Most Drive-In Movie Theaters consist of a large outdoor screen (either a wall painted-white, or a complex steel-truss structure with a complex finish), a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles. Within this enclosed area, customers can view movies from the privacy and comfort of their cars.
The original Patent Drawings.
The idea originated in the early 1930's in Camden, NJ. and was Patented by Richard M. Hollingshead. His idea began as an experiment in his driveway with a Kodak Projector, mounted on the hood of his car, aimed at a screen that was attached to some trees. He tried different techniques and finally worked-out the parking-arrangement and spacing to allow everyone that attended, an unobstructed view of the screen. Once he had this idea in-place, he was granted a Patent in 1933 and He opened his first Drive-In Theater soon thereafter. This facility only lasted a few years, but the idea caught-on elsewhere to become part of the American Pop-Culture and Landscape to-this-day.
Typical-style of Drive-In Theater Speakers with the Volume Knob.
Sound was originally produced from Speakers in the main screen tower, but the quality wasn't that good and many attempts were made to improve it. In 1941, the RCA corporation found a solution and along-came the in-car speakers with built-in volume controls that most drive-in patrons would come to know. These were better than the original Sound, but still had a very "tinny" sound to them. Later-on, as the technology improved, this system was replaced with Radio Broadcast equipment to allow the sound to be transmitted directly to the vehicles. This was an improved process for sound and also kept damage to the wired Speakers and/or patrons cars that would happen when folks would leave, after a good show of their favorite film, and some people would "forget to remove the speaker" and damage both the speaker and/or their cars in the process (i.e. Windows, or scratches/dents, etc.).
A typical projector from a Projection Building.
The popularity of the Drive-In's soared after World War II and peaked in the 1950's and 1960's. The theaters would provide cheap, family entertainment including many having a Playground (or other things) for their youngest patrons. For colder-weather, in-car heaters were also offered at many Theaters, much like the Speakers had been.
An "intermission cartoon" to entice patrons to the Concession Stand.
The Concession Stand (or Snack Bar) would have food that could be served very quickly. Hot Dogs, Pizza, Cheeseburgers, Popcorn, Soft Drinks, and a host of other "food" could be found there to enjoy along with the show. This is usually where the Theater makes most of it's profits and much of the promotions are geared towards that area. This was vital to the success of drive-ins, as food revenue increased steadily during the late 1940s and 50s. While some operators experimented with talk-back speakers to take orders and deliver food to the car, others had mobile carts patrolling the lots selling snacks. Over time, owners discovered that concessions could be sold at a high mark-up and that revenues did not have to be shared with film distributors. To this day, food revenue remains extremely important to exhibitors, especially with film rental rates going as high as 80% on opening weekends for some features. In order to promote the concessions, most locations used the now-famous drive-in intermission films, popularized by the Filmack Company, featuring dancing hot dogs and countdown clocks that were supposed to mesmerize the audience members, wet their pallets and open their wallets.
Another Intermission Ad
Many Theaters even had "car-hops" like their Drive-In Restaurant counterparts to make the experience even more appealing for their patrons.
A car-hop, taking an order (California)
The Drive-In owners would later allow other-uses for their large amounts of space which could only be used for the Theater after-sunset. This would usually generate more income for the theaters and some of these uses included Flea Markets, Swap Meets, and even Outdoor Church Services.
A typical Flea Market at the Mission Drive-In, San Antonio, Texas, 1984
Over time, with the advent of other sources of entertainment, as well as the rising cost of Real Estate and other economic factors, Cinematic Landmarks such as these have been slowly disappearing over the years, leaving less than 500 across the United States currently. Many of those which were closed were later demolished and the real-estate used for other things such as Office or Retail Space, with some being replaced on the exact same land with Mutli-Plex indoor Movie Theaters. Some properties have just been left vacant with nothing remaining there but an empty field. However, a very-select few that were closed have even re- opened to be given a new-life with new patrons looking for a very unique movie-going experience.
"The Flintstones" visiting a Drive-In in Bedrock.
Drive-Ins have long been in "cartoon culture" as well.
Many folks feel that these Gems of Americana are very much an endangered part of the landscape. Most, if not all of them, have very fond memories of their time spent there and would love to be able to revisit their favorite Drive-In Theater once again.
The Pontiac Drive-In Theatre
Open: July 1, 1950 | Closed: 1990
Capacity: 720 (1950) - 1200 (1990)
Night view of The Marquee - 1977
The Pontiac Drive-In opened Saturday, July 1, 1950 and had a vehicle capacity of 720 for patrons to enjoy a nice evening show with the excitement of something new for folks to do, to distract from the news of the day that had included the United States entry into the Korean War.
Ticket Lanes - 1977
For many years, the screen had a large painting of Chief Pontiac on the street side until it became too-worn out to keep on the back of the screen any longer due to the cost of the painting. Unfortunately, there aren't any known-photos of the Chief's image on the Big Screen here.
