September 5, 2002
8:45 AM   Subscribe

End of Summer got you down? Live in the Baltimore-DC area? The Bengies Drive-In (as seen in Cecil B. DeMented) is still open for another month or so. For a list of Drive-Ins in your area see (of course) Drive-Ins.com.
posted by JoanArkham (10 comments total)
 
The Starlite Drive-In in Durham, NC is also a gun store!
posted by nightrainbow at 9:17 AM on September 5, 2002


I've loved drive-ins ever since our family went to one in Cape Cod at the end of every summer. I think it was the Cod Drive-In, not sure, but it's closed anyway. (On that note, it's depressing how many of the theaters on that list have closed.)

My favorite is still the Spud Drive-In in Driggs, Idaho ("Cultural Hub of the Universe"), with the World's Largest Potato on the flatbed out front.

Sitting in lawn chairs in the back of a pickup, sunset over the Tetons, full moon rising across the valley, more than made up for crappy flicks like Wolf - which of course are part of the whole experience anyway.

Thanks for the link!
posted by gottabefunky at 9:18 AM on September 5, 2002


Nice Link, Joan.

Tulsa's got a great drive-in. Two screens, and always two movies on each screen. I used to hang out there a ton during the summers in high school. Great place to socialize, a safe place to walk around with a Taco Bell cup full of beer, and hang out with girls. Damn, those were the days. It was so famous, a local band even changed their name from "the Mellowdramatic Wallflowers" to "Admiral Twin" (too bad they suck).
posted by Ufez Jones at 9:23 AM on September 5, 2002


Damn! I forgot to mention how much I loved Cecil B. Demented.
posted by Ufez Jones at 9:25 AM on September 5, 2002


I missed the "golden age" but have fond memories of my aunt taking me to see Disney movies at the Nyack Drive-In (closed) in the early 70s. Of course, I'd wind up eating too much junk food and run around till I puked. I don't really remember the movies too much.

Bonus treat: call the info line for a wonderful example of a genuine Bal'mr accent.
posted by JoanArkham at 9:31 AM on September 5, 2002


Amen to this. I only make about one trip a summer, but I could go every weekend. I can be pretty particular about the quality of movie exhibition, but the intangible benefits of drive-ins make up for a lot. Preferably if there's a lawn in the front ... aw, yeah. There are other outdoor screening activities besides drive-ins -- most cities of any size have the occasional park or terrace screening -- but drive-ins have the big ol' screens those others lack. With the night sky backdrop ... that's it. I'm going again this weekend.
posted by blueshammer at 9:51 AM on September 5, 2002


Toronto's Docks nightclub now has a fancy new Drive-In right downtown, which is cool in a silly sort of way.

But then, why go outside when you can go to the Drive-In from the comfort of your own home? (If you're a Canuck with digital cable, that is.)
posted by D at 10:36 AM on September 5, 2002


Woo! Great first post, "Joan"!

Love
-"Fenriss"
posted by Fenriss at 12:56 PM on September 5, 2002


took a friend to the drive-in this past weekend. we went to see a double feature (signs and blue crush), with the normal moviegoing expectations in regards to price. we were pleasantly surprised at only having to pay 10 bucks all told--two peeps and two movies--and enjoyed a warm, clear evening under the stars.

the price made the evening. i would have never paid normal fare to see either of those movies in a regular movieplex. as it was, though, i didn't have to worry about getting too much bang for my buck. tuning in to the spanish am talk station on during the intense portions of signs was just an added bonus.

that was the first time i'd gone to the drive-in in 10-odd years. *smile* it's gonna be a nice little tradition now.
posted by carsonb at 1:45 PM on September 5, 2002


The Nyack Drive in long ago closed, as did the the 303 just down the road. But both screens are still standing, though there's a huge and nasty vine growing across the screen at the Nyack...

I keep hoping someone will pump just a few bucks into either and reopen them. For whatever reason the local real estate developers passed them by while tearing just about everything else in their building frenzy...
posted by Fupped Duck at 3:46 PM on September 5, 2002


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