# When was the last time you went to a drive-in theater? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 4, 2007, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504 "2007-07-04T15:39:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504/21 "2007-07-04T19:20:31Z")
The last time I went to a drive-in theatre was when _=AI_ came out. My friend’s battery died and they no longer had the speaker boxes, so we had to listen hard to hear other people’s radios. The drive-in is no longer there. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504/22 "2007-07-04T19:27:53Z")
As of a few years ago there were still a couple-few drive ins operating in the Hudson Valley region of New York state, where I grew up. One of the last movies I would have ever seen at one was _The Road Warrior_. It was definitely not first run as I had already seen it months earlier somewhere else. There are few if any drive-ins in the Boston area where I live now. Certainly none near me. ---
**Author:** ![Charger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@Charger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charger)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504/23 "2007-07-04T20:52:34Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny Hildo] Watched _Disturbia_ at the [Vali-Hi](http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/mntvali) this April. It was the first weekend they were open for the summer season and it was packed. From what I’ve read, it’s one of the three drive-ins left in this state. A select few of the parking spaces still have the speaker boxes. You get a triple feature for 7 bucks. [/QUOTE] I’ve been there. I used to go there a lot about 7 years ago, when I was in college. I now live in Green Bay, and went to the drive-in here last year. I saw _Superman Returns_ and _The Ant Bully_ while sitting in the General Lee. Unfortunately, that car was in the body shop the year prior, while _The Dukes of Hazzard_ was being shown. ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504/24 "2007-07-04T21:08:03Z")
[1970](http://imdb.com/title/tt0066206/) ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504/25 "2007-07-04T21:08:44Z")
I would guess it has been about 20 years. The last movies that I recall seeing at a drive-in were the Witches of Eastwick and Little Shop of Horrors. It was a double feature. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504/26 "2007-07-04T22:16:17Z")
Some time in the early 1970s. Probably about 1971-72. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504/27 "2007-07-04T22:32:56Z")
Three years ago, movie was _The Bourne Supremacy_. I am very annoyed because the drive-in in our town didn’t open last summer. The owner put it up for sale, and couldn’t find a buyer who planned to operate the drive-in. The last thing I heard is that the land is now being sold and a box store will go up. From an economics perspective, I do understand what’s happening here and in theory, have no complaint with it, but on a personal level – that drive-in was _five minutes_ away from our house! There’s another one in the area, but it’s about 45 minutes away, which doesn’t seem nearly as good. The best thing about the local drive-in was that you could realize it was dusk, and then get up and go if the mood struck. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504/28 "2007-07-04T22:40:45Z")
1979, at the Super 29 in Fairfax, VA. Double-dated with a buddy and two girls we knew from school. He got lucky; I didn’t. One car. Awkward. Damn drive-in theaters! Some incredibly crappy Peter Fonda trucker movie was playing, probably **High Ballin’**. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Blue-Sighted\_Shadow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecae2f/32.png) [@The\_Blue-Sighted\_Shadow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Blue-Sighted_Shadow)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2007, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504/29 "2007-07-04T23:18:47Z")
[QUOTE=Sarahfeena] It had to be about 10 years ago…I saw a double feature of Waterworld and Apollo 13. Unfortunatly, they should Waterworld first, so I had to sit through it to get to the other. If they had shown Apollo 13 first, I think we would have been gone about 10 minutes into Waterworld! [/QUOTE] Where did you see it? I saw the same double feature, in the same order, at the Skyview Drive In in Santa Cruz, CA in 1995 or 96. I so wanted to leave and watch Apollo 13 later, but the woman I was with insisted on staying and watching both movies to the bitter end. She had amazingly bad taste in movies, come to think of it. That was the last time I let her pick the movie. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504/30 "2007-07-05T00:27:09Z")
Once, probably 1977-1983, but for the life of me I can’t remember where or what movie. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504/31 "2007-07-05T01:58:01Z")
