That's pretty funny.. I wonder...
Definitely "folksy Americana." And that is a good thing. Even in larger American cities during the mid to late 1900s, there was space in town enough to host a couple of hundred cars for this kind of thing. But as real estate values skyrocketed, it made more sense to sell off the property and develop it into business parks and high rises. Add to that, the added comfort and "added value" of indoor theaters including better seating and THX quality digital sound. Even when I went to drive-ins in the mid-80s, they were quaint and obsolete. It was more about the social gathering than the "pure" theatrical experience.
As soon as this pandemic stuff is over, our re-kindled love affair with drive-ins will be over as well. I miss the leather recliners and surround sound my local movie theater offers.
It’s something from a culture with access to cars at a young age, but also a level of ‘traditional family values’ at that same time. I have seen one here, but it was right on the edge of the city in an industrial park type zone, which is place that has seen a lot of marketed Americana influences. Malls exist in that same space.