The drive-in theater was the creation of businessman Richard M. Hollingshead, Jr., who opened the first official drive-in New Jersey on June 6, 1933. He advertised his drive-in theater with the slogan, "The whole family is welcome, regardless of how noisy the children are."
The drive-in phenomenon became more popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s, from families looking for cheap entertainment and a place where parents could take care of their child while watching a movie, to teenagers looking for an ideal place to enjoy their dates with their sweethearts in the backseats of their cars.
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Do you remember the "GREASE" scene at the drive-in where Sandy leaves Danny and then Danny sings the song Sandy ?
These scenes were shot at an actual drive-in movie. It was the old Pickwick Drive-In, in Burbank (it was closed and torn down in 1989 and a shopping center took its place).
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And here is a clip from The Baseballs, totally inspired by the drive-in theaters. Enjoy!
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Marilyn Monroe at the Drive-in, 1952. |