Drive-in movie theaters are exactly what they seem – theaters you can drive your car in and watch the movies with your family and friends. A large outdoor screen and a projector is installed in an enclosed area where they have huge parking space for cars to provide the audience comfort and privacy of their cars while they catch up with the movies. For soundtrack, there are speakers on the screen and more individual speakers are hung by the window of every car.
Like every invention, drive-in theaters have a story too. Richard M. Hollingshead Jr. Was a salesman at Whiz Auto Product, his dad’s company. In 1932, he conducted a test at 212 Thomas Avenue, Riverton in his driveway by installing a screen in his backyard and a Kodak projector on his car. He had the radio behind the screen, so he tested for sound by moving his car windows up and down. Other than that, he checked for weather conditions and figured out the parking of cars in the driveway. On August 6, 1932 he applied for a patent for his invention which he received on May 16, 1922 which was declared invalid 17 years later.
Hollingshead opened his first drive-in on June 6, 1933 in New Jersey with an initial investment of $30,000. He charged 25 cents for the car and 25 cents per person as admission price. However, the largest drive-in was the All Weather Drive-In in New York which could accommodate 2500 cars, a playground, and 1,200 seats viewing space, a restaurant and a shuttle train to take customers around.
Since then, there have been major developments in the field. Noise pollution issues have been taken care of, Edward Brown introduced a drive-in theater which could accommodate small planes and now, there are snack bars, indoor cinemas and playgrounds for kids as well