I loved going to the drive-in as a kid. I saw Star Wars the first time at the drive-in. There was a drive-in near my house - the old 100 Twin in Fridley - so we went quite regularly. It was a special treat because we usually went in our pajamas and - of course - got to eat lots of junk and stay up late. So, with a bit of nostalgia, my friend and I ventured out to the Vali-Hi drive-in to see X-Men: The Last Stand, Mission Impossible III, and Poseidon. I doubt I ever would have spent money to see either Mission Impossible III or Poseidon by themselves, but all three of these movies for $7.00, you betcha. It was a lot of fun. I didn't go in my pajamas, but we did eat lots of junk.
Here are just a few thoughts on my trips to the drive-inn when I was a kid. I always wanted to go play at the playground, but never got to do so. I always wanted to go buy junk at the concession stand, but didn't get to do that either. We always brought our own snacks and couldn't really afford to buy them there. The sound was always terrible because the speaker - just one - hung on one window and always sounded like it was coming from a metal box. Oddly enough, it was coming from a metal box, but I didn't understand why it had to sound like it did. My brother and I usually had to hide in the back of the van and be very quiet so that we could get in free. I loved watching space movies, because the night sky always made it seem like the movie was real. The stars on the movie screen just seemed to blend in with the rest of the sky.
Those are my experiences. What are yours?
at June 4, 2006 4:31 AMI also loved going to the drive-in when I was little and also went in my pajamas. My mom must have been a Mel Brooks fan because I remember seeing Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein at the drive-in. We would buy popcorn because in my family at least half the reason we go to the movies (drive-in or walk-in) is for the popcorn. However, we would melt our own butter because we don't like the fake "butter topping."
Posted by: Jill at June 9, 2006 12:53 PMI also loved going to the drive-in when I was little and also went in my pajamas. My mom must have been a Mel Brooks fan because I remember seeing Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein at the drive-in. We would buy popcorn because in my family at least half the reason we go to the movies (drive-in or walk-in) is for the popcorn. However, we would melt our own butter because we don't like the fake "butter topping."
Posted by: Jill at June 9, 2006 12:58 PMdoes anyone else envision that scene from Grease where they are at the drive-in? sing along now, "Stranded at the drive in. Branded a fool. What will they say Monday at school?" and so on.
Posted by: hope at June 9, 2006 1:49 PM(Sorry about the double post before. I had browser issues.)
Anyway, what I remember most about that scene is the ad for the concession stand with the dancing hot dog. For some reason, I thought it was SO COOL! Of course, I was only 7 or 8 when I saw it. But I had never seen an ad for the concession stand. That was obviously before movies started to include 10 minutes worth of commercials before previews. Sigh.
Another movie I saw at the drive-in was Saturday Night Fever. They released an R version and a PG version. Of course, I saw the PG version since I was only about six years old. I loved the music but all of the drama went over my head. Watching that movie later as an adult, I can't believe my aunt took my cousin and me to see that movie. It was totally inappropriate for a couple of six-year-olds. She should have just bought us the soundtrack. Well, okay, I did own the soundtrack already. But still...
Posted by: Jill at June 15, 2006 7:17 AM