By 1948, car speakers with accompanying speaker poles were installed on the grounds and the drive in was immensely popular. In 1955, however, Hurricane Diane leveled the projection booth and screen. The drive in was quickly restored when the projection booth was rebuilt and a new CinemaScope screen, a snack bar and a restroom were added. The drive in was given the ability to have the movie broadcast through your car’s AM radio dial in 1982 and by 1986 Shankweiler’s Drive In was the first drive in theater to offer the film’s audio through your vehicle’s FM radio. The sound system was further upgraded in 2002 with the addition of Red L.E.D Spectral © recorded analog soundtrack readers and a cinema sound processor.

Family run Shankweiler’s Drive In is open seasonally from April until September. In April and May, the drive in is open on the weekends and then 7 days a week in June, July, and August. Admission is $8 per adult (cash only!) for the double feature. The box office opens after 6pm and the movie starts around 8 or 8:30 pm, depending on night fall. Make sure you stop by and get a funnel cake and lemonade from the snack bar!

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By 1983, the 411 had suffered the same fate as many of the drive in theaters across America. The theater closed and left to rot, the screen grew into disrepair and the 411 Drive In theater was all but forgotten. Time had claimed yet another victim.

Eighteen years later, Emory’s sons Rex and Carl decided to revive the drive in, much to the joy of not only their own family, but the community as well. The 411 was completely restored, rejuvenated, revamped, and reopened in July of 2001. By the summer of 2008, the 411 was given an additional screen, upgrading the capacity of the drive in to 400 cars. While they were deeply saddened to see it go, the old concession stand was torn down, but a new restaurant facility was added in order to provide even better snacks for their customers.

The theater is open on the weekends year round and 7 nights a week starting on Memorial Day until Labor Day. For just $15 per carload, I am sure you will enjoy viewing the double feature at the 411 Drive In!

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When the original owner, Sonny Stevenson, sold the drive in to the Lyles family in 1977, the name was changed to the Raleigh Road Outdoor Theater. The drive in was sold in 2004 to Vito Andragna who then put the drive in theater up for auction on Ebay.com.

That’s right. Current owner Jim Kopp came to own the Raleigh Road Outdoor Theater by winning an auction on Ebay in February of 2006!

Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre has received many renovations since it has been in the Kopp’s ownership. They installed a new playground, landscaped the grounds, and completely restored the theater, snack bar, and the restrooms. The screen tower was also given a new look by painting it to resemble a strip of film. The Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre also holds the title of the oldest operating drive in theater in the entire state of North Carolina.

Open 7 days a week during the summer (weekends only during the winter months), year round, admission for your double feature is only $6. The Moon-Glo stage, named such in honor of the original drive in, was recently finished and events are held often, including local music acts. Most of the regular patrons favorite event is watching the ball drop on the giant screen every New Year’s Eve. During the intermission, you are welcome and encouraged to tour the projection booth. As with most drive in theaters, the Raleigh Road Outdoor Theater stays alive and kicking by way of its concessions, so don’t forget to visit the snack bar for some Papa John’s pizza, a lean cheeseburger, popcorn, or even some homemade ice cream!

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Jake Stefanon was no stranger to the drive in theater business. In fact, he owned his first one in Altoona, Pennsylvania in 1949. By 1966, he had purchased the Silver Lake
Drive In while he was operating a few other drive in theaters in the Buffalo area. By 1970, he was able to devote the time and care needed to restore the Silver Lake, and to build it into his dream of a family entertainment complex.

Since he had already been in the business a few years, he decided to apply his accrued knowledge to the Silver Lake. He added a hot dog stand that eventually grew into the
Charcoal Corral, a sit down restaurant. Then, he added a pizzeria and an ice cream parlor. Mini-golf was the next arrival, along with an arcade and finally, an outdoor bandstand that nicely rounded out Mr. Stefanon’s family theme concept.

