McHenry Outdoor Theater-- Part 2: Doin' a Retro Night

It is now open on weekends, but come June seven days a week.  Cost is $14 a person and includes two feature films.  This weekend it is "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" and "Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania."

I would like to do an ultimate retro night at some point this summer. That would mean going out to the Ingleside, Illinois, Don 'N Suds for a Coney Dog and some of that good root beer.  Carhops serve you. (We are lucky to have three remaining Dog 'N Suds here in close proximity.  The other two are in Grayslake and Richmond.)

 Then go the the McHenry Outdoor Theater for a movie(s).

My big problem, however, is that during the summer, the movies don't start until 9 which seriously pushes my bedtime.  And, if I stay for the second film (to get my money's worth), 2 am is REALLY past my bedtime.

Plus, these new cars have things on them that I do not know how to operate.

We'll See.  --CootFilm

McHenry Outdoor Theater-- Part 1

This drive-in theater is located about six miles from home and it is not one of those billboard theaters, but has a massive stone (or something like it) screen housing.

From Drive-In Movie.com.

Originally opened in 1951, the Skyline Drive-In, now the McHenry Outdoor Theater, is a single screen drive-in theater located in McHenry, Illinois.

It is the Chicago area's last  remaining drive-in.

Double features are shown seasonably.

In December 2020, the owner announced that he had bought ten more additional acres and plans to turn it into a three-screen venue.

--Coot-In

Return of Drive-In Theaters-- Part 8:The Spud Drive-In Theatre

It would be possible to build a whole vacation around a visit to The Spud Drive-In Theatre in Idaho's Teton Country, located about an hour's drive from Grant Teton National Park.

Operating since 1953, it beckons to guests with a giant potato (what, a giant potato in Idaho, who'd have figured) sitting in "Old Murphy," a 1946 Chevrolet flatbed truck, parked along the driveway.

The drive-in sign is modeled after an Idaho license plate, featuring the motto "Famous Potatoes."  

A couple years ago, owner Lenny Zaban added two rustic cabins at the back of the lot, where overnight guests can watch movies from the porch or the nearby hot tub and enjoy specialties from the snack bar, including "Spud Buds" (potato tots) and caramel corn made fresh nightly.

Spend a Night at the Theater.  --Cooter

Return of Drive-In Theaters-- Part 7: The 66 Drive-In Theatre

And what would drive-in theater's be without at least one on the famed Mother Road, Route 66?  There are several, including one that just reopened on Sapulpa, Oklahoma, and, of course, Litchfield, Illinois, but probably the most famous one even carries the name, 66 Drive-In Theatre neat Carthage, Missouri.

Its original neon sign continues to attract road-trippers.  (Route 66 is part of the National Trust's National Treasures Program.)

Tickets are often sold out of the original ticket booth, a glowing little building with walls made entirely of glass blocks.

For a complete Route 66 experience ,owner Nathan McDonald recommends staying at the recently restored Boots Court motel (1939) in the nearby town of Carthage, which advertises "A Radio In Every Room)"

Whether You Want One Or Not.  --CootBoots

Return of the Drive-In Theaters-- Part 6: Capri Drive-In

Also in Michigan is the Capri Drive-In Theater at Coldwater, which replaced its original 1964 marque with a faithful replica after it was destroyed in a 2001 auto crash.  It opened in 1964 and had a contest to pick a name. The name was submitted by Mary Magocs and she got a sewing machine for her name.

Admission in 1964 was $1 and a cheeseburger would set you back 45 cents.

The original double lane snack bar is still in place and does a brisk business in footlongs and garlic pickles.

Last Halloween, the drive-in offered socially distanced "trunk-or-tricking" and spotlighted best costumes on the screen during intermission -- a tradition that Susan Magocs says will continue forward.

--CootTrunk

Return of Drive-In Theaters-- Part 5: Ford-Wyoming Drive-In

The FORD-WYOMING DRIVE-IN--in Dearborn, Michigan -- where the headquarters of the Ford Motor Company are also located -- is one of the country's largest, with a roughly 1,700 car capacity.

Named for its location at the intersection of Ford Road and Wyoming Avenue, this drive-in is open year round.  "The only time we've ever been closed is when there is a snowstorm just before the theater opening, or in extreme cold," says co-owner Bill Clark.

