The small Texas town where I grew up still has a working drive-in theater: the WesMer (the name is a portmanteau of the names of the 2 towns between which it is located: Mercedes and Weslaco). My friends and I did sneak into the drive-in on occasion but usually paid the admission since it was so cheap, even then. And even if we did sneak in we bought concessions with the bit of money we saved so maybe that balances out somehow. My sister who still lives in the area assures me that the WesMer still attracts a crowd especially on Fri and Sat -- enough to cause a traffic back-up.
Of more importance to your guest, April Wright: after listening to your pod, I watched both her drive-in docs and enjoyed them. It was nice to see people who are so dedicated to the culture that "making it work" is more important than "making money". My best wishes to all those drive-in owners for their continued success.
I live in a metropolitan area with one remaining drive-in. Unfortunately, thugs, drugs, badly maintained facilities and graffiti just ruined this fond child hood memory.
Drive-Ins were written off 40 years ago and many (certainly not most) survived. In any area where there is a relatively large number of hipsters in a warm climate, they will survive.
And old timey one close to me here in the Hoosier Heartland, rebooted during COVID and it is still going strong from mid-April to late October.
Honestly, it is hard to believe there are any drive-in’s left. I have fond memories of going to the drive-in with my friends in high school. One time my girlfriend and I took her younger brother with us to see “Wait Until Dark”. My friend and I were in the front seat and her brother was in the back seat. At the scariest point in the movie he lunged from the back into the front seat while my friend and I screamed hysterically. You can’t do that in a regular movie theater.
The small Texas town where I grew up still has a working drive-in theater: the WesMer (the name is a portmanteau of the names of the 2 towns between which it is located: Mercedes and Weslaco). My friends and I did sneak into the drive-in on occasion but usually paid the admission since it was so cheap, even then. And even if we did sneak in we bought concessions with the bit of money we saved so maybe that balances out somehow. My sister who still lives in the area assures me that the WesMer still attracts a crowd especially on Fri and Sat -- enough to cause a traffic back-up.
Of more importance to your guest, April Wright: after listening to your pod, I watched both her drive-in docs and enjoyed them. It was nice to see people who are so dedicated to the culture that "making it work" is more important than "making money". My best wishes to all those drive-in owners for their continued success.
Remember the wisdom of..Joe Bob Briggs: The Drive-In Will Never Die. Joe Bob in whom we trust. :)
I live in a metropolitan area with one remaining drive-in. Unfortunately, thugs, drugs, badly maintained facilities and graffiti just ruined this fond child hood memory.
Sonny,
Drive-Ins were written off 40 years ago and many (certainly not most) survived. In any area where there is a relatively large number of hipsters in a warm climate, they will survive.
And old timey one close to me here in the Hoosier Heartland, rebooted during COVID and it is still going strong from mid-April to late October.
Honestly, it is hard to believe there are any drive-in’s left. I have fond memories of going to the drive-in with my friends in high school. One time my girlfriend and I took her younger brother with us to see “Wait Until Dark”. My friend and I were in the front seat and her brother was in the back seat. At the scariest point in the movie he lunged from the back into the front seat while my friend and I screamed hysterically. You can’t do that in a regular movie theater.
I didn't listen to the podcast, so you may have addressed this, but I remember the same question being asked more than 30 years ago...