The drive-in theater is beloved by midlifers. Many have memories of first dates and first kisses while watching movies on bench seats of their first cars. Windshields may have fogged over—partially obscuring the screen, and the sound transmission may have been a bit crackly over the car's radio receiver, but it didn't matter. Any adversity paled compared to the thrill of watching a grade-B flick in this intimate setting.
Last month on the 79th anniversary of the first drive-in, I wrote a post on Play Goes Strong about the history of these iconic theaters, which experienced their heyday across America during the 60s and 70s. But I recently discovered a nifty resource that can help you find a drive-in near you: Drive-Ins.com. The website is searchable by city and state, or enter your zip code to find a drive-in within a certain-mile radius you choose.
Since children and grandchildren of midlifers are more likely to have seen movies on iPads than at drive-ins, invite them to share back-seat memories with you. If you are planning a road trip this summer, check whether any drive-ins still exist at your destination or along the way.
Good news for die-hard fans of drive-ins: An article published this week in USA Today suggests that drive-ins aren't totally dying out. While the numbers have declined dramatically, a few gutsy entrepreneurs are hell-bent on reviving them with re-openings scheduled this summer and fall in Linton and New Castle, Indiana and in San Diego, Austin and Tulsa.
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