Taking a cue from the movie palaces of old, the back of the movie screen -- whuch faces the road -- is designed to look like an Art Deco building, with jaunty red accents.

The theater has upgraded two of its five screens with laser projectors and will be doing the same on the remaining screens soon.  It offers streaming audio over Wi-Fi and broadcast audio over  FM radio.

--Cooter

Return of Drive-In Theaters-- Part 4: The Mahoning, Shankweiler's and Bengies

**  THE MAHONING DRIVE-IN THEATER in Horsham, Pennsylvania decided not to go with digital and stay retro with 35 millimeter films.  Today, fans travel from all over the country for its multi-day movie marathons of genre and cult classics.  ("Zombiefest" regularly sells out.)

On site camping is available and the door to the projection room is always open so guests can see the original 1940s-era film projectors in action.

**  SHANKWEILER'S DRIVE-IN THEATER is Orefield, Pennsylvania, close to The Mahoning.  It opened in 1934, a year after Hollingsfead's now-lost, groundbreaking venue.   It is now the oldest drive-in in thye country.

**  THE BENGIES DRIVE-IN THEATRE in Middle River, Maryland (1956).  Drive-in design has its own refinements and architectural engineer Jack Vogel was an expert at it.   For one of his family's own venues (this one) he designed a special curved screen that focuses light for a better image, with the right proportions to display the then-new Cinemascope widescreen format without cropping.

The 120-by 52 foot screen is now the largest drive-in screen in the United States.

The venue is now run by Jack's son, D. Vogel, who has continued the tradition of audience participation, asking people to flash their headlights to vote for upcoming movies if they like the trailer.

Love Them Old Drive-Ins.  --Cooter

The Return of Drive-In Theaters-- Part 3: The Problem With Netflix and Digital Distribution

These days, movie venues must contend with the rise of Netflix and other streaming sites.  And, of course, those who people who say they'll wait until the film comes out and they can watch it on their 75-inch HDTV.  (But I say there is absolutely no comparison between a 75-inch screen and the BIG SCREEN in the theater.)

But, nearly a decade ago, they also had to deal with anothern technological upheaval -- the switch from film to digital distribution.  To show new releases, owners had to switch to digital projection systems.  And, that was a pricer upgrade.

*********************************

The article listed several well-known drive-ins across the country:

WELLFLEET DRIVE-IN on Massachusetts' Cape Cod.  Carries on the early tradition of being a comperehensive entertainment center.  In addition to its outdoor screen, the 1957 venue has an 18-hole miniature golf course that dates from 1961, an ice cream bar and even a four-screen indoor movie theater.

It is one of the few drive-ins that still offer sound through traditional stereo speakers that attach to the inside of the car window.  (They do, however, also sound via the FM radio.)

--CootGital

The Return of the Drive-In Theaters-- Part 2: A Huge Decline in Numbers

Drive-In popularity peaked in 1958, when there were more than 4,000 in operation in  the United States.  According to the United Drive-in Theatre Owners Association, 305 remained as of October 2019.  

These drive-ins usually show new releases with audio comng through the car radio instead of theater-supplied speakers that attached to your car windows (and had that wonderful tinny sound, just remember to remove the speaker from your window before you go home).

Snack bars are likely to have vegetarian options.

Most still offer a double feature for the price of one ticket.  (Although this leads to a late movie start in the summer and even earlier morning end to the second movie which pretty much rules out the second feature for me.) 

--Coot-In

The Return of the Drive-In Theaters-- Part 1

From the Summer 2021 Preservation Magazine "Movie Magic" by Lydia Lee.

One thing that improved during the pandemic was the fate of the drive-in theater business which had been in decline for a long time.  But because of the way they are set up, conditions were excellent for them.

After World War II, drive-ins flourished as part of a new life-style including an automobile and a house in the suburbs.  According to Mary Morley Cohen: "Drive-ins allowed audiences to experience the new pasttimes in a familiar, cheaper, and more public context.

From their start, the drive-ins were more welcoming than the fancy movie palaces of previous decades (especially those built around 1928).

