By CORY CARR
There was once a time in America when the family automobile became so ubiquitous in daily life that a hand full of creative entrepreneurs thought up a whole series of business models that focused on activities that could be done in the car.
People loved their cars, and still do. The popularity of “American Car Culture” spawned a cinematic bastard that created a culture all of it’s own. Going Attractions recounts this cultural phenomenon as well as the detailed history of drive-in theaters.
Families weren’t limited to the Sunday afternoon drive anymore. They could go to a drive-in restaurant and eat in your car. Then head to the drive-in theater and watch a double bill in the comfort, and relative privacy, of your auto.
In the late 1950’s there were 5,000 drive-in theaters in the United States. The number of drive-ins exceeded the number of traditional movie theaters.
Not only were drive-ins popular, but they effected the way the film industry functioned. Hundreds of films were made with the sole purpose of being shown at the drive-in. Some of these film are now thought of as classics, by filmmakers who got their start in, or made a name for themselves by making these films. “Who” you ask? Roger Corman, Herschell Gordon Lewis, Joe Dante, Francis Ford Coppola and John Sayles to name a few. Most films from American Pictures International were made with the drive-in in mind.
The drive-in has existed for over 60 years and it’s popularity and trends reflect the times in which they existed in some very interesting ways. For instance, dive-ins experienced a lull in the 70’s during the oil embargo which spiked gas prices everywhere. As a result of this, people began to drive less and started purchasing smaller, more fuel efficient cars. People were often deterred from visiting their near by drive-in because these newer, smaller cars weren’t comfortable enough to sit in for the duration of two feature films. The history of the drive-in is a bit of an anthropological record of American culture.
Going Attractions is so informative and so in depth, I’m not even sure what to mention. There is just SO MUCH!
There is something about the drive-in that really gets to me. I, personally, have only had the opportunity to visit the drive-in a handful of times. But when I think back to how much the experience has positively influenced America, it makes me happy to know that they still exist.
Knowing this must make others happy too, because a trend has begun. People, young and old, have begun to restore drive-ins, as well as building new ones, all over the country. Some even host drive-ins using huge inflatable screens for temporary use. I hope this trend burns bright.
Check out the Drive-In Film Festival & Project Drive-In
Going Attractions is a wonderfully informative piece of nostalgia that I highly recommend to people for any age. Especially if you are too young to have payed a visit to a drive-in. For more info about Going Attractions, check out GoingAttractions.com.
People loved their cars, and still do. The popularity of “American Car Culture” spawned a cinematic bastard that created a culture all of it’s own. Going Attractions recounts this cultural phenomenon as well as the detailed history of drive-in theaters.
Families weren’t limited to the Sunday afternoon drive anymore. They could go to a drive-in restaurant and eat in your car. Then head to the drive-in theater and watch a double bill in the comfort, and relative privacy, of your auto.
In the late 1950’s there were 5,000 drive-in theaters in the United States. The number of drive-ins exceeded the number of traditional movie theaters.
Not only were drive-ins popular, but they effected the way the film industry functioned. Hundreds of films were made with the sole purpose of being shown at the drive-in. Some of these film are now thought of as classics, by filmmakers who got their start in, or made a name for themselves by making these films. “Who” you ask? Roger Corman, Herschell Gordon Lewis, Joe Dante, Francis Ford Coppola and John Sayles to name a few. Most films from American Pictures International were made with the drive-in in mind.
The drive-in has existed for over 60 years and it’s popularity and trends reflect the times in which they existed in some very interesting ways. For instance, dive-ins experienced a lull in the 70’s during the oil embargo which spiked gas prices everywhere. As a result of this, people began to drive less and started purchasing smaller, more fuel efficient cars. People were often deterred from visiting their near by drive-in because these newer, smaller cars weren’t comfortable enough to sit in for the duration of two feature films. The history of the drive-in is a bit of an anthropological record of American culture.
Going Attractions is so informative and so in depth, I’m not even sure what to mention. There is just SO MUCH!
- The invention of the drive-in & growth in popularity.
- The teen experience, sneaking friends in the trunk, “getting it on” in the car & the concession stand.
- Competing theaters, gimmicks & b-movies.
- Legal issues, the effects of television programming & the sprawling boom of shopping malls housing cineplexs.
- Waning popularity, drugs, gangs, porn & Wal-Mart.
- The “death” of the drive-in and it’s slow and loving resurrection.
There is something about the drive-in that really gets to me. I, personally, have only had the opportunity to visit the drive-in a handful of times. But when I think back to how much the experience has positively influenced America, it makes me happy to know that they still exist.
Knowing this must make others happy too, because a trend has begun. People, young and old, have begun to restore drive-ins, as well as building new ones, all over the country. Some even host drive-ins using huge inflatable screens for temporary use. I hope this trend burns bright.
Check out the Drive-In Film Festival & Project Drive-In
Going Attractions is a wonderfully informative piece of nostalgia that I highly recommend to people for any age. Especially if you are too young to have payed a visit to a drive-in. For more info about Going Attractions, check out GoingAttractions.com.
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1 comments:
I'm lucky enough to have a Drive-In within a reasonable distance from where I live, and I'm happy to report that it still gets a nice crowd on the weekend.
Sounds like a great documentary and I'll have to check it out.
To any South Florida readers, support your local Drive-In:
http://www.floridaswapshop.com/Movies/
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