DRIVE IN theaters

[RobertScorpio]

I hadn't been to one of these since I was a kid, and that was a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away. But, on a whim, I decided to take my two kids and my wife to see the TRANSFORMERS 2 (which wasn't as good as the first) and STAR TREK XI double feature. And...it was fun!!!

First off, the price could not be beat. We saw them both for 28$. It was 8$ for adults and 4$ for kids. If we had seen them both at the movies, seperately (no where are they a double feature in a sit in theater) then it would have cost $106.

So...we got TWO buckets of KFC, and brought our own drinks from home in our handy-dandy cooler..and a few lounge chairs...and we watched both movies.

We didn't get out of there until 1am..but who cares. It was fun, and because my SUV comes with a Bose sound system, the sound was awesome..

As a doube feature? Transformers played first. And I would think, after it was done, 30% of the people left. Most of them stayed for star trek, so it was surprising to see that many people stay for a movie that came out nearly two months ago....

If you have a chance to see a SCIFI movie, usually paired with another scifi movie, I suggest a drive-in theatre.


Next time we go....no kids. Just me and the wife. And if you can see where this is leading, it makes going to the movies a far more stimulating event!

The best part of TRANSFORMERS, by the way, was the image in my avatar. The rest of the movie was okay, but the term OVERKILL applies. The first one was better..IMO.

Rob

 

[RandyS]

It cost you $28. to got to the drive in (an experience I have not had in twenty years) and it would cost $106. to go to a regular movie theater?? How many kids do you have?? Forty?

When my two friends and I saw Star Trek XI, we each paid our own way it, and it cost $7.00 per person. That's all.

 

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

Drive-in theaters have all but died out in most countries. I wonder how many are still in operation compared to the their peak. I haven't been to one in many moons, and my most vivid recollection of going to the drive-in is a double bill of The Dark Crystal and Firefox in 1982 when I was seven years old.

 

[RobertScorpio]

It cost you $28. to got to the drive in (an experience I have not had in twenty years) and it would cost $106. to go to a regular movie theater?? How many kids do you have?? Forty?

When my two friends and I saw Star Trek XI, we each paid our own way it, and it cost $7.00 per person. That's all.

Here you go..

14$ for an adult ticket (3 of us. My wife and I and my 15 year old daughter) and my son (a five year old) 11$...multiply that twice (for each movie because TREK/TRANSFORMERS are not a double feature in inside theatres)

$106 (and that is not including Popcorn-soda) which pushes it, easily, into the 200$ ballpark to see two movies...

That is serious scratch


Rob

 

[Mistral]

I used to go to the drive in in Scottsdale Az about once a month. Don't even know where to find one these days in SoCal. Last movie I saw was Desperado(at drive in).

 

[RobertScorpio]

I used to go to the drive in in Scottsdale Az about once a month. Don't even know where to find one these days in SoCal. Last movie I saw was Desperado(at drive in).

There is one down here in SAN DIEGO in a community called SANTEE. Right near a main freeway (67). I was pleasently surprised at how cool an experience it was. We are going back for the UP/ICE AGE double feature...and G-FORCE when it comes. (not sure yet what it will be paired with; possibly Night At Museum 3)

Rob

 

[Mistral]

The city of San Juan Capistrano shows movies on the beach in the summer-thought about dragging the boy to one...and they only charge for parking.

 

[Morfius]

a couple of years before video, there was a bunch of theaters that would show 6 month old movies for a $1. One of them was one of the last drive-ins anywhere near Atlanta . . . "we were barely 17 and we were barely dressed" Great summer!

 

[RandyS]

It cost you $28. to got to the drive in (an experience I have not had in twenty years) and it would cost $106. to go to a regular movie theater?? How many kids do you have?? Forty?

When my two friends and I saw Star Trek XI, we each paid our own way it, and it cost $7.00 per person. That's all.

Here you go..

14$ for an adult ticket (3 of us. My wife and I and my 15 year old daughter) and my son (a five year old) 11$...multiply that twice (for each movie because TREK/TRANSFORMERS are not a double feature in inside theatres)

$106 (and that is not including Popcorn-soda) which pushes it, easily, into the 200$ ballpark to see two movies...

That is serious scratch


Rob

You can say that again.

Good God.

 

[LutherSloan]

I have yet to go to a drive in. Trying to find one is virtually impossible (although I live in FL).

 

[zakkrusz]

Drive in theaters are rather impractical in Minnesota. They'd have to be seasonal which would kill profits. Unsurprisingly there aren't any around here.

 

[Trekker4747]

I HAVEN'T been to one in ages.

WENT TO one a lot as a kid, would love to go to one again.

 

[ancientone51]

Frequent this one often:

http://www.galaxydriveintheatre.com/

lots of fun if not too hot or too cold

 

[Shawnster]

We go to this one:

http://www.magiccitydrive-in.com/

It's 9 minutes from my house. I live within driving distance of three other drive-ins too.

You gotta love being able to see first run movies at such an affordable price. Our prices are $14 a car. We bring 1 gallon freezer bags full of popcorn, along with candy, pop...

We saw "The Day After Tomorrow" in the middle of a storm. Was really freaky watching a stormy movie with literal lightning behind it. Storm got so bad the drive in shut down for the night and gave us all rainchecks.

Let's see... we saw Ironman and Transformers, Batman Begins, Revenge of the Sith, Shrek II (or was it III?), and a number of other movies at the drive-in.

 

[Greg Cox]

I haven't been to a drive-in for over twenty years, but I have fond memories from my childhood. I still remember catching a triple feature of TROG, THE VALLEY OF GWANGI, and WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH!

Alas, that drive-in was torn down and replaced by a Loewe's hardware store!

 

[Gary Mitchell]

Here's a list of drive-ins in the U.S. and Australia (open and out of business) : http://www.driveinmovie.com/mainmenu.htm

 

[Messianni]

Drive in theaters are rather impractical in Minnesota. They'd have to be seasonal which would kill profits. Unsurprisingly there aren't any around here.

There is still one I know that's open, off I-94 before you get into Wisconsin. I think they do triple features actually.

I remember the drive-in. The old, super cheesy advertisements for the concessions was one of my favorite parts. I still remember the music for it! I've debated going to one but part of me fears doing so, for the experience might just be best left to nostalgia.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

That's a pretty cool website (similar to the dead malls sites I found). It's missing at least 1 Illinois drive-in that I can see.
The Grayslake, IL. one looked like a giant yellow easy chair (a building vs. the usual kind).
I definitely remember seeing Airport 77 and Silver Streak there. There were others I can't remember right now.
It was, of course, replaced by a strip mall.

 

[NileQT87]

I only ever went to a drive-in once when I was very little. I'm almost certain that one of the movies was one of the Beethoven movies (the dog).

And that movie came out in 1992, which means I was 5. That sounds about right.

Probably the one mentioned above that's in Santee (not far from where I live--I'm right over the mountain in Tierrasanta).

 

[RobertScorpio]

I only ever went to a drive-in once when I was very little. I'm almost certain that one of the movies was one of the Beethoven movies (the dog).

And that movie came out in 1992, which means I was 5. That sounds about right.

Probably the one mentioned above that's in Santee (not far from where I live--I'm right over the mountain in Tierrasanta).

Im in Mira Mesa. And I am old enough to remember going to the old DRIVE-INS in Clairmont (where Kmart is now) and Pacific Beach (right off the 5 exit to garnet, and to the right where there is a bunch of condos)

I actually remember seeing BAMBI at the one in PB.

But it was a fun thing to do again with my kids and...we will be going back!!! A RETURN ENGAGEMENT if you will....

Rob Scorpio