Can’t remember the last time for sure. My sister goes quite often with her daughter. There were 2 here withing 10 miles of each other, owned by the same man that owns the local cinema. Unfortunately our tornado in 2002 removed the one that was nearest to me. You can see what was left of the entrance booth and screen on the left of [this picture](http://www.crh.noaa.gov/iwx/program_areas/events/2002/11_10_02_tornadoes/vanwert/aaroncollins/cintop.jpg). He rebuilt the cinema, but the drive in is gone for good as far as I know. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2007, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504/32 "2007-07-05T02:08:06Z")
New Years Eve 1994. We were camping at Joshua Tree National Monument and my [future ex-]camping partner was bored. She wanted to “do something”. So, we headed over to 29 Palms’ Smith’s Ranch Drive-In. The double bill was _Drop Zone_ and _Disclosure_. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504/33 "2007-07-05T02:16:42Z")
We go to the Rustic Drive-In in Lincoln, RI once or twice a summer. It shows first run double features and the price this year is $17 a car. Guess what? It’s not all that convenient. The car gets hot and there are lots of mosquitoes and the second movie is just plain old too late. Plus, I love movie popcorn and my husband gives me crap about that because the main advantage is you can bring whatever food you want from outside. One of the main reasons I go is to support Rhode Island’s last drive-in. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504/34 "2007-07-05T02:30:43Z")
I loved the drive-in as a kid, we’d be at the one on Route 18 in East Brunswick, NJ (now a condo complex) at least one night a week during the summers. Last one I went to was the Super 322 between Clearfield and Philipsburg in central PA. I took my boys there a few times each summer when we lived in that area. The last movies I remember seeing are The Mummy and Disney’s Tarzan in 1999. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504/35 "2007-07-05T02:35:12Z")
About three weeks ago. [The Mendon Drive-In](http://www.mendondrivein.com/) located in Mendon, MA is excellent and well maintained. We saw Shrek the Third and Spiderman III for $20 for the whole car. Concessions are good and cheap as well. It is ideal with small kids. I have been to the one in Milford, NH and it is fine but the one in Mendon is better. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504/36 "2007-07-05T02:38:59Z")
1. I was 2. We saw _The Odd Couple_. At a _drive-in._ All that priceless dialogue squeezed thru a teeny window speaker. The only thing I remembered was Walter Matthau saying: “Now it’s gaaaabage!” ---
**Author:** ![Suse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Suse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suse)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504/37 "2007-07-05T03:29:33Z")
[QUOTE=Lok] Can’t remember the last time for sure. My sister goes quite often with her daughter. There were 2 here withing 10 miles of each other, owned by the same man that owns the local cinema. Unfortunately our tornado in 2002 removed the one that was nearest to me. You can see what was left of the entrance booth and screen on the left of [this picture](http://www.crh.noaa.gov/iwx/program_areas/events/2002/11_10_02_tornadoes/vanwert/aaroncollins/cintop.jpg). He rebuilt the cinema, but the drive in is gone for good as far as I know. [/QUOTE] We go to the drive-in at least once a summer if not twice. We’re lucky enough to have two drive-ins within easy distance. The first is the [Van-Del](http://www.van-del.com/) you mentioned and the second, the [Auburn-Garrett](http://www.cinemaassociates.com/) is just about the same distance from our town. I haven’t been yet this summer; we’re waiting till the Harry Potter movie comes out so probably next week. I love the drive-in! ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504/38 "2007-07-05T05:26:21Z")
1982 in DAnville, KY - I was visiing town, and some of my old friends and I went and saw one of the Police Academy movies. A pretty unforgettable evening, all and all. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504/39 "2007-07-05T05:38:23Z")
[QUOTE=Suse] We go to the drive-in at least once a summer if not twice. We’re lucky enough to have two drive-ins within easy distance. The first is the [Van-Del](http://www.van-del.com/) you mentioned and the second, the [Auburn-Garrett](http://www.cinemaassociates.com/) is just about the same distance from our town. I haven’t been yet this summer; we’re waiting till the Harry Potter movie comes out so probably next week. I love the drive-in! [/QUOTE] It is over 50 miles between those 2 drive-ins. Guess that makes you somewhere in or near New Haven. You must really miss Ridgeway, that would have made 3 easily reached drive-ins. ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2007, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504/40 "2007-07-05T10:09:35Z")
Oh God.\* Rambo III\* and some Schwarzenegger film where you saw his naked butt in like the first 10 seconds. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-last-time-you-went-to-a-drive-in-theater/410504.md?page=3)