Jake Stefanon’s son and current owner and operator of the drive in, Rick, has worked in the Silver Lake since he was just fourteen years old. He has seen the many expansions and upgrades given to the Silver Lake, including the second screen addition in 2000, officially making it the Silver Lake Twin Drive In. Along with his wife, Susan, who runs the ticket booth, and his sister Ann who manages the restaurant, Rick manages to keep the many visitors to his fantastic venue very pleased. With an admission price of only $7 for a double feature, plenty of snacks and games to keep the children convivial, it is definitely worth a visit!

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By 1977, the Rodeo was sold to Cascade/Seven Gables Cinemas, a small chain in Seattle. Cascade/Seven Gables Cinemas later merged with Landmark Theaters which was then bought by Silver Cinemas of Dallas in 1998. In 1978, Cascade cleared the back of the property adding 2 fields, a new snack bar, and a new box office. Current owners, Jack and Cindy Ondracek, have run the Rodeo Drive In with their family since 1986. Now able to hold a capacity of up to 850 cars, this three screen drive in is the second largest outdoor theater venue and one of the oldest family run theaters in the Northwest.

As most modern drive ins, the Rodeo offers a swap meet seasonally every Sunday from 8am until 2pm. Starting the first Sunday after Mother’s Day through the last Sunday in September, the swap meet has been a tradition for many families for over 24 years. With the many bargains you are sure to find there, you could easily afford the $8 admission price for the double feature drive in later that evening. The Rodeo is also one of the few drive in theaters that use digital sound, broadcast through the FM dial of your car stereo. The theater is in operation from mid-March until Labor Day weekend (7 days a week starting in June) with gates opening an hour to an hour and a half before showtime (most shows start at dusk). Don’t forget to hit the snack bar for a delicious burger or the famously popular, Pizza Dog!

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A hurricane destroyed the original screen in 1951. However, they rebuilt it keeping the original dimensions of 80 feet wide by 54 feet in height and that rebuilt screen is still in use today. The Northfield Drive In was purchased by the Shakour family in 1967 and has stayed in the family since. Today, Mitchell Shakour owns and runs the theater with his wife, Carla, while his son, Gabriel, and daughter, Lili help out at the snack bar and ticket booth.

Securing its place in Hollywood history, the Northfield had the fine distinction of three scenes from the 1999 film, The Cider House Rules filmed there on Halloween day in 1998. With its interesting history, great location, huge playground, and scrumptious snack bar, you might almost forget that you came to the Northfield to see a double feature for the low admission price of $9 for adults and $5 for children. When the sun goes down, and the stars come out into the night sky (and onto the screen), you will be glad you decided to visit this incredible venue!

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The Vineland Drive In and Swap Meet opened on April 15, 1955. Originally, the theater only had one screen and, of course, did not have a swap meet on the grounds.

During the 1980s when most drive in theaters were sadly closing down, the Vineland expanded to four screens, one at each corner of the lot. The theater holds a capacity of up to 1500 cars and is owned by Pacific Theaters. Both the theater and the swap meet, which first began in 1984, are open daily, year round. Movie admission price is only $8 (kids aged 11 and under are free)!

All four screens at the Vineland Drive In were recently upgraded to permit the use of Technalight technology. The Vineland is still seeing a lot of business today, especially on the weekends. The entrance line starts forming at around 6:45pm but the box office generally opens around 8pm. Grab some snacks at the concession stand or bring your own and enjoy your double feature under the stars!

Click here for video of the Vineland Drive In courtesy of The Southern California Drive In Movie Society

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A sewing shop? No.

A tap shoe repair? Wrong again.

A fantastic and amazing flying trapeze artists of the world showcase? Not even close.

Did you guess an amusement park AND a drive in?

Do you know what I like in a business? I like when a business comes right out and tells you exactly what to expect from them in their business name.

Amusement Park Drive In is a fairly new establishment, having been built in 2004 and opened in July of 2005. Owners Riley and Vickie Cooke put it together by using the screen, marquee, and sign from the Park Drive In located in Cody, Wyoming that was unfortunately closed in 2003, after being open since 1946. They project movies onto both sides the rebuilt screen. One side’s projection booth is a 1909 caboose, the other side’s projection booth is a fully restored 1938 circus truck!

