accommodate far more patrons in the same amount of space a drive-in does, because they can fit more than one theater in the same space. That means that the real estate costs are amortized across more tickets.

[Tonytone]

Except indoor megaplexes accommodate far more patrons in the same amount of space a drive-in does, because they can fit more than one theater in the same space. That means that the real estate costs are amortized across more tickets.

Not anymore. Since many theaters, have halved the seats with the addition of the new reclining ones. Cars could accommodate more guests if they are full.

Outdoor theaters would provide more pros then cons IMO.


iPhone

[Scott5114]

Everything I've seen indicates drive-ins charge per car, not per occupant. (I would imagine this is mostly because otherwise you'd have patrons smuggling other patrons into the movie, and because your average patron is not going to submit to a CPB-style vehicle inspection.)

[Tonytone]

Everything I've seen indicates drive-ins charge per car, not per occupant. (I would imagine this is mostly because otherwise you'd have patrons smuggling other patrons into the movie, and because your average patron is not going to submit to a CPB-style vehicle inspection.)

Ahhh, thats how they charge for tickets. I didnt know it was per car & not per user.

I would if assume if a new drive in theater was built today with all the new technology & etc it would probably charge per person.

Another thing Drive ins could do is a sort of screen that goes into the drivers side window like truckers at rest stops have for drivers who wouldn't want to idle or deal with elements.

https://afdc.energy.gov/conserve/idle_reduction_electrification.html


iPhone

[Rothman]

Last I heard, Jericho Drive-In south of Albany, NY is doing well.  Seniors from Bethlehem Central HS had a celebration and fireworks display there this year (social distancing).

[doorknob60]

There are two drive ins in the Boise area, one in Caldwell and one in Parma. I prefer the Parma one, and will drive the extra distance to go there, but both are worthwhile. They both generally show new releases (right now, not so much), and charge $8 per adult. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Caldwell one close at some point, due to its suburban location and somewhat nearby competition, but there is definitely the market for at least one drive in in the area. They've been busy whenever I've gone.

[UCFKnights]

The real estate values definitely played into it, especially in expanding and developing metropolitan areas.

I question this. Most suburban megaplexes (at least the ones I know of) take up a lot of room. The building itself is large as it has to accommodate 20 screens or thereabouts (usually all on a single level), plus a lobby. Not to mention a large parking lot, which takes up several acres. I guess that drive-ins cover the same amount of land, with the added benefit of a lot less infrastructure.

However, the downside is that you can only show one movie at a time. So pre-COVID, you couldn't seat anywhere near the number of people at a drive-in per unit area as a modern megaplex.

I'd imagine a drive in needs its own dedicated parking lot, while many of the theatres around here share their parking lots with other businesses that have different hours. Otherwise, how do they deal with someone parking at the complex during the day and going back to the car and getting a free movie once it starts?

[Rothman]

The real estate values definitely played into it, especially in expanding and developing metropolitan areas.

I question this. Most suburban megaplexes (at least the ones I know of) take up a lot of room. The building itself is large as it has to accommodate 20 screens or thereabouts (usually all on a single level), plus a lobby. Not to mention a large parking lot, which takes up several acres. I guess that drive-ins cover the same amount of land, with the added benefit of a lot less infrastructure.

However, the downside is that you can only show one movie at a time. So pre-COVID, you couldn't seat anywhere near the number of people at a drive-in per unit area as a modern megaplex.

I'd imagine a drive in needs its own dedicated parking lot, while many of the theatres around here share their parking lots with other businesses that have different hours. Otherwise, how do they deal with someone parking at the complex during the day and going back to the car and getting a free movie once it starts?

You're also making a lot more money overall with the malls thay multiplexes are in.

[jp the roadgeek]

We still have at least 3 in CT.  The Mansfield Drive-In is known more for its flea market.  The Pleasant Valley Drive-In Barkhamsted is open for business.  The third, Southington Drive-In, is a scaled-down version of the original location (only 1 screen instead of 2) that is run by the local parks department.  In a normal summer, they would screen classic movies every Saturday night during the Summer months.  This year, they have not, but did screen the Garth Brooks and Blake Shelton concerts.  Long gone are two other drive-Ins near me: Plainville (now part of a shopping center), and the Hartford Drive-In on the Berlin Turnpike in Newington (now a housing development).