It is the rather sad fact that in an age where nearly everyone possesses a veritable wealth of knowledge and culture at their fingertips, much of that fine culture is lost to the ages as we sit exercising our thumbs with our smartphones. I have met people my own age who are somehow unable to tell a cassette player from a VCR, and get frustrated when there isn’t an app that connects to the jukebox in a restaurant. And yet they know by heart the theme song of their favorite mobile game.
Fortunately, there are indeed better things to do with your time. If hours of your day consist of tapping a touchscreen, please read on. Then put the phone down and go outside, climb a tree, fall out of a tree, anything really… just stop playing Candy Crush. Just stop.
Though no longer as common as they were in their heyday, the rare drive-in theater provides a great alternative to that Saturday night Netflix binge. For those of you not familiar with the concept, you drive your car to a large open area with one or two supersized screens, wait until nightfall, and watch the latest movies projected under the night sky. This used to involve grabbing a speaker off a post next to your car, but nowadays most theaters have a short range FM station you can tune your car radio to…. and of course, there’s a snack bar.
Now of course you’re thinking, “Why would I go and pay money to sit outside in my car while watching a movie?” Well, there are a couple of decent reasons.
1.The Green Stuff
Unless you’re catching the matinee, that movie ticket is probably going to cost you somewhere around eight bucks. You’ll probably drop the same amount at the drive-in, but most outdoor cinemas do double-features. That’s right, two movies for the price of one. Plus, you can bring your own snacks if you want to resist that greasy, salty goodness at the snack bar.
2.Personal Space
That lady with the screaming toddler is a whole lot less likely to ruin your movie experience when you control your own volume knob, plus it’s much easier to socially enjoy the movie if you and your friends are in your own little showing booth/mini-van. And if you find gum under your seat, relax -- it’s probably your gum.
3.The Pre-Movie Fun Time
Ticket booths at the drive-in open hours before dark, so you’ll be waiting a while. Might as well do something. It’s not unusual to find a walking trail or some similar entertainment within sight of the theater, and that’s not even accounting for the spontaneous football games or Frisbee tournaments that can materialize among the sea of cars.
4.The Nostalgia
There’s just something relaxing about parking your car and watching the sun set while the screen flickers to life. It harkens back to a time when a bucket of popcorn didn’t cost more than a movie ticket. And all joking aside, it’s a unique experience.
Now I did say these places can be hard to find, at least if you’re looking for one that isn’t a graffiti-covered ruin. Luckily some fine folks have put together a little guide to finding your local functional drive-in theater. https://drive-ins.com/
A few tips for better enjoyment of your Drive-In experience…..
1.Pest Protection
You’re gonna be outside. In summer. More often than not you’ll encounter flying insects out for your blood. Bring along that can of repellant, or if you’re a smoker, I’ve heard from several people who swear by pipe smoke as a mosquito deterrent.
2.Power
The common method of hearing the movie is to fire up your vehicles’ stereo system. This can often result in a dead battery, so you may want to bring along a jumper device. Better yet, bring along a boom box or radio capable mp3 player. There’s an ancient boom box living in my trunk that’s permanently tuned to the stations of my local drive-in.
3.The ‘Comfy’ Factor
Your seating arrangement at the drive-in is limited only by your imagination and your vehicle. You’ll see a fascinating range of arrangements, from simply lounging in your car, to having an array of inflatable couches sitting in front of your vehicle.