The concession stand with some of the Playground showing in front - 1977
Like many of the Drive-In Movie Theater complexes, there was a Playground for the kids to play on near the front of the complex, by the screen, to keep them from "getting bored", as kids sometimes do.
The Concessions were of the "usual fare" (Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Chips, Drinks) and were popular (of course) during the intermissions between shows.
In 1959, The facility went through an expansion to enlarge the total vehicle capacity from 720 to 1200 cars.
1950 photo of Screen and Ticket booth
The railroad that runs along the south-western edge of the property also made for an interesting (although annoying and distracting) addition to the Theater experience here. Whenever a passing Train would go past there was usually a lot of noise, and of course, the headlight from the passing trains would give a distraction to the show.
2005-2006 Aerial View of the property with the Railroad along lower-left.
For many years, the evenings would end with the Managers driving around in an old ambulance, clearing-out whatever patrons remained in the theater parking areas well into the wee-hours of the morning. Hundreds of romantics were "dispersed" in this manner over the years that the Pontiac was in operation.
One of the speaker & light towers, unknown date
The Pontiac (along with the nearby Waterford Drive In) was even involved in an obscenity court-case in the early 1970's. In 1971, times were changing where many of the drive-ins would "push the envelope" and show more "adult-themed" shows. Court-charges and court-cases would ensue and even resulted in the Waterford (and the Pontiac Drive In nearby) being shut-down by the authorities and the film confiscated:
Waterford drive-in manager cleared - Obscenity case dropped.
(Detroit News - Wednesday November 24th,1971).
A 46-year old man has been cleared of charges that he showed an obscene movie last September during his once-weekly stint as relief manager at a Waterford drive-in theater. The obscenity charges against Melville King, of Clarkston, were dropped yesterday in Waterford District Court on a motion by the Oakland County prosecutors office. At the same time, identical misdemeanor charges were filed against the owners of the Pontiac Drive-In, 2935 Dixie Highway, Waterford. Township police swooped down on the outdoor theater Sept.
28, arresting King, and taking a 90-minute film, Southern Comfort. Attorneys for the company, Bloomfield Realty Corp. of Detroit, said yesterday the confiscated film violates obscenity laws. Judge Kenneth H.
Hempstead set sentencing for Jan. 7. Showing an obsence more can bring a $100 fine and 90 days in jail. Waterford police said the theater raided because the X-rated film seen by young children.
The film, they said, was an old-fashioned smoker. It was the first time township police have closed down a theater, indoors or outdoors, the police said. King, who awaited trial on $1,000 personal bond, was filling in for the regular manager at the time the raid took place, the prosecutors office said. Earlier, expressing surprise at his arrest.
King, said he rarely sees the theaters movies.
1987 view of the front
Later-on, with the advent of home-video and "movie multi-plexes", as well as the claims of "trouble with teens fighting" which would plague many Drive-Ins, the patronage declined. Those things eventually led to the decision being made to close the Pontiac Drive-In as well.
1956 Newspaper Ad
This had been the same fate that met many of the other local Drive-Ins like the Blue-Sky to the east on Opdyke Rd., or the Miracle Mile Drive-in just down the road on Telegraph.
Audience-side of the screen - 1993
The end of the Pontiac Drive-In would come in 1990, which would make it one of the last surviving Drive-In Theaters in SouthEast Michigan.
Closed, not only for the Season, but forever.
Sadly, after the Pontiac Drive-In Closed and the facilities secured by the owners, tragedy (and most-likely, vandals) would strike and take a swipe at what was left of the Pontiac's snackbar, seeming to put another nail in the "coffin" of the Theater. Two fires at the snackbar between 1991 and 1993 destroyed much of what had remained after the closing of the Pontiac.
1992 concession stand, after the first fire
The facilities including main Screen were later demolished and the property has seen little-use since then. It has been used for Semi-Trailer storage in the past, but currently is empty except for the weeds.
Of the four drive-in theatres that were in the surrounding area and have long-ago closed, only ONE of them has been re-purposed into something else, and yet none of the properties currently are used for anything. It is actually quite sad because to drive by these areas as you may even see a speaker post sticking up as though they were looking for a long lost friend.
Old Aerial View (1950's)
In July 1970, the Detroit News Movie Theater Guide advertised 26 drive-in theaters in Metro Detroit. The late 1980's would see the property values change here. With this change began the idea that the Drive In should be torn-down and the property reconstructed into something more profitable. Unfortunately, to this day, only portions of the Waterford Drive-In property have been redeveloped.
In 1988, the total number of Metro Detroit Drive-In's would fall to seven. In 2012, there is only one Metro Detroit Drive-In that remains.
One theater goer summed up her feelings. "You just worry sometimes that it will be all gone. We felt so sorry to see those others all go. We really enjoy this place."
Many folks feel that the Drive-in Theater is a part of Endangered Americana that is missed by all who treasured the times that they had there.
Please BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS at all times.
Enjoy the Hunt and be aware of your surroundings as always!