Drive-in movie antics...

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FISHBREATH

FISHBREATH

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What is (was) more American than going to the drive-in movies in good old Detroit iron? Do you (probably older members who actually remember drive-in theaters) have any memories of an old American Passtime? I will post some stories when I have a bit more time...
 
I took my ex-wife to the drive in on our first date. (It was 1968, I was 16and we were driving my 60 Impala)

This was the kind that had the big metal speaker you hang in the window.

Well, before the movie started, we were talking about people driving off with that still in the window.

After the movie, you probably guessed, I started the car and drove off before I realized I hadnt taken the dang thing out. LOL

It broke at the wire and fell in my floorboard and I left with it in the car and took off. We were laughing so hard we could hardly breathe.

And for the next 20 years we had many laughs.

Ahh to be 16 and in love.
 
When I was 17 I work at a drive-in, Man! the things I seen with my young eyes when I went to tell people their brake lights where on! :downtown::la::sign10:
 
Still have a couple in operation in SoCal. Times when my ex-wife and were dating after high school years ago and money was short, we used to go to the La Habra Drive-In 'cause her dad had a second job as a cashier at the entrance. I'd drive up in his lane, give him a $5 bill and he'd give me five $1 bills as "change". Free movies!!! Only problem we'd always have to keep an eye open for him during the first movie as he'd be patrolling the cars on his bicycle. Funny how we never seemed to watch much of the second feature after intermission - that's when we knew he'd already left for home! Good times.
One of the still-operating drive-ins here in SoCal hosts a car club night every summer. See www.socaldims.com, look at the photo gallery, 2008 tailgate fun. Photos 57-76 show some of our clubs and friends cars.
 
All of the local drive-ins in the SF Bay Area are gone (ie. Burlingame, Geneva, etc.) but I believe the San Jose Drive-In is still operational. Those were great times. The drive-in was more of a social hang out vs actually going there to watch the movie (although, that did happen on occasion). Also, the pranks that took place at the drive-in were second to none but that's a whole other series of stories.

We use to sneak 2-3 bodies in the trunk depending on the car we took (very similar to the opening scenes on Happy Days). When we went with a larger group, a keg of beer somehow found it's way in to the trunk as well. Maybe not the best choice of drinking and driving but we didn't know any better.

The drive-ins were also the place to take that special (or not so special) ;) gal for a little one-on-one time. It was the equivalent of "watching the submarine races" and brings back memories of Twin Peaks in SF.

Great thread!
 
I believe there is still one in operation about 40 miles from me in a small touristy kind of town. And I think once or twice a year they have a cruise night kind of thing.
 
When I was 7 my sister and brother took me to a drive-in (one of the last ones here local, it's a center with a Home Depot now). They got money from Mom. Now being scammers, they decided they were gonna keep the extra money from not paying for me, and have me sneak in. About 2 blocks from the drive-in they stopped and put me in the trunk of my mom's 67 Cuda and told me to be F***ing quiet. Well all was going well until we got right to the gate to pay. My sister put the brakes on and I had a revelation " Hey! I can see light back here!". Needless to say they booted us.
 
There is one close to home in Stephens City. They have 2 screens so you have a choice. I always put a cooler of beer in the trunk and make the wife drive home:drinkers:
 
They just closed the last 1 here 2 years ago. Im glad that all but my youngest son got to experience going to the drive in. I have great memories from taking them at least 2-3 times a year. The one we had would show a kids movie early and then a pg or r movie after. Always worked out well seeing as I had a full size conversion van and they could lay down and fall asleep so their mother and I could enjoy the 2nd movie.
 
There's still at least 3 drive-in theaters still going here in KC. I have taken the kids just so they could experience it with us.

Does anyone remember wearing their pajamas and taking a big bag of homemade popcorn? I never made it through the second feature.
 
Their is one here in Ga in a place called Tiger, Ga and once a month, Year one has a cruise in at the movies.

I want to go to that one but it is about 120 miles from my house.
 
