What's Happening To Drive In Theaters?

So I'm in Yearbook at my school and that class is in a lot more than just the typical Yearbook. We're in charge of the school website, end of the year video, yearbook, and the school paper. Well this is one of the articals I wrote for the paper. Of course

 

What’s happening to all the Drive-In Theaters?

 

 

Did you know that there used to be four thousand sixty three drive in theaters in America back in 1958? That was the height of these awesome places. By the late 1980’s there were only nine hundred ninety nine left in America, today there’s less than 425 left.

 

What’s happened to these classic hot spots? That’s simple; they’ve either been demolished or closed. Most drive in theaters is now just random screens with rows and rows of poles in the middle of a field that no one uses. They few that are still around and are being used are mainly kept going by the snack bars. The price to get in a Drive-in theater has increased but sadly a large percentage of that money is used to just keep the theater a theater.

 

The question is, why are these places disappearing so quickly? It’s because big name companies are buying them and putting them out of business and using the lots as a place for malls and mini malls. Another part of the reason is that they’re seasonal, and since Hollywood is demanding such high prices for the movies, most drive in theatres can’t keep up with the bills and therefore are forced to go out of business.  It’s the fact that the lots the drive in theaters is on are perfect commercial spots for stores.

 

The polls that are in the lots of Drive in Theatres used to be used to put the speakers when they weren’t being used. Back in the day you’d have speakers on those polls and you’d pull them inside your car and just hang them on the inside so you could listen to the movie. Now all you have to do is change your radio to a certain station [the number is provided at the actual theater] and you can listen to the movie.

 

Personally, I think its pathetic how many youth of today are deprived of the privilege to go see a movie in a Drive in Theatre. And since a lot of people don’t care about what happens to these theatres, no one really helps. But some people do help, and some people go out of their way to keep these small, local theatres in business.

 

There’s currently only two drive in theatres left in Oregon. One is in Newberg on high way 99 [also known as Pacific Highway], that one’s called Cameo Theatre. It is a twin theatre meaning it’s an inside and outside theatre. The other one is in Milton-Freewater, that one’s on Highway 11 and its called M&F Drive in Theatre. There used to be ten drive in theatres in Oregon, now there’s only two that are still open to go to. Eight of the ten are either demolished or closed.

 

There are so many historic drive in theatres in America and most of them are going out of business, it’s maddening.  Big name companies just keep buying them out and putting them out of business just so they can build another Mall or Mini Mall. Being able to go and have a  family night at a Drive in Theatre is almost impossible to do now because of it.

 

All those child hood memories that your parents have at a drive in theatre are soon going to be only memories that can never ever be re lived. You’ll never be able to go and experience the fun of a drive in movie at this rate.

 

Now I’m aware that some of you really don’t care about this but to others of you who truly like vintage things, this is a big deal. So if you want to make a wonderful memory, hurry up and ask your parents to take you to a drive in theatre. If you want to keep these historic and memorable places alive, be sure to go, pay the entry fee’s, and buy tons of snacks at the snack bars. Don’t let another Drive in Theatre go out of business, it’s like throwing away that one precious item that you love more than any other item you’ve ever owned.

 

Not to mention that drive in theatres are family appropriate and a great place to go see a movie because of the simple fact you’re in your car and you can talk all you want and laugh all you want and scream all you want with out disturbing anyone around you. That’s always a good thing. Drive in Theatres gives everyone the perfect place to be a critic of any movie. Plus, what’s more awesome than being able to watch cartoons from when your parents were kids? Yes, that’s right. Before the movie, during intermission, and after each movie you get to watch who knows how old cartoons! Also, there’s classic commercials that are just simply delightful.

 

Drive in Theatres also provide the privacy that normal indoor theatres don’t.  There for you can do more stuff at one. There’s even usually a play ground near the screen so if you go to one with your family you can leave them in the car and go hang out at the play ground or your little siblings can play safely while everyone else is watching the movie. It is just the perfect place to go on a family outing – or even on a date with someone.

 

Is there really anything bad about a drive in theatre? I can’t think of any. It will truly be a shame if these already endangered places go completely extinct. So many chances missed, so many memories forgotten. It will just be a funeral if they go away all together. So please, have a heart and help the owners of these drive in theatres keep them open. Spare some money to help them stick around for future generations.

 

Seriously, what harm will come from keeping around historic places? The only bad thing that could possibly come from keeping drive in theatres alive would be a few less malls or mini malls. But really, there’s already tons of those around, but there are few outdoor theatres around America. You would be helping more people than if you just sat back and did nothing.

 

So go down to one of the drive in theatres and watch a movie or two. Most of the places are double headers, triple headers aren’t uncommon. Plus, it’s cheaper if you think about it. You can watch two movies for the price of one every time you go, and sometimes you can even see three movies for the price of one!

Author's Note

Please keep in mind that this piece is for my school paper and therefore isn't going to be amazingly great.

Reviews

[Jennifer]

This is a really good article. It is however going into speculation on where these are going. I feel I need to speak because I worked at theaters for five years and I know someone personally who owned a drive in. The truth is, theaters don't get enough business. If there is no business, no point to staying open. Even regular movie theaters have been going out of business. There have been cool and nifty theaters that served dinner at the movie that are not open. There has been speculation on that when it all boils down to money. With drive ins, there has even been rumor of people getting carbon minoxide poisoning. People who go to movies are a dieing breed. Now that we have more places to watch movies for cheaper, drive ins and movie houses may be the thing of the past.