The Cooke’s former career in the carnival industry make for interesting additions to this drive in. In 2009, they built a Herschell Little Dipper steel roller coaster around the entire screen. Playground? Who needs a playground? At Amusement Park Drive In, you get the aforementioned roller coaster, a ferris wheel, and the Outlaw Race Car ride. After all of that excitement, you can then enjoy pizza that is made fresh daily by Vickie Cooke and delivered directly to your car while you watch your double feature!

I am impressed that Amusement Park Drive In took the sad demise of a piece of Americana in Wyoming and turned into an opportunity to showcase different types of Americana in Montana. All for an admission price of only $7 for adults and $5 for children! I have always been fascinated by Montana and wanted to visit, if and when I do get there, Amusement Park Drive In is definitely on my list of places to see!

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When Cinemascope began being used extensively in 1953, wings were added to the screen to accomadate the larger picture. However, in 1955 those wings and the playground were destroyed by a tornado. Fortunately, the screen was rebuilt and the theater was able to continue accepting customers for many years….

Until 1981 when another wind storm took down more than half of the screen! By the summer of 1982, the screen had not only been rebuilt and replaced, but a second screen was added, the rotting wood in the tower was repaired, and the damaged playground was again restored.

After suffering not just one but two disastrous storms, the Skyview Drive In is still showing double features for an admission price of only $9. Stop by and visit them this summer, you will be glad you did!

Special thanks to fellow FilmSnobbery.com contributor, Julie Keck, for telling me about the Skyview Drive In!

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The Midway received a complete renovation in 2007 when it was purchased by Mike and Mia Kerz. The screen tower was refurbished and painted, the projection booth equipment was upgraded, and the concession stand, the retro “spaceship” ticket booth, and the children’s playground were all restored to their original 50′s era glory. The Diner is set up in the classic self-serve drive in diner style and offers a variety of hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, nachos, french fries, onion rings, fried cheese sticks, pizza, candy, ice cream, cotton candy, and popcorn. The Midway’s main resource for upgrading and maintaining the theater comes from the revenue generated by the Diner, therefore no outside food or drink is allowed.

The Midway has a capacity of up to 500 cars and they strive to recreate the drive in theater experience as best they can by playing oldies, classic cartoons, and drive in announcements before the presentation of the first feature film and the “dancing hot dog” intermission reel. The Midway will be celebrating its 60th anniversary of continuous service this year!

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Unfortunately on May 23, 1950, the cinder block screen was severely damaged by a tornado but it was rebuilt and able to reopen by July 1, 1950, charging the new admission price of forty cents.

In 1952, Carl Floyd, of Floyd Theaters, purchased the Silver Moon and immediately made several improvements to it. He added the concession stand that is still in operation today, modernized rest rooms, and the flashing neon marquee that still attracts the attention of those traveling along U.S. 92 West today. Mr. Floyd went on to own several theaters in the Lakeland, Florida area and by 1969, his company was known as Floyd Enterprises. One of his employees at the time, Harold Spears, was appointed president. In the 1970′s, Burnup and Sims, Inc. had acquired Floyd Enterprises, and kept Mr. Spears on as president. A second screen was then added to the Silver Moon in 1985. Another merge with Mastec, Inc occurred in the 1990s and by 1996, when Mastec told Mr. Spears to close down the remaining drive in theaters, Mr. Spears formed Sun South Theaters and bought the Silver Moon Drive In, which he continues to own and operate today. A flea market on the grounds is open for business on Saturdays and Sundays starting at 5:30 am, along with the snack bar serving a nice big breakfast! Each screen shows a double feature 7 nights a week for an admission price of $4 (kids aged 4-9 price is only $1)!

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I did not even know that there are still drive in theaters in my beautiful home state of Virginia.

Apparently, there are ten active drive in theaters there in all!

To my credit, however, none of them are in the Hampton Roads area where I was born and lived the majority of my life.

Hull’s Drive In located in Lexington, Virginia began its life as Lee Drive In, opening on August 5, 1950. By 1957, the drive in was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Sebert Hull, who changed the name to Hull’s Drive In and ran it every weekend for the next four decades.

Unfortunately, Mr. Hull passed away shortly before the 1998 season. Mrs. Hull sold the drive in to Mr. W.D. Goad who kept it going that summer. However, by the 1999 season, the cost of much needed technical improvements kept him from opening the drive in theater.