Last film I saw at a drive-in was Smokey And The Bandit. Brother-in-laws Pontiac was first car to the gate with my Gremlin behind it. When the gate opened we learned the Pontiac had siezed the left rear wheel bearing.
Struggled to get the car through the gate and into the grass on the right.
So the 4 of us wathced the movie from the Gremlin.
Bro-in-law and I went back the next day and fixed his car right where it sat.
 
My wife and I used to go in my 64 flat-window Cheb Van.........had a 327 under the motor box.......

I customized it extensively.....detailed motor was visible through plexiglass mod-cut windows on the rear of the motor box...really cool.

Anyway, we put a nice thick walnut "coffee table" top on the motor box about elbow height........When we drove the van, the wood warmed up like a toaster. We would take my son Bryan with us to the Drive-In in his little baby seat (he was a few months old), and sit him right on top of that walnut.........acted just like an incubator.......Man did he love it all toasty.........used to get chilly late at night during those movies........

Wish I had that van back.........What a nice ride. 8)
 

I took my 3 kids 12-16 to a drive inn for the first time this Summer they thought
it was great there were more families than couples there. They still show the intermission film where the hot dog jumps into the bun it was great. Once a year at our main rod show the Drive inn shows four lane black top and
American Graffiti, the lot is filled with old cars, there's nothing like it
 
I think my all-time favorite double showing was Young Frankenstein & M*A*S*H. Man, that was one fun night ... "Puttin' on the Ritz and Hot Lip's shower scene).
 
One of our local drive-ins was closing, we had 3 guys in my Duster, and another 2 or 3 in the trunk. When we got up to the pay window, I realized I was a bit short...and I yelled back to the trunk, something like "We need more money!" or something similar.
A hand came up through the speaker hole with a $10 bill in it...the cashier looked at the hand and then at me, shrugged and took the cash and waved me through! It was the last night after all.....aaah, the memories!
There are no drive-ins left around here now. Another vanishing American icon, I guess!
Try that in a Honda Civic!
alan627b
 
The last time I was at a drive inn was my last and I think I'm scarred for life. I can't believe I'm telling this story but here it is. I had been going with this girl for about 6 months, I was 18 and I guessed her to be 16-17 (I should have asked) cuss one night her and I jump into the back seat of my friends RR'r and headed for the drive inn. On getting there the sign said that 14 and under get in free to which Carol pipes up that that means that she gets in free. Well, I dam near crapped my pants the couple in the front seat turn around and give me a dirty look, like I was supposed to know. Carol was 5' 11" and built like the preverbial brick shithouse. Hell she was never asked for ID at the bars we went to (it's 18 up here) needless to say the relationship ended quickly before I went to jail. I shouldn't have to add what I did that would cause me to go to jail.

Terry
 
I went to the drive-ins in high school. Two of us sat in the front seat and I could fit 10 friends in the trunk. They would sneak out after we parked.
( Forgive me, Please. I had an '74 Impala.)
 
OK...own up, how many guys tried driving off with the metal speaker still attatched.

I'd love to take my wife to the Drive-in with the Dart, but she thinks it's stupid (darn chevy person).
 
franktiregod said:
I took my ex-wife to the drive in on our first date. (It was 1968, I was 16and we were driving my 60 Impala)

This was the kind that had the big metal speaker you hang in the window.

Well, before the movie started, we were talking about people driving off with that still in the window.

After the movie, you probably guessed, I started the car and drove off before I realized I hadnt taken the dang thing out. LOL

It broke at the wire and fell in my floorboard and I left with it in the car and took off. We were laughing so hard we could hardly breathe.

And for the next 20 years we had many laughs.

Ahh to be 16 and in love.
Click to expand...

Did yours look like this? HaHa! I did the same thing.

DSC00770 (Small).JPG
 
I used to take a sweet thing to the drive in in my 68 Satellite 4dr and sometimes I was able to snag the folks 70 Chrysler Town & Country wagon!!
 
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