Drive-in Theaters
A drive-in theater is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles. In 1932 the first Drive-In Theater was invented by Richard M. Hollingshead. He placed a radio behind a big white sheet and mounted a projector on the hood of his car. During the Baby Boom the theaters were packed with children looking for something to do..was so big that they made boat rides, pony rides, mini golf, animal shows. The numbers went from less than 1000 theaters in 1948 to over 5000 in 1958. Huge drive-in theaters were being built so that up to 3000 cars could fit. The drive-in theaters looked unstoppable.
Crescent Boulevard, Camden New Jersey
The date is May 19, 1933 Richard H. along with 3 other investors, Willie Warren Smith, Edward Ellis and Oliver Willets, start construction. After three weeks and $30,000 the first Drive-In Theater opens on Tuesday June 6, 1933. On Crescent Boulevard, Camden New Jersey. By the name of "Drive-In Theatre" with admission price of 25 cents for the car, 25 cents per person and no car to pay more that $1.00 total.
The Decline
By the 1960s and 1970's the attendance level began to drop. They showed less and less movies. The invention of the VCR and Cable TV during the 1980s made Drive-in's seem like ghost towns. Land was now used for real estate, so drive-in's were sacrificed. By the 2000's, just over 400 drive-in's still exist in the US.