For the first time in almost fifty years, the screen stayed dark as Mr. Goad desperately searched for someone who could not only make the necessary repairs and upgrades, but who could run the business as well.

Fortunately, there are angels in Lexington, Virginia. Hull’s Angels to be exact.

Hull’s Drive In happens to be the nation’s one and only community-run and owned, non-profit drive in theater. The community surrounding Hull’s Drive In were not going to let their beloved drive in close forever. In June of 1999, fifty of the community’s biggest fans of the theater got together to devise a plan to keep the theater up and running. By 2000, they formally organized as the non-profit organization Hull’s Angels. They began a fund-raising campaign that enabled them to make all of the necessary repairs and reopen the theater by July of 2000. They were able to fully purchase the business by May of 2001, after opening in April of the same year for its first six month season under the Angel’s management. The drive in has been in full operation since with the complete support of volunteers and the community.

When and if I ever do make it back home, I plan on giving Hull’s Drive In a long overdue visit. After all, it might be the only way I could ever come close to a true angel!

Hull\'s Drive In featured on MSNBC Nightly News

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Not only can you see a movie on one of their 14 screens (screen #9 is the original screen) 7 days a week and 365 days a year, there is a circus, carnival rides, video arcade, food court, and the biggest draw: the Swap Shop flea market.

That’s right. I said a drive in theater, circus, carnival rides, arcade, food court, AND a swap shop.

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Despite the almost foreboding choice of opening on November 22, 1963 (the day President John F. Kennedy was shot), the Thunderbird Drive In and Swap Shop is the second largest South Florida attraction, garnering visits from 12 million people in the year 1990, alone. Owners Betty and Preston Henn decided in 1966 to start holding a flea market on the drive in grounds. By 1979, a food court (with vendor booths) was added and the flea market was running Wednesday through Sunday until 1988 when they enclosed the building, added air conditioning, and extended the flea market to six days a week.

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In 1989, a stage was constructed that has held (free!) performances by many notable acts, including Willie Nelson, KC And The Sunshine Band, Three Dog Night, and Loretta Lynn. The circus (where Steve-O from the show, “Jackass” performed as a clown during the 1990s), carnival, arcade, and Dancing Waters show also began around this time. Unfortunately, in 2005 the Thunderbird was hit hard by Hurricane Wilma but was soon back up and running. In 2007, a fire damaged a bit of the entertainment complex but even that could not put an end to the Thunderbird Drive In and Swap Shop. It is definitely on my list of things to see this summer when I visit my mom in Florida!

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The 99W is on its third screen. In 1962, the first screen was destroyed and the marquee letters lost to the Columbus Day Storm. After a gust blew down the second screen in 1990, it was replaced by using the screen salvaged from another (closed) Portland area drive in, The 104th Street Drive In.

In 1983, a Twin Cinema Indoor theater was built on the 99W’s property in order to keep business going year round. Since 1994, business has picked up strongly again for the drive in, after a somewhat stalemate around the 1980s and early 90s. The indoor theater has 225 seats and admission is $5.00 (kids age 11 and under $4.00). The drive-in has a capacity to park 275 to 300 cars with an admission price of $8.00 (kids age 6-11 $4.00, age 5 and under are free). The Twin Cinema is open year round and the 99W Drive In is open from late April or early May until late October.

For an added bit of nostalgia, the owner sometimes slips in old movie trailers from the 50s, 60s, or 70s and always shows a classic intermission snack bar reel. There are plenty of regulars and even folks who drive all the way from Washington to visit the 99W. If you are ever in the area, do yourself a favor and visit!

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Not only is it the oldest drive in theater in Ohio, it holds the honor of being the second oldest drive in theater in the world.

Built at the junction of State Routes 21 and 250 just northwest of Strasburg by Andy Thompson and Roland Boyer during the summer of 1935, the Lynn Drive In was originally named Boyer’s Auto Theatre.

