# Did daylight savings time bring an end to drive-in theaters? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 2, 2012, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165 "2012-08-02T12:52:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165/21 "2012-08-02T15:07:34Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > There is [The Mendon drive-in](http://www.google.com/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&cp=6&gs_id=m&xhr=t&q=mendon+drive+in&pf=p&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&oq=mendon&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=b752d12a099bb300&biw=606&bih=469) located outside of Boston. It is only open seasonally but has been in operation since the early 1950’s. It shows only the top first-run movies and there are parking spaces for about 800 cars and it is usually packed full on the weekend. It is much cheaper than going to a regular movie theater as well ($20 per car for a double-feature no matter how many people fit in your vehicle) and the snack bar is better and cheaper than a regular movie theater as well. > > I assume they get some type of special pricing from the studios to be able to show movies that cheaply but I don’t know that. There is still a niche market for drive-in’s outside of the nostalgia. They are great for families with small children because they can get out and play if they don’t want to sit still or pass out in the back seat for the later show if they get tired. You don’t have to worry about disturbing other people much either. Just role up your windows and yap away if you want. Everyone has their own sound through their car stereo although you can sit outside and still hear because everyone else is playing it for you. This is the one we went to. $25 a carload (which worked out to $5 a head) for _The Dark Knight Rises_ and _Ted_. You can’t beat that for pricing. If they can make this pay, they’re not in any hardship. And no one is fighting over access to land in Mendon. ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165/22 "2012-08-02T15:27:50Z")
I went to the [Starlite Drive-In](http://starlitebloomington.com/) a couple of times when I still lived in Bloomington, IN. They’re only open on the weekends, and presumably only during the summer. About 30 minutes up the road, there’s the [Centerbrook Drive-in](http://www.centerbrookmovies.com/Home_Page.php), which is also still in operation — but again, not every night of the week, and only during the summer. The owners of drive-in movie theaters probably have very little in the way of costs if they choose to shut down for the winter; they don’t really have to worry about heating, electricity, snow removal, staff salaries, or (of course) acquiring movies. They probably have owned the land they sit on for decades, so no mortgage or rent expenses either. And I assume that property taxes are fairly low in rural areas. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165/23 "2012-08-02T15:28:42Z")
One of our local drive-ins charges $7 a head for first run double features. Snack bar is fantastic and similarly reasonably priced. The other drive-in runs $9 a head; double feature there as well. Yes, we have two drive-ins within twenty minutes. I sometimes think we found an time hole when we moved out here. Tiny town with one traffic light. No Starbucks in our or most of the surrounding towns, and there are at least eight ice cream parlours–real ice cream parlours that make their own stuff–and little parades, unlocked doors, etc. To make it really bizarre, we’re less than an hour from NYC. A couple years ago I asked [How do drive-in movie finances work?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=424022) ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165/24 "2012-08-02T15:43:06Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Real estate issues make much more sense; for the amount of land involved (and the limited seasonal use of it), a drive-in doesn’t generate much revenue. In the '60s, at least one Winnipeg drive-in tried electric “in-car heaters” in an attempt to stay open through winter. As I recall, each heater was bulky — 16 inches to 18 inches square, with one side being a grille with a fan and heater coil behind. The heaters were attached by wires to the speaker posts. As I recall, the length of heater wire was surrounded by a metal chain. I guess the heater was supposed to go through an open window that would roll up on it. The chain probably was there less for strength than to preclude a car door closing on it. The heaters lasted a few years, then were removed. But the drive-in was open for years after that. Gad. Come to think of it, I saw A Hard Day’s Night at that drive-in — in the summer. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165/25 "2012-08-02T15:46:06Z")
Drive in theaters did have a high maintenance cost until they started transmitting the sound to pick up on radio. It’s also more expensive to maintain a drive in theater. It’s bigger and you can’t just sweep the lot. Indoor theaters don’t have weeds growing in them, and don’t need grading and resurfacing. Many of them only operated part of a year. The taxes are paid for the whole year though. But for a lot of them, as mentioned somewhere above, increasing real estate values didn’t justify operating a marginal business. On a large piece of flat land. Oddly a couple of closed down drive ins around here haven’t been developed. One may be an issue because of it’s location next to a river that periodically floods. The other I assume will be turned into shopping or condos before long. We do have one open. I think they’re open in the winter time, but the only movie they show then is called “Closed for the Season”. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165/26 "2012-08-02T15:50:09Z")
