The Drive In!
I love movies. I love making them. I love watching them. I love the artists that create the stories, and the illusions, and the realities. So it surprises most of my pals that I have never been to a Drive-In Movie. The truth is, there aren't that many Drive-In theaters around any more. You really have to search to find one.
If you live in the United States, this is a great resource to see if there is still a drive in theater in your area:
We drove 50 miles yesterday to go to a drive in theater outside of Los Angeles, and it was worth every second of effort. WHAT FUN!! If you have never been, you HAVE to see a movie on the REALLY BIG screen before they become extinct! No longer do you attach the big speakers to your car's window - you simply tune in the audio track on your car's FM Tuner. Sure, if you're a perfectionist, movies were created and intended to be viewed in a state of the art theater with 7.1 Surround Sound, but if you want a wonderful retro experience, you owe it to yourself and 30 of your closest friends to go to the Drive-in!! Who knows, maybe we can start a movement to bring this great medium back from the brink of extinction!
All Things Possible!!
Chris
PS: We saw Mall Cop - Kinda dumb, kinda funny!
posted by Christopher Showerman @ 3/01/2009 06:27:00 PM
22 Comments:
At 7:38 AM, March 02, 2009 ,
SusanGail said...
Well, guess I should be the first to respond to this topic, since I'm the resident "mother bear" here and probably the only one on the forum who actually lived those times. Retro? Imagine mom, dad and five kids packed into a 50s station wagon at the drive-in with those speakers attached to the car.
Now what can you do to keep me from becoming extinct? (big smile and hugs to my 'young' forum friends)...Sue
At 5:20 PM, March 05, 2009 ,
Anonymous said...
Hi All
I have not been home in the last 6 weeks as I have been "farm sitting" for some friends so they could spend 6 weeks in Arizona riding their Harleys around in the sun. As I was there to take care of their horses, it was up every morning and down to the barn by 4 am so that I could get all the chores done and be at work on time. That project is now done for me and my own bed has never felt so good!
I have never been to a drive-in theatre and only know of one in the surrounding area. Now that I think about it, I am not sure that it is still open. The closest I ever came to being in a drive in was one evening many years ago, myself and a few equine friends rode our horses to the local drive in to see if we could see anything. We went the back way through the woods to the back fence of the lot, could only see part of the screen and could hear nothing other than the buzzing of the mosquitos that had followed us there hoping for a free meal. It was poorly thought out idea that was never repeated. With age comes wisdom.
Tim
At 7:20 PM, March 06, 2009 ,
SusanGail said...
Tim...great to have you back on forum! Been wondering where you were. Hope it wasn't in a cold, snowy location. What a great friend you are! I was thinking of you again tonight as I saw a headline about an incident on UIC campus. Sounds like maybe it was nothing. When we were in Virginia Beach two weeks ago we were out for dinner and came back to find our hotel area cordoned off because someone was in a hotel across the street supposedly with a gun. We were fine, but I never was able to find out about it. The police dispersed eventually and we got our car back to our hotel. Well, you could say we felt like we were in some kind of movie:)...It seemed surrealistic for sure.
Glad to have you back on, and Dave, hope to hear about your play.
Sounds like everyone is very, very busy as we hit Daylight Savings already this weekend! Take care everyone... Sue
At 5:34 PM, March 07, 2009 ,
Thomas said...
Hi all well susan your not the only one old enough for the drive in. hahah i went to many movies that way. there were two one town and one about twenty minutes away. there is one left i think in the allentown bethlehem area of pennsylvania it used to show just x rated pictures the last i heard it stopped. oh well not a good format and certainly not deserving a movie title hahaha . The drive in near me was near a swamp so we had a problem with mosquitoes they use to sell these coils you lit to keep them out of the car but i remeber just choking on them and still getting bitten. hahaha we also had the speaker that you put on the window very tinny.hahaha i perfer digital viewing and no mosquitoes now. hahaha sorry Chris. im spoiled. goood post though brought back many memories.
the last movie i saw there was play misty for me with clint eastwood good flick. my Dad was a john Wayne fan so i saw most of his movies in my life period. hahaah the first movie i saw there the best of my recolection was an ols jerry lewis movie i cannot rememberr the name but rmemeber there were these lawn mowers chasing him that were robotic controlled. hahaha oh well thats about it I think . hope you are all well im doing great. love to all my friends here. tommy.
At 7:08 PM, March 07, 2009 ,
SusanGail said...
Hey Tommy...I just saw your post. I love your description of those drive-in days! I think I remember the mosquito thing too...and of course you had to keep the windows open a little for the speaker, right? It's kind of a dim memory! I think we packed our own popcorn and pop into the cooler in the back...and probably fought over it. And I do believe it was on one of those hot starry nights that we were driving home and only my dad and I saw out our side of the car, what appeared to be a flying saucer fly over...I remember beautiful colors and seeing that whirling by and I knew no one would believe me except my dad saw it too. So I'm sure that influenced my interest in science fiction and ETs and my enjoyment of E.T., Close Encounters, Star Trek, Star Wars, etc. through the years. And my husband says where he lived people would have spotlights on their cars and play light tag on the screen before the movie started. Ha...have we covered it all yet? I'd almost forgotten. Maybe some more memories will come back if we think about it enough. It is a fun topic...Wonder if there were drive-ins across the pond? Haven't heard from that side of the forum yet:) Have a beautiful Sunday everyone! Sue
At 7:46 PM, March 07, 2009 ,
SusanGail said...