Riverton, New Jersey, native Richard Hollingshead, Jr., opened the first drive-in theater in nearby Camden in 1933, promoting it as a venue where "the whole family is welcome, regardless of how noisy the children are apt to be."

To entice families, drive-ins offered playgrounds, snack bars that served full meals, and, in some cases, even bottle warmers for babies.  "The highly sociable atmosphere was quite a bit different from sitting quietly in a darkened, indoorn theater," wrote Cohen.

--Cooter

June 6, 1944-- D-Day: Other Events That Happened on June 6 Through the Years

Today marks the 75th anniversary of D-Day here in the United States.  In most of Europe, June 6 was yesterday because of the international dateline.

From the June 6, 2019, Chicago Tribune "On June 6."

Here are some other events that took place on June 6.

1918--  The World War I battle of Belleau Wood, which resulted in a U.S. victory over the Germans in France.  This was a great day in the history of the USMC.

1925--  Walter Percy Chrysler founded the Chrysler Corporation.

1933--  The first drive-in movie theater opened in Camden, New Jersey.

1942--  Japanese forces retreated in the World War II Battle of Midway, regarded as the turning point in the war in the Pacific.

1944--  Allied forces launched their invasion of Europe, landing on the beaches of France in what became known as D-Day.

--Cooter

Rev-vin' Up for Drive-In Movies-- Part 1

From the July/August 2013 DAR American Spirit Magazine by Jamie Roberts.

Yes, we have a drive-in theater near us in Spring Grove, Illinois, but open only during the summer and fall and the first show not starting until 9 or 9:30 and that's too late for these old bones.

Richard M. Hollinshead opened the first drive-in movie theater in Camden, New Jersey in the summer of 1933. He figured to marry two American loves-- automobiles and movies.

His first effort essentially was just a 1928 Kodak projector showing a picture on a bedsheet nailed to two trees. He then experimented with projection techniques, sound amplification and ramps for cars until he figured he'd had enough to go full-scale.

He drew a huge crowd for the grand opening of his Park-in Theater on June 6, 1933, charging 25 cents per car and 25 cents per person to see the British comedy "Wife Beware."

It took off and by the mid-1960s, there were more than 4,000 in the country.

Seeing A Movie At A Drive-In Is Still Too Late for Me. I Really Need My Beauty Sleep.  --Cooter

Drive-Ins on a Rebound?

This year, the venerable American institution called drive-ins celebrated its 75th anniversary. However, they face a dismal future with encroaching suburban sprawl, VCRs, and DVDs. Yet, in Charleston, Illinois, there is going to be a new drive-in opened this year by Mark and Carl McSparin.


A HISTORY

Drive-ins started as an experiment by Richard M. Hollingshead in Riverton, NJ, around 1930. He placed a Kodak projector on the hood of the family car and nailed a screen to a tree.

By June 6, 1933, he had gotten partners and opened the "Drive-In Theatre" in Camden, NJ. "Wives Beware," was the first film with tickets selling at 25 cents apiece.

By the end of the thirties, there were about 20 drive-ins. By 1949, the number stood at 820. Returning GIs were looking for affordable family entertainment. The 1950s are regarded as the golden age of the drive-in. Most historians regard 1958 as the high point with 4,063 around the US.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the number remained around 4,000. Original owners began retiring and theaters had problems getting first-run movies. The biggest wallop came from the growth of VCRs, cable TV, and indoor multiplexes. By 1990, the number was down to below 1000. In 1999 the number stood at 447 and today is 383.


TODAY

That number is stabilizing. People are returning to the drive-ins. Partly because of the low price which will often get you a twin feature of current movies. Also. many return for the nostalgia and want their kids to experience it.

Illinois has a dozen, including the McHenry Outdoor Theater, about six miles from my house. Plus, there is a fairly new one a few miles off Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois, and the Skyview in Litchfield, an original one.

Every year, I go to a nearby Dog 'N Suds and then to the Drive-in for a Retro Night. This last year it cost $7 to see two first-run movies. Not a bad deal, but getting a bit too late for these tired old bones.

Glad to See Drive-Ins on the Rebound. --Da Coot

June 8th Chicago Tribune "Drive-ins find hope in twilight years" by Ted Gregory.