Back To The Drive-In (2022) | Documentary | April Wright

In this fascinating documentary, we go behind the scenes to visit eleven unique family-owned drive-ins across the country to experience their passion and determination to keep their theaters alive. It's a story of human resilience.
Director: April Wright
Cast: April Wright
Featuring: D. Edward Vogel, Dwight Grimm, Leigh Van Swall
#documentary #drivein #retro

[@lucillepfundt6757]

Growing up in Rochester, MI was a real treat. There were so many Drive-In theaters to chose from. There were The Blue Sky, the Pontiac Drive-In, Miracle Mile, and Waterford Drive-In. If there was a good family movie showing my parents would make plans for us to go. On Friday, after Dad got his paycheck, Mom would tell us go get your P.J's on as soon as we get home from school, that was the signal that tonight was family outing to a Drive-In. While we were putting our PJ'S on we could smell popcorn being popped, coffee being perked, and Ice cubes being dropped into a cooler. Mom had earlier put the seat down in the station wagon and she put the camping mattress in the back of the car with pillows and blankets. As soon as Dad came home we'd help mom take the cooler and one brown grocery bag of buttered popcorn in the back of the car, Mom would carry the thermos of coffee and a second bag of popcorn for her and Dad and we'd pile in the car. Before getting to the Drive-In we'd stop at McDonald's for our dinner which consisted of two Happy Meals, two Big Mac's, and two Quarter Pounders with cheese, 4 large fries, 2 chocolate shakes and 2 large cokes, my little brother and sister had fries and cokes with their happy meal and were more happy with the toy that came with the happy meal. Dad would park the car backwards so us kids could watch the movie while Mom and Dad sat in the seats outside of the snack bar with their popcorn and coffee. My younger siblings would only last long enough to watch the cartoon and half of the movie before falling asleep, my younger brother fell asleep during the intermission, when Dad saw that 3 of their kids were asleep he would put the speaker on the post and turn the car around so he and Mom would watch the second feature in the front seat, half way through the movie I would fall asleep. Us kids slept in the car all night,

[@matthrivnak6572]

There's nothing like going to the drive in, it's great!

[@williamlewis9320]

My dad owned 3 drive in theaters here in Bakersfield, Ca back in the day. (1945-1986)

[@kingoftheclouds42o5]

Enjoyed this start to finish. 👏🏼

[@SheenaAaron-fo9bs]

Such an great documentary! I looked up the Google street view of Mission Tiki Drive-In Theater in Montclair CA and as of November 2023 it's been "Erased from existence". 1957 to 2023, What an amazing legacy!

[@cheryljones6584]

Thanks to all drive in owners for keeping my childhood memories alive

[@acoustic61]

Quasar is so cool. The old equipment including the popcorn machine with the gas burner.

[@davidhuber7552]

Thank you to L.P. for the detailed description of her family's drive-in visits back in the heyday or Golden Age of drive-ins. I could identify with it based on my experiences.

[@musicman257]

Some drive inns had the ɓest fòod

[@robertnevely4820]

Money isn't everything and people who love what they do and not give up on it, make money !!

[@sonnyd6461]

I love this doc! It’s a beautiful exploration. Is this anywhere streaming like Netflix? All the ads here on you tube are ridiculous.

[@conniewillis6756]

The Blues Brothers? Movie quote quiz at 30:30. "You do play both kinds of music Country and Western don't you?"

[@cheryljones6584]

In the early 60s bambie was the movie in ca I saw

[@troyflatland5299]

That woman saying that she was going to call the train people and not understanding that they need to be the ones working around the train was unreal. Her attitude was disgusting!