I remember going to the drive in theatre when I was a kid. My mom would bring hotdogs and coolaid, and we would play at the playground in front of the screen until the movie started. Then we, as a family, would enjoy the show.

Then, in high school I enjoyed lots of films and lots of "smooch time" on my drive in dates.

And in the summer, we could get in on Tuesday for one dollar a car, so we would cram about 8-10 of us in a pickup and hand out at the drive in.

I miss those days....fun....movies....friends....girls...anyone else misss the American drive in theatre?

It's dead like most of the rest of classic Americana.

OK, last time I brought this up on the General board I got ripped a new one, but hear me out:

I think if you did it right, you could open a very profitable drive-in movie here in College Station. Granted, it would have to be different than the old school ones and have more to keep people entertained, but I think with the low overhead costs and novelty of drive-ins, you could do pretty well. Just think of the TONS of groups that would want to do date parties there from A&M.

Am I retarded?

actually there is a drive in movie theatre in Ennis

There is one close to dallas, forgot the name of the town. Knowing my luck, its probably Ennis.

Take your normal movie theater. Now make the following changes:

o You can only show movies after dark, removing 2-3 showtimes a day, even on the cash-cow weekends
o You cannot show movies during bad weather, or threat thereof, when normally bad weather is a reason to go to a movie
o Multiply your square footage per screen by a lot
o You cannot compete with modern surround sound equipment
o You cannot show any R rated movies, or perhaps PG-13, because 8-year-old Timmy might see something from beyond the fence, and mom'll sue

I dunno, doesn't sound like much of a profitable venture, to me.

I miss the old Drive In's as well.

I see this one every year on our way to our cabin in Creede, it is in Monte Vista, Colorado, never have stopped, always in a hurry but it is a neat idea.

The motel is built in a L type shape and all the windows of the rooms face the movie screen. Then there is another screen for the drive up customers.

I think they call this "Synergy" and marrying the drive in with a more stable profitable business(like a motel) and in the process creating a niche maybe the only way it would work.

http://www.ajc.com/travel/content/travel/content/0804/08motel.html

[This message has been edited by SPO_Rat_91 (edited 3/11/2005 8:13a).]

There is a new drive-in in Lubbock that is raking in the dough. Started by a guy that went to high school with my brother and he is under 30. Not a bad gig, seemed like a low initial investment, he called it the American drive in and has US and Texas flags up to give you that classic/patriotic feel. It is really doing well. Although I wonder if it has hurt the Lamesa drive in business.

RightwingAg, do you have any more infor about that new drive in? Do they have a website? Whatever, I hope they make a go of it because not only do I miss them, I think that they are preserving an aspect of American culture I don't want to lose.

I was wrong with the name, it is actually Stars and Stripes drive in. Here is the link.

http://www.driveinusa.com/

Here is another website talking about drive ins in Texas.

http://www.driveinmovie.com/TX.htm

You're not getting any business ideas, are you?

Still one up in Gatesville as well...

I saw the one in Ennis last night on my way home from Houston. Was a little startling to see two giant movie screens pop up in the middle of the dark.

Yep, the Gatesville drive in seems to do well.

there is also one in Graham TX

There is also a good one in Granbury, TX. It's been going strong for quite a while.

I, too, remember those days of going to the drive-in movie.
Hanging that big speaker on the window.
Going to get popcorn and sodas at the intermission.
Watching other kids play on the playground down by the screen.
My brothers and I were kids and we'd bring our pillows because most of the time we'd end up falling asleep before the show ended.
It's nice to know there are still some of those around.

The Mission Drive-In in San Antonio is still open.

It is just down the street from the San Jose Mission.

The problem is, it has 4 screens and will show family films on one screen, PG-13 on two and Hard R films on the 4th.

Makes taking the kids as described above not as "family friendly"...

I could write a book about all the fun I had growing up and going to drive-ins...

PLUM LOCO, me too. Your write a book and so will I. We will read each other's books and both be well read authors.