Post Script...I guess I have an extra hour to write tonight, since we have to spring forward already this weekend! Don't forget! Usually someone in L.A. reminds us...hope all is well out there...Sue
At 1:24 AM, March 08, 2009 ,
Anonymous said...
Hi Sue and Forum Family
I'm enjoying reading about your memories about drive in movies. Nothing like that exists over here guess we're too small a country for anything on that scale.
All we've ever had over here are cinemas. I remember my parents telling stories of going to Saturday matinee clubs where they'd get to see a film and the next episode of something like Batman or the Lone Ranger (that type of thing). But when I was growing up nothing like that existed - instead I remember Doncaster where I grew up having a policy of shutting down cinemas - going from 3 to one in the space of a few years, which meant having to stand and queue for ages (generally in the rain)since the cinema only had one huge screen. Adding to the fun the building was really an old theatre - with the screen a huge roller that dropped down in front of the stage, meaning that if there was a touring ballet or opera etc or during pantomime season it was a theatre - so no films.
Things are a lot better nowadays, even in Doncaster where I still have family, since the introduction of multiplex cinemas able to show several films consecutively. However many of these tend to be out in trading estates on the edges of towns.
Here in York we have a mutiplex on the outskirts and a smallish (3 screens) independent cinema in the middle, right on the riverside. in the past we've been members of the independents screen club enabling discounted tickets and invitations to special screenings and previews etc - but at the moment I just don't have time to go as often as I'd like with all the studying, however my wish list of films to watch is getting longer and longer as so many great movies continue to be made and recommended by my dear Forum family.
Hope everyone's well and happy whatever you're doing right now.
With love and Bright Blessings
Angi
At 7:09 AM, March 08, 2009 ,
SusanGail said...
Hi Angi... I was just going to get back to see if anyone noticed I'd gotten it backwards about springing forward! I guess I think I always need an extra hour all the time...so I still can't subconsciously accept "losing" one...so to speak! But it was great to see your great story here about movies over there. Think of you often about your studies and hope all is going well. We can't see as many movies as we'd like either. Do you have anything like Netflix? Is that everywhere? Ha. Probably. Even so, there's that time factor. I've (since knowing Chris) become convinced that enjoying films, whenever we can, is a way to spark our own creative spirit. I've even thought of including that in a book sometime maybe. You know, like a doctor telling you "Watch this film and call me in the morning!" You just made me think about that again.
In fact, if anyone has a favorite film that you think I could include in that endeavor...suggestions would always be welcome. So much to do. Everyone is so busy...with so many plans and dreams. Wishing you all ATP for them this year! Sue
At 12:44 PM, March 14, 2009 ,
Thomas said...
HI all I just thought of something they do here in Las Vegas and Henderson Nevada in the summer time. at the District and the Town Square which are shoping malls made to look like town streets, there rreally nice but higher end shops. they have live bands and other things going on in the parks they have set up in the middle. they also have movie night during the week they show mostly G- movies and cartoons for the family on the grass areas. you bring a blanket and or chair to watch the movie. I have not gone yet they are usually during the week and I go to bed early hahaha.i start work at six in the morning. oh while not really a drive in but pretty cool. Its like the movie the wedding planer only there they showed old black and white movies which I still love to watch. thank god for turner classic movies.
Well you all have a great weekend love and hugs tommy Namaste!
At 8:08 PM, March 14, 2009 ,
SusanGail said...
Tommy...just saw your post. It's been a quiet week here on the forum. Enjoyed hearing about that way of showing movies. We watched "W" last night. I didn't really like it as much as I thought I might...after all the hype. Wondering what anyone else thought. Still haven't seen The Wedding Planner. I love your Namaste greeting...sending it back too! Sue
At 8:01 AM, March 16, 2009 ,
Anonymous said...
Tommy
I live in a small town that has still retained some small town traditions. We have what we call Movies on Main Street. They will set up straw bales in a parking lot and show a kids feature on the side of a building. Not having kids we have never walked over to see one. A bit apathetic about kids movies I suppose.
Spring has sprung here in Illinois. We have flowers!!!! Hope all is well with everyone.
Tim
At 7:57 PM, March 16, 2009 ,
Anonymous said...
Ah, the drive-in, what fond memories I have of mom and dad bundling all us kids in our pajamas, popping a big bag of popcorn, loading us all into the station wagon and then head off to see such classics as Disney's "Blackbeard's Ghost." Back then if I remember correctly, and I may not, the "family" movie was shown first followed by more adult fare so that when the kids fell asleep mom and dad could watch another film uninterupted. There's only one active drive-in that I can think of in my area and I think it's time to make another trip this summer. Is it true that now you use your radio to hear the movie instead of the big old speaker that hangs on the window?