I love the idea of drive-ins but we have one here and it’s been underwhelming. It’s seasonal, only open Fri and Sat from May-Aug. It fills up and they start turning people away by 7:30, so you have to be there by 7 and spend two plus hours sitting in a hot car or out walking around waiting on dusk. I’ve always wondered why they’re not open in the spring and fall when it would actually be a pleasant time to go. Every time I think about going, I remember how easy and comfortable the theater is and go there instead. Business-wise, a drive-in can play 2 or 3 movies per day when the weather is decent. We have a 16 screen theater that, including the parking lot, takes up less space than the drive-in and it’s open all day, 16 screens, 365 days a year. But everyone says theaters make their money on concessions and very little on ticket sales. Imagine how little a drive-in makes. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165/27 "2012-08-02T15:51:37Z")
> [@](#): > > …there may or may not be some sort of revival going on. I was surprised to come across a newly developed [retro drive-in just outside of Escalante UT](http://www.shootingstardrive-in.com/about/press.php) a couple of months ago. They’ve combined it with a RV park where you can stay overnight in an Airstream and stocked the lot with vintage cars. They were doing a film shoot or something when I was there so I didn’t have a chance to check it out. Looks like a place I’d like to stay, though. ---
**Author:** ![LIONsob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/76d3ee/32.png) [@LIONsob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LIONsob)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165/28 "2012-08-02T16:10:41Z")
There is a new drive in northwest Harris county just outside Houston. Prices are very reasonable $6 a head for a first run double feature, two screens, digital projection and the sound is sent thru your cars FM radio. The snack bar ,is good with reasonable prices. I don’t live very far from it, “The Future Mrs. LIONsob” and I go there a couple of times a month. > **[Sumobet88: Slot Gacor - Agen Slot Online & Situs Judi Slot88 Terbaru](https://www.siprestaurant.com/)** > > Sumobet88 Adalah Situs Slot Online Terbaik Dengan Permainan Slot Gacor Yang Mudah Menang Dan Permainan Slot Online Lainnya Seperti Slot88, Slot777 Dan Slot Lainnya Peace LIONsob ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165/29 "2012-08-02T17:55:19Z")
Thanks, all for your responses. I too have fond memories of taking my then girlfriend to the drive-in. As I recall, little of the movie was seen, we were to busy making out! And also, of course, when a bunch of us guys went, hiding in the trunk to sneak in was truly an adventure. (in my dad’s '55 Chevy!) I’m also surprised and glad that there are so many drive-ins alive and working in our beautiful country. Sure brings back memories… ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165/30 "2012-08-02T18:07:58Z")
O Winston’s [**Hot Shot Eastbound at the Laeger Drive In, Laeger, West Virginia, 1956**](http://www.reframingphotography.com/sites/default/files/user/link_o_winston.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165/31 "2012-08-02T18:48:02Z")
> [@Jake](#): > > Thanks, all for your responses. I too have fond memories of taking my then girlfriend to the drive-in. As I recall, little of the movie was seen, we were to busy making out! > And also, of course, when a bunch of us guys went, hiding in the trunk to sneak in was truly an adventure. (in my dad’s '55 Chevy!) > I’m also surprised and glad that there are so many drive-ins alive and working in our beautiful country. > Sure brings back memories… Yeah me too. Daylight Savings Time was not a problem. The drive-in in my area was only open during the Summer months anyway. The shows started about 9-9:30pm and often were tripple plays, 3 movies. It was in the early '70s and I could legitimately keep my 16 year old girlfriend out until 2:00am. There was no official, legal curfew for minors then. I remember watching “Play Misty For Me” and 2 other Clint Eastwood movies that might have been interesting if either of us actually were watching. Saw “Two Lane Blacktop” because she was a big James Taylor fan. That was the first time I ever told her to put her shirt back on, I wanted to watch this. Those were the days! “Soylent Green”, “Silent Running”, and many others of that time were watched at the drive in. But the Sunset Drive In was on land about 1/2 mile from the Pacific and would now be worth many millions of dollars. To use if for a parking lot half the year, well it doesn’t pencil out. ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165/32 "2012-08-02T20:57:38Z")
What with daylight savings time and an early feature _Lawrence of Arabia_ went on forever – and all that dessert stuff just flat drove people to the snack bar. As to the demise of the drive in, I suspect it had more to do with the development of alternative places for a little intimacy and privacy than the price of land at the edge of town or VCs. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165/33 "2012-08-02T21:13:10Z")
There are a couple in my area that are packed most nights they are open. They also have flea markets there to make extra money. They seem to do good. ---
**Author:** ![steviep24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@steviep24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steviep24)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165/34 "2012-08-02T21:59:09Z")
Two drive in theaters are in operation in western NY. The [Vintage Drive In](http://www.vintagedrivein.com/) in East Avon, NY features 3 screens. It is a modern drive-in built around 15 years ago. [Silver Lake Drive-In](http://www.charcoalcorral.com/w2012/) is an older drive-in theater located near Perry, NY. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165/35 "2012-08-02T23:13:14Z")