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The theater opened in the spring of 1937 and included a restaurant, gas station, Golf driving range, and arcade. In 1948, the theater was bought by Ward Franklin and his son-in-law Ray McCombs who changed the name to the Lynn Auto Theatre in honor of McCombs daughter, Judy Lynn. During the mid 1950′s, the restaurant, gas station, arcade, and golf range were unfortunately closed.

By the fall of 1957, Richard R. Reding, along with his son, Richard and his wife, Eunice (“Abby” as she was known to most) decided to buy the theater. They added a second screen during 1967, upgrading it to a Twin screen drive in. By the 1970s and 1980s, the Reding family not only owned the Lynn Auto Theatre but twelve other movie theaters in Northeast Ohio.

Today, the theater is on its fourth generation of the family, owned and run by Rick and Abby’s sons, Rich and Jamie Reding. In 1996, they added new soundheads to the speaker posts and installed audio boards giving customers the option of listening through their FM vehicle radios or by the traditional speakers provided. In 2001, the projection systems were completely overhauled and refurbished and by 2005, they added a brand new classic retro marquee.

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The Lynn Auto Theater is one of the few grass drive ins left. It can accommodate 225 vehicles and is open from March through October. Not only do you get to watch a great current film here but you will also be in the midst of living Americana history that I am sure will be unforgettable!

360 view of the Lynn Auto Theatre in Strasburg, OH

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Unlike the other drive ins I have featured so far, the Mission Tiki has another interesting way to attract new (and returning) customers. They hold Swap Meets every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 6am until 2pm. The price for the Swap Meet admission is only fifty cents on Wednesday and Friday and seventy five cents on Saturday and Sunday.

Not only do they have a great selection of movie concessions (including freshly made tacos!), but there are plenty of dining establishments located around the theater, if you are craving something else. Or, you could always bring your own snacks from home, unlike most other movie theaters, the Mission Tiki doesn’t mind!

The movies generally begin around 8:15 to 8:30pm but it is recommended that you get there at about 7:30pm to find a good spot! You can use the waiting time to take in the fabulous Tiki decorations or stake out a good site to sell your wares at the Swap Meet!

Special thanks to my pal, Chris Blake for telling me about the Mission Tiki!

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I could barely contain the excitement of the history geek that dwells deep within me.

Soon enough, we found that there really isn’t THAT much left in operation on Route 66, but the little that we did see was definitely interesting.

One of the places that I wish we did get a chance to visit is the Admiral Twin Drive In located in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Why is this theater particularly interesting? Well, only one of the best movies-from-a-book EVER was partially filmed there:

“Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold.”

The Admiral Twin Drive In was originally named The Modernaire. It was built by businessman, L.E. Snider in 1950 and opened on May 24, 1951. The second screen and new name was added by 1953 when it was purchased by Alex Blue and H.B. Robb, Jr. In 1966, ownership shifted again to General Cinema and today the Admiral Twin is privately owned by the Blake family.

The Admiral Twin sits directly off of Route 66 and is one of the busiest drive in movie theaters today, with a capacity able to serve up to 1500 cars. On the west screen, you can listen through your radio while on the east screen, you can still enjoy a real old-fashioned experience of the still functioning tinny speaker in a heavy duty enclosure hanging on the inside of your car window. Boasting the largest screens in the Southwest, they even still show the vintage 50′s cartoons before the features and during intermission. The people who live behind the Admiral Twin were even given a complimentary audio hook-up at one point, which allowed them to sit outside and watch the features.

If you live in the area, I highly recommend you attend the April 24, 2010 screening of The Outsiders, celebrating the Admiral Twin’s 60th anniversary! During the pre-party (gates open at 6:00pm) you can meet the local Tulsa actors, crew members, and Greasers/Socs who were part of the film and view quite a bit of memorabilia that will be on display. Grab your best girl, hop in your vintage car, and head on out for a great night at the movies!

You can click here and here for more great pictures and information on the Admiral Twin Drive In theater.

UPDATE: On September 3, 2010, a fire broke out at the Admiral Twin that ruined the screens. Donations to help rebuild can be made to: Attention: Admiral Twin Drive-In Security Bank PO BOX 471316 Tulsa, OK 74147. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Let’s hope they can rebuild and get back to business soon!