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| Off insect repellent kosmicdreams.com |
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| Drive-in marquee squidoo.com |
As soon as we arrived at the drive-in, my parents would hang the tinny speakers on the car windows and listen to music and announcements till the snack bar ads and previews of coming attractions began. The minute singing hot dogs or dancing cold drink cups started cavorting across the screen, my dad would make his way to the snack bar, returning to the car with boxes of popcorn and sodas in divided cardboard carrying trays just in time for the movie to start.
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| Drive-in speakers cravedfw.com |
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| Snack bar ad nasioc.com |
You could usually hear a ripple of applause and muffled cheers when the opening credits started to roll. After all the anticipation, however, it wasn't long till the youngsters were asleep in the back seat of the car, and mom and dad could enjoy the main feature.
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| kcconfidential.com |
I continued to go to the drive-in even as a newlywed in the late 1960s. There was one near our apartment complex in Grand Prairie, Texas, and it was cheap entertainment for us when we were in college. Unfortunately, with the advent of the mall and the multiplex theater, drive-ins lost their appeal. Most closed and fell into disrepair and were eventually razed, although a few abandoned screens remain in a seas of weeds and speaker poles.
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| jim-rees.org |
After reading that drive-in theaters are making a come-back, I was thrilled to learn that a brand new one will be opening here in Fort Worth in July. Coyote Theaters leased a large parcel of land on the banks of the Trinity River and is building three screens that will show movies in digital format. Moviegoers will be able to watch from their cars, rent cabanas or set up chairs in pavilions. Movie soundtracks will be played through state-of-the-art speakers in the cabanas and pavilions or through car radios. Each screen will have space for 250 to 500 cars, and admission will be $6 to $8 per person.
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| Artist's rendering of the new drive-in theater to open in Fort Worth, Texas dallasnews.com |
It may not be the drive-in of my youth, but you can bet our family will be there!
From star-telegram.com
Oh wow! That's amazing! I've been really worried that the new and overtaking digital format would be the final blow to the drive in. We went just last night to the SkyView in Belleville Il. We saw Men In Black 3 and Battleship. We went two weeks ago and saw Marvels The Avengers and John Carter. All big fun summer movies and highly enjoyable at the Drive In! $10 for 2 movies...what a bargain!
ReplyDeleteThere's a drive-in a 30-minute drive from Dallas that my daughter and SIL have gone to, but this one is going to be less than 10 minutes from where I live, so I'm sure I'll go a lot...with and without the rest of the family.
DeleteWow! I loved drive-ins. Such a cool idea and great for kids who can just sleep in the car. I'm amazed they're making a come-back. They've all but dried up in Australia due to the cost-ratio factor or whatever it us that makes a drive-in a waste of real estate. I'd love to take my four to a drive in!
ReplyDeleteThe Trinity River Vision Authority has a long-range development plan for the 88 miles of the river and its tributaries that run throughout Fort Worth. The plan will provide wildlife-friendly greenways for open space, trails and special recreation areas in every neighborhood along the river. The land the drive-in is being built on is one of the last areas that will be developed, so rather than let it sit empty, it's being leased to the theater for 10 years for $1.7 million. By the time the lease is up, that land will become part of the Uptown Phase of the project, which includes building a city lake and developing 12 miles of urban riverfront.
DeleteE.T was my one and only drive in experience, a great childhood memory! Lots of Grammo fun ahead for you!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter cried through most of E.T. because she was upset that he was so far from home. She and I still laugh about that. I'm sure this drive-in will provide us with memories about the boys too. :)
DeleteWe went to our local drive-in Saturday night and watched The Avengers and Battleship double feature. It is in limbo right now due to the digital conversion. The drive-in and the restored 1934 movie house downtown are owned by a community foundation and they are in the process of raising money for the conversion. However, if they don't raise enough to do both theaters, the drive-in will not get updated, and thus, be forced to close.
ReplyDeleteI'll keep my fingers crossed that your drive-in survives!
DeleteI remember drive-ins well...we always had those mosquito repellent things that you burnt - Pic - I think was the name!
ReplyDeleteI don't think they worked... And yes, as kids we would race up to the front right under the screen where there was a playground with all kinds of equipment...that was super fun!
My mom always popped a big bunch of popcorn and we brought it in a big brown paper sack from the grocery store...so frugal...well, with 5 kids, I guess they had to be!
I remember those coils that you burned! My mom was a big believer in Off and 6-12 that came in bottles. Remember 6-12? Going to the playground really was a lot of fun, and there was something about those cardboard drink holders that fascinated me. I was easily entertained, I guess...LOL The Depression was such a recent memory that I think most families were pretty frugal back then. Going to the drive-in or going out for a hamburger was a big deal for us.
DeleteDana,
DeleteNo, I don't remember 6-12...and i think we were all pretty much easily entertained back then! Remember when we couldn't wear pants to school? And guys had to wear socks with their sandals? and you could buy french fries in the school cafeteria for a quarter? Ketchup and black pepper! What was I thinking?
It's awesome that a new Drive-in will open in Fort Worth. Drive-ins bring such a unique viewing experience.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from the Mediterranean!
How's the Mediterranean treating you? Must be a tough life dealing with all that sun, water, beautiful scenery and good food! :) I hope you're having a productive and enjoyable time.
DeleteI'm really excited about the drive-in too. I haven't been to one since I was in college, so it's going to be a lot of fun to have the chance again.
I've been quite a few times in the past 2 years and don't enjoy it as much. In an attempt to grab more bucks while keeping the admission down the one near me added two more screens that don't hold a candle to the original one still standing. The old one plays kids movies because the playground is still there while the two new ones play all the blockbuster hits on smaller very dark screens. The experience is still fun but the movie quality lacks with all the newer cars running lights on while the cars are off. I complain but I'll still go for the experience.
ReplyDeleteOne drawback to the indoor theater when you're my age is that it takes your eye muscles so long to adjust to the dark, so I have to stand in the back of the theater forever before I can see to find a seat. Even with the light strips along the aisles, I'm still stone blind for several minutes and could end up in someone's lap if I went straight in...LOL The drive-in solves that problem, so I look forward to going.
DeleteOur group was with Michael, last saturday at the Drive-In. As i sat there watching the movie I thought to myself "this is a piece of American History thats slipping away." Its fun, you can be rowdy, if your leg goes to sleep you can get up and walk around. Me and Patricia are keeping our fingers crossed that the Barco doesnt close! But its GREAT that there will be one opening in FW!
ReplyDeleteYou'll have to come to Fort Worth and have a big drive-in night when it opens! There's one in Ennis too, about 30 minutes from Dallas.
DeleteI absolutely love drive-in movie theatres. We had one open up here when Mr.Coco and I were dating in the mid 90s. Mr. Coco got a job there and we could go there for free. Unfortunatly it was short lived and only lasted maybe 2-3 years. Now it just sits abandoned, vandalized & over run with weeds. When I drive by it, I actually feel sad. I wish someone would purchase the land and re-open it but I seriously doubt that will happen.
ReplyDeleteI bet you are super excited about your future drive-in I know I would be STOAKED! You better be blogging about your first visit! ;)
I'll definitely blog about it!
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