Thursday, August 24, 2017

Drive-in Movies

 
 Saturday night with family, a special friend, or the whole gang was the night when everyone went to the drive-in to watch a movie. From early spring until late fall outside of small towns across the United States cars rolled up to the ticket window for the evening's entertainment.
  Before the large outdoor theaters with speakers on poles, in places that didn't have a movie house, the side of a building painted white was used for showing films in the summer. Patrons provided their own chairs and popcorn. Children were free, but adults were expected to contribute enough to pay for the rental and return postage of the film. We tell the story of one such wall movie spot that was located on the side of a garage in Dixon, KY, in a ghost story, 'Club House,' in our story collection, Games of Death.
   
The drive-in was a place where parents could take the kids and not have to hire a babysitter. When the light began to fade the big screen would be filled with cartoon characters like Wiley Coyote who chased Roadrunner across endless miles of desert, but never caught him. By the time the cartoons ended it was dark and most of the younger set were fast asleep. Their parents could relax and enjoy the evening's presentation.
   The films were seldom first run shows, but that didn't matter. Movies, even after the advent of television, had a special glamour and allure that drew thousands of patrons of all ages.
   Teenagers who were lucky enough to wrangle the family car for the evening were the bane of drive-in owners because the favorite game was to see how many pals you could sneak in without getting caught.
   The smallest one went in the trunk. One night a friend was stashed in the boot. Just as we started to pull away from the ticket window - she screamed. Later, she told us what happened. She'd broken the zipper on her shorts and didn't have time to repair it. So she pinned it with a big safety pin. It popped open and jabbed her in the rear.
   We have fond memories of summer evenings fixing popcorn, sandwiches, and drinks. Taking the pickup to the drive-in, backing into the space, then sitting in chaise lounges with all the comforts of home watching the big screen. A couple of times sleeping bags were a necessity when closing time for the season approached.
   Most old drive-ins are long gone, but every once-in-a-while you'll pass the rusting remains of one and feel a bout of sadness for all those Saturday evenings you enjoyed movies from your car with a speaker hanging in the window.

   Nash Black, author of Games of Death.

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