A Brief History of Drive-In Theatres

As of October 2024, the National Association of Theater Owners reported that 407 drive-ins remained in the U.S., highlighting their lasting appeal and cultural importance. As of the latest search, many of those drive-ins are closed.  In May 2024, the Lake Shore Drive-In Theatre was one of only 18 operating in Indiana.

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Adapted from *Drive-Ins of Route 66*  
By Michael Kilgore

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While silent movie “drive-ins” occasionally appeared in the past, the true history of drive-in theaters begins with Richard Hollingshead Jr., who received the first drive-in theater patent on June 1, 1933. What Hollingshead truly invented wasn’t the outdoor theater itself but the drive-in ramp, designed to angle cars for a better screen view. He is also credited with popularizing the clamshell layout of drive-in fields, as shown in his patent.

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Hollingshead's first drive-in, opened on June 6, 1933, near Camden, NJ, faced challenges. Though it attracted customers, the biggest issue was sound. In-car speakers hadn’t been invented yet, so sound was projected through loudspeakers, which often reached annoyed neighbors. A further problem was the reluctance of film distributors to rent their movies. Hollingshead later explained that one of the first films he rented was three years old, costing $400 for four days—a sharp contrast to the mere $20 it had earned at a small indoor theater. Within three years, he sold the Camden drive-in to an indoor theater owner, who relocated it to Union, NJ.

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Hollingshead's patent didn’t fare much better. Competitors built similar sites without paying royalties, but potential builders remained uncertain whether they could safely ignore the patent. This uncertainty, coupled with early sound issues, slowed the growth of the drive-in industry. By 1942, there were fewer than two dozen permanent drive-in theaters despite various naming alternatives like "motor-in" or "outdoor theatre." Some small-town entrepreneurs even operated makeshift versions using bedsheets, loudspeakers, and film projectors.

 

The Postwar Boom

After World War II, returning soldiers sought entertainment options, but television was still limited to major cities and prohibitively expensive. Theaters, especially downtown, posed challenges: parking was costly, patrons were expected to dress up, and families often needed babysitters.

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Drive-ins eliminated these issues. They welcomed families with a "come as you are" approach, allowed children to join, and didn’t require formal attire. The growing population moved to the suburbs, making cheap land outside cities ideal for developers. As car ownership became widespread, families had a convenient and enjoyable new way to watch movies.

A major development in drive-in technology was the invention of in-car speakers that could be hung from a car window. These speakers enhanced the movie experience and eliminated the need for loudspeakers.

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Drive-ins flourished after a 1949 Supreme Court ruling nullified Hollingshead’s ramp patent. Drive-ins skyrocketed from 750 in 1949 to over 1,700 by 1950. Although the Korean War and material restrictions briefly slowed construction, drive-ins grew to over 4,300 by 1955.

 

Decline and Resurgence

Despite this growth, the factors that fueled the drive-ins’ success began to fade. Television ownership surged from 9% of households in 1950 to 83% in 1958. More films focused on mature themes, making family-friendly options less common. Indoor theaters became more casual, and the introduction of Daylight Saving Time cut into drive-ins’ operating hours.

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By the 1980s, the rise of VCRs and video rentals made watching movies at home easy and affordable. Many drive-ins, like wide-screen movies, tried to provide a unique experience, but attendance continued to dwindle. Land in expanding cities became more valuable, and some drive-ins were sold for redevelopment. 

 

The Digital Shift

The move to digital projection in the early 2000s presented new challenges. Drive-ins required expensive equipment upgrades to comply with Hollywood’s shift to digital distribution. However, those who adapted found that digital technology improved picture quality and expanded viewing options.

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The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted drive-ins' natural social distancing benefits, leading to a resurgence in their popularity. Pop-up drive-ins using inflatable screens and digital projectors became a trend in urban areas, providing a modern twist on a nostalgic experience.

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Drive-ins continue to adapt, and while rising land values still pose a challenge, many original appeals—such as family-friendly entertainment and the unique experience of watching movies outdoors—have prompted a revival of interest in recent years. 

 

For more, check out *Drive-Ins of Route 66*, available on Amazon.

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