DOOLEY Observed: More than you wanted to know about drive-in theatres

Thomas Jefferson said in 1802: "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies."

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."-- Thomas Jefferson

"When in danger or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout." .... jbd

"When once a job you have begun, do no stop till it is done. Whether the task be great or small, do it well, or not at all." .... Anon

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. - Albert Einstein

Television is one daylong commercial interrupted periodically by inept attempts to fill the airspace in between them.

If you can't start a fire, perhaps your wood is wet ....

When you elect clowns, expect a circus ..............

Monday, September 9, 2013

More than you wanted to know about drive-in theatres

One of the largest Drive-In Theaters was the All-Weather Drive-In , Copiague, New York. parking spaces for 2,500 cars. It also had an indoor 1,200 seat viewing area, that was heated and air-conditioned, a playground, a cafeteria, a restaurant with full dinners. A shuttle train that took customers from their cars to the various areas, on the 28 acres.
Troy Drive-In: Detroit, Michigan. 3,000 cars
Panther Drive-In: Lufkin, Texas. 3,000 cars
All-Weather Drive-In: Copiague, New York 2,500 cars
110 Drive-In Melville, New York. 2,500 cars
Newark Drive-In: Newark, New Jersey 2,400 cars
Belair Drive-In, Cicero, Illinois. 2,300 cars
Timonium Drive-In: Timonium, Maryland 2,479 cars
Los Altos Drive-In: Long Beach, California 2,150 cars

What was the smallest?
Harmony Drive-In: Harmony Pennsylvania. 50 cars
Highway Drive-In: Bamberg, South Carolina. 50 cars
Ponce DeLeon Drive-In: Ponce DeLeon, Florida. 60 cars
Twilite Drive-In: Nakina, North Carolina. 60 cars
Norwood: Norwood, Colorado. 64 cars

Not Just Cars but Airplanes "Fly-Ins"
On June 3, 1948, Edward Brown, Jr., a former navy pilot opened the first Fly-In Drive-In Theater. There was room for 500 cars and 25 airplanes. The planes landed at an airfield next to the Drive-In, then could taxi to the last row which was set up for planes. When the movies were over Brown provided a jeep to tow the planes back to the airfield.
June 3, 1948 Ed Brown's Drive-In and Fly-In, Asbury Park, New Jersey
1953 The Roxy Fly-In and Drive-In, St. Ansgar, Iowa
1950's "no name" Fly-in, Belmar, New Jersey (75 cents admission for planes)
1950's The Air-Sho Fly-in, Mobile, Alabama
1950's "no name" Fly-in, Spearman, Texas

Located in 2 States
Here's one for your "oddities" category regarding DI theaters: How many Drive-Ins reside in two or more states? At least one: The Northfield DI is located half in Northfield, MA and half in Winchester, NH. You walk in the snack bar in one state and out in another! I knew you were wondering.
thanks to Mike Guyette (mgrafx@monad.net)

The Most Screens
The Autoscope Drive-In in Albuquerque, New Mexico opened in 1960's with 260 screens!!!!!! This theater was designed to have a rear projection screen for each car. One central projector conveyed the image to all the screens at one time, using a series of mirrors. Each screen was 3 by 5 feet. By 1963 there were 2 in Albuquerque. A 120 screen Drive-In like the Autoscope opened in Richland, Washington on May 30, 1973 owned by Lloyd Honey.

The above were a very different type of drive-ins. I do remember a 9 screen drive-in in Phoenix, Arizona that is still in operation. If you have any information use Drive-In Form. Most regular screens reported thus far is: The Show and Swapmeet Drive-In in Fort Lauderdale, FL, has 14 screens. Owned by the Thunderbird Swap Shop in Fort Lauderdale, huge flea market during the day and movies at night.