Oh, and for those who wondered, I'm obviously still around. But after winning our state festival with the play I wrote and directed I performed as Pseudolous in one of my favorite plays "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." Now it's a little breather as we prepare for regional's and rehearse "Alice in Wonderland" (guess who is Tweedle Dee or is it Dum?). Heck, I might even have time to get my workouts back on schedule.
Take care everyone!
DaveW
At 7:47 PM, March 17, 2009 ,
SusanGail said...
Tim...what flowers? Crocuses? Movies on Main Street sounds neat. So beautiful in MI today. Enjoying while we can...
And Dave, yes, wondering where you were and how your theatre agenda was progressing! Sounds great! Your drive-in memories are reminiscent of mine. Best wishes with regional competition and it would be really fun to see you as Tweedle Dum/Dee!
Now I guess the next thing to comment could be: "Where in the world is CS?" No..not Carmen Sandiego...we know what I mean:)...where ATP things are happening, we hope. ATB everyone...Sue
At 11:10 PM, March 18, 2009 ,
blahblah1975 said...
totally agree CS - drive-in's are the way to go. I grew up around the Drive-In's. From the age of 13, I worked at one - I was the youngster with the torch that used to have to knock on car windows and ask people to stop pushing down on their brake lights (don't ask) or flashing their lights on the screen while the movie was playing.
The drive-in I worked at closed down in 1991.
In more recent years I've become a regular of the Lunar Drive-In in Dandenong (http://lunardrivein.com.au/) which my friend David owns. He's done a fantastic job with it - it's 3-screens are nearly packed every night of the week; even in Winter. Having a little one, it's been much easier to go to the Drive-In together than it is - as you could imagine - a cinema. For a while there, we were going every week for about three years but haven't gone for a few months now. Like the states, there's only a few Drive-In's left in Australia too - including this one here in Dandenong, and a Village-run one in Coburg. I think they'll come back into style - - I have to pass that "torch" to someone, after all!
Clint
At 11:11 PM, March 18, 2009 ,
blahblah1975 said...
P.S - My earliest drive-in memories include "Flash Gordon" (1980 - Sam Jones) and later, a "Crocodile Dundee" & "King Solomon's Mines" double. As an employee, I believe my first film at the Drive-In was 1987's ill-fated "Masters of the Universe".
At 4:18 PM, March 21, 2009 ,
SusanGail said...
Enjoyed your drive-in commentary Clint...it would be great to have them come back. Hoping everyone is soaking up the realization of spring at last here in the States. Still wondering where in the world is CS...it's fun to razz on about that, but truly hoping all is well and prospering for our ATP host. ATB Sunday to all! Sue
At 6:54 AM, March 29, 2009 ,
SusanGail said...
Happy Sunday everyone!
Just sending you all positive vibes along the forum family line here. Hoping all is well with all of you, and Chris. Looking forward to good news ahead! I'll sign off, much love, as that's how I think of all of you! ATB/P too! Sue
At 7:20 PM, April 01, 2009 ,
Anonymous said...
Oh no! Where is everyone? At least Sue is keeping the home fires burning - ATP to you too Sue (hey that kind of ryhmes).
DaveW
At 10:12 AM, April 02, 2009 ,
SusanGail said...
Dave...thanks for the well wishes!
I know everyone on the forum is supernova busy. That thing about time speeding up? Sure seems true!
Know the topic will change soon, but I'll take the opportunity to ask you about your theatre adventures and hope all is going well, and ATP FUN for you!
Plus, I was thinking about Tim the other day, as our new neighbors seem to have a couple of big dogs. We don't have a dog anymore, although in years past we had a dog that was half pit bull and half (they said)Australian cattle dog. If there is such a dog. She did like to herd things. Now I'm trying to be a compassionate neighbor of all the dog lovers surrounding us. Made me think of the dog training stories and hope all is well and ATP there, too! Sue
At 9:40 PM, April 02, 2009 ,
Christopher Showerman said...
Dave - AWESOME job with the play competition. Congratulations!!
Thanks for your patience y'all! I'll have a new topic up soon with a little inside scoop on what I've been keeping so busy with!
Take care of each other!!
All Things Possible,
Chris
At 2:08 PM, April 03, 2009 ,
Anonymous said...
Looking for DVDs. I was looking for DVDs of the movies Christopher has been in. The only two I can find are George, and a horror film on Amazon.com. Anyone know where they might be avaliable from?
David
At 3:41 PM, April 03, 2009 ,
SusanGail said...
Interesting you should ask that about the movies availability. I've been wondering the same thing.
Enjoy the weekend everyone, Michigan's going backwards weather-wise. So some sunny spring thoughts would be oh, so welcome!
Sue
Post a Comment
<< Home