[Here](http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/open) is a list of open drive-ins. While looking for it, I ran across [this page](http://driveintheater.com/drivlist.htm) about Alabama drive-ins. What’s interesting is that it charts the number over the years: 1948 13 1954 93 1958 96 1963 75 1967 69 1972 72 1977 55 1982 26 1987 6 1999 9 That’s only for Alabama but I suspect the numbers are similar nationwide. Betamax came out in 1975, then VHS in 1977 and may have been the nail in the coffin by 1982, but from the 50s to 77 there was already a large decline. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165/36 "2012-08-03T07:56:34Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I think they’re open in the winter time, but the only movie they show then is called “Closed for the Season”. Oh, you have to see it! The Fred Astaire/Raymond Massey love scene alone is worth the price of admission, but you can’t miss the part where Elizabeth Taylor sprouts wings and I’ve gone completely insane. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165/37 "2012-08-03T08:30:16Z")
My WAG (as a former theater employee) is that several different forces combined: 1. The rise of multiplexes. 2. Less second-run movies. For first run movies, the studios and distributors take nearly all of the ticket sales. On second runs, the theaters were allowed to keep more of the gate. 3. Change in economic model of the theater business: as studios made more movies with shorter cycles, theaters had to depend on concessions to stay in business. This is why today prices are double or triple for snacks at theaters, and many smaller multiplexes have closed. 4. Along with #3, it no longer mattered how many people came to see a movie, all that mattered is how many times you could show the film in a day, because pretty much everybody only makes one trip to concessions, so to increase revenue, you needed cycles of people going to concessions rather that actually watching the movie. A regular multiplex could show 5-10 90 minute films maybe 10 times each in a single day, meaning exponentially more concession revenue as a drive in that could only show movies 2-3 movies maybe 1-2 times from 7pm-11pm or so. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165/38 "2012-08-03T11:16:42Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > My WAG (as a former theater employee) is that several different forces combined: > > 1. The rise of multiplexes. > 2. Less second-run movies. For first run movies, the studios and distributors take nearly all of the ticket sales. On second runs, the theaters were allowed to keep more of the gate. > 3. Change in economic model of the theater business: as studios made more movies with shorter cycles, theaters had to depend on concessions to stay in business. This is why today prices are double or triple for snacks at theaters, and many smaller multiplexes have closed. > 4. Along with #3, it no longer mattered how many people came to see a movie, all that mattered is how many times you could show the film in a day, because pretty much everybody only makes one trip to concessions, so to increase revenue, you needed cycles of people going to concessions rather that actually watching the movie. A regular multiplex could show 5-10 90 minute films maybe 10 times each in a single day, meaning exponentially more concession revenue as a drive in that could only show movies 2-3 movies maybe 1-2 times from 7pm-11pm or so. And you are ignoring the rise of home video and big screen TV? ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165/39 "2012-08-03T19:59:40Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Yeah me too. Daylight Savings Time was not a problem. The drive-in in my area was only open during the Summer months anyway. > > The shows started about 9-9:30pm and often were tripple plays, 3 movies. It was in the early '70s and I could legitimately keep my 16 year old girlfriend out until 2:00am. There was no official, legal curfew for minors then. > > I remember watching “Play Misty For Me” and 2 other Clint Eastwood movies that might have been interesting if either of us actually were watching. > > Saw “Two Lane Blacktop” because she was a big James Taylor fan. That was the first time I ever told her to put her shirt back on, I wanted to watch this. > > Those were the days! “Soylent Green”, “Silent Running”, and many others of that time were watched at the drive in. > > But the Sunset Drive In was on land about 1/2 mile from the Pacific and would now be worth many millions of dollars. To use if for a parking lot half the year, well it doesn’t pencil out. Interesting, you remembering the movies you used to watch. All I can remember is the jingle, ♫"Let’s All Go to the Lobby! ♪ ♫ And, “Thursday is Red’s Tamale Day!” Ahh… Still good memories… ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165/40 "2012-08-04T14:36:32Z")
DST was firmly entrenched after WWII and the 1950s were the heyday of drive-ins, so it definitely wasn’t that. Along with what others have said: [ul] [li]Drive-ins only make so much money for a fairly large acreage[/li][li]Except in the southwest they can only operate from May to September[/li][li]Home video[/li][/ul] But I would say the main cause is that America has just outgrown them. Drive-ins have two primary demographics: Family night out for the kids (candy, movie & camping all in one!) and teenagers date night. Both of these still exist. I live near Poughkeepsie NY and we still have \*\*two \*\*open & active drive-ins. And up until the early 90s we actually had four! But these markets have diversified and shrunk. Other than little ones kids are not so easily entertained these days (movies on their smartphones). And now instead of just grinding out low-budget schlock teen date movies on the cheap, Hollywood spends hundreds of millions on teen movies with mega-SFX that drive-ins can’t even come close to doing justice. Essentially they’re just from a simpler, by-gone era. Like Sunday drives and teens getting together and playing records. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-daylight-savings-time-bring-an-end-to-drive-in-theaters/630165.md?page=3)