Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Drive Inns

I drove north today to do some marketing a smoozing. I posted flyers for my upcoming session. Whenever I have sessions in the outlying areas, I go the week before and pass out flyers in high-traffic areas to generate interest.

Today the last stop was noon at Walmart. I get permission to stand out front and give the information to customers as they walk in to shop. Today I stood out front for about 45 minutes. The sun bore down. The narrow strip of shade got narrower the longer I stood.

I was supposed to be there an hour, but even after extensive hydration, I felt wilted so I called it a wrap.

On the way home, I decided to take another back road instead of the Interstate. Just outside the small town of Winfield, I passed Blue Moon Drive Inn Theater. Looking in the mirror to make sure no one was behind me, I did a U-turn and drove into the gravel parking lot. It appeared workers were inside doing something so I didn't go in, but I had to snap a photo.

Drive Inns were a big deal when I was a kid. Just about all small towns had a Drive Inn. I remember my folks taking me to see God's Little Acre, and the Interns. I was 11 years old when that movie came out. Later we saw Thunder Road with Robert Mitchem.

Do you have any fond memories of Drive Inn Theaters?




17 comments:

  1. I remember going as a family and my two sisters and I sitting in the back seat with a blanket... we always fell asleep before the movies were over... it was fun ... great memories xox

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  2. My parents took me and my brother to see Ben Hur at a drive-in. I fell asleep early into it and only saw the rest of the movie when I was an adult.

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  3. The Drive In was where we went on date night. It was where we went for a girls' night out. It was where we took the children so we and they could be comfortable during the movie. I have too many memories to list. It is sad that there are practically no drive in theaters any more.

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  4. Ah yes, I remember them well http://joeh-crankyoldman.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-drive-in.html

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  5. We still have a drive in about 15 minutes away. I do have fond memories because my dad loved to go to these...when we could get him out of the house:) I remember he wanted to see Tidal Wave starring Lorne Greene...a bad Japanese flick but we got there a bit earlier and I remember seeing a film that took place during the 30 years war and was taken aback by the scene of a woman being burned at the stake accused of being a witch. I now have this film called The Last Valley. We also went to see Benji

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  6. I can remember Drive-Ins. And being taken to see Grizzly by my then (very briefly) boyfriend.
    If I had more stamina I would have walked the fifteen miles home.

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  7. Oh yes, I had an Uncle and a Brother who took me to the drive in show. I do not remember any names, but i remember the blankets and chairs and sitting on the fenders at times. Our church considered shows a sin, so it was a treat for me to get to sin with adults. LOL

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  8. Oh yes! I have lots of fond memories of Drive Inn theaters! We still have one in our area.

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  9. There was only one drive-in in my rural county as I was growing up. I don't recall seeing anything advertised on the signboard that was less than a double X rating. Needless to say, we never went, and I hated passing by it in the family van because there was a gap where the screen could be seen from the highway for a brief moment. I would avert my eyes, but I was afraid my siblings wouldn't and would be corrupted.
    I remember the drive-in being discussed by some classmates and our high school algebra teacher. I think they regarded the drive-in as a tacky commentary on how culturally lacking our area was (i.e., no decent theaters with more family or youth oriented movies). The movie running at the time was called Tender Loins. I remember my teacher kind of laughing and shaking her head about the name.

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  10. It was always a fun date spot. Ashland had one but it closed not long after we moved here. There's still a few in nearby towns but it's been ages since we've been to one. Yep, good memories from my youth!

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  12. I remember. Dad would take us all in a station wagon. I wasnt a fan.
    We still have a drive in here in town and I hear it charges per person now instead of by the car load which is a bummer.
    Lisa

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  13. Our little town had no drive-in. The first I recall was seeing Ben Hur, while on vacation w/ my folks. Remember those awful mosquito coils they'd sell? I don't know which was worse ... the heat or those awful fumes.

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  14. Anonymous6:38 PM

    Many of my dates with Bud were at drive-ins!!

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  15. I have many great memories of going to the drive in when I was a child there was one only 5 minutes from home and we would go often

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  16. The first movie I remember seeing was at a drive-in. It was The Unsinkable Molly Brown. It's too hot to stand outside. I think the people who stand outside businesses spinning signs are abused. I wonder if the signs draw customers. I've never turned into a business because of a sign spinner (I realize that what you do isn't the same thing).

    Love,
    Janie

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  17. I loved Drive Inn Theaters!! Loved intermission! Playing on the swings! Being out in fresh air! Just the entire atmosphere! Excellent!

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