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 before closing, 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.).
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.
This type of heater plugged in to 120vAC (not 12V car power)
to warm your car during cold nights at the drive in movie.
An "intermission cartoon" to entice patrons to the Concession Stand.
Another Intermission Ad
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.
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.
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.
Michigan Cinema History:
The Ford-Wyoming Drive-In Theatre
10400 Ford Road - Dearborn, Michigan
OPEN: May 19, 1950 | CAPACITY: 1,525
(updated 4/22/2013)
The Street-View of the Main Screen, 1990
The Ford-Wyoming's opening show was "The Man from Colorado" starring Glenn Ford, William Holden, and Ellen Drew.
The original Marquee, 1955
Purchased by Charles Shafer in 1981, the single-screen Ford-Wyoming eventually grew to five screens, and four more at the adjacent Ford-Wyoming 6-9 on Wyoming Rd. In the early 1990s, two other Wayne Amusements drive-ins, the Wayne, and the Algiers gave up their six screens to the growing Ford-Wyoming.
Artists drawing of the Ticket Booths and Main Screen
Originally built as a single-screener, with a colossal, late Streamline-style screen, the Ford-Wyoming could originally accomodate around 750 cars. It also once advertised a kiddie playground and boat rides for children.
Winter 1985
There's also the Concession Stands, where you could get most, if not all, of any other "regular" theater's snack-foods and drinks.
The Concession Stand
The owners of the Ford-Wyoming, like other drive-ins, decided some years ago to bypass the less-than-ideal sound of those speaker-on-a-pole systems and replace them with high-quality, low-wattage broadcasts that theatergoers could tune in on their car radios.
Speakers on poles
But the public here didnt want it and it was described almost like a rebellion. Folks were afraid theyd run down their car batteries. The speaker-poles remained and the owners even had to hire a full-time employee to keep them all working.
Ford-Wyoming Ticket Lanes
The environment has usually been very family-friendly, and has been described as a place where "families reign" for being accomodating.
Folks of all-ages have long-enjoyed the atmosphere of the Ford-Wyoming and many folks have described it as "packed" when a popular feature-film has been shown, almost to the point of not having any additional room for one-more-patron.
Mid-1990s view of patrons at the Ford-Wyoming Drive-In.
Economics changed as time went on, and many drive-ins closed in the mid-to- late-1980s. The introduction of VCRs meant more people were either staying home to watch movies or going to indoor movie theatres which were getting bigger screens and Dolby sound. This evolution would lead to the decline of "going to the movies" in general and folks staying-home. Land values and prices going up have also contributed to the closing and demolition of many of the Drive-Ins that used to dot the landscape.
The Ford-Wyoming has survived the economic times that have shuttered and led to the demolition of many other Drive-In's across the country. American movie habits have moved toward indoor multiplexes or the video stores, and other forms of home-entertainment.
In addition, monolithic drive-ins were taking up expensive real estate that could be developed for more lucrative retail business ventures.
The Ford-Wyoming has been dubbed "a survivor" along with being a local gem and even generates some excitement for those that may not have realized that these American Icons are still in existance, even though very very rare and a sight to behold when you find them.
1981 Aerial View. Ford Road is at bottom
The Drive-in Theater is a part of Endangered Americana that is missed by all who treasured the times that they had there...but sometimes you can re-live some of that Americana, if you find the right place.
Enjoy the Hunt...and beware of your surroundings, as always. :)
IF you have any good-memories or stories of the Ford-Wyoming Drive-In, please feel free to share in your logs.
Please BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS and as always, Enjoy the Hunt!