The Drive-in, Still a Great Family Activity
Why confine ourselves in a dark and excessively loud movie theatre when we can bring the kids to the drive-in? This classic North-American family outing may not be as glorious as it once was, but it’s definitely not ready to become part of history.
While the first drive-in saw the day in 1933 in New Jersey, and at the end of the ‘50s there were more than 4000 of them in the United States, we had to wait until 1946 to enjoy the first one in Canada. It was the Skyway Drive-In, located in Hamilton, Ontario. At the height of the drive-in craze, there were more than 240 operating in Canada.
During the warm summer nights, kids love pulling out their foldable chairs, wearing their pyjamas and wrapping themselves in a blanket, as they enjoy a box of popcorn or an ice cream cone while watching an action or an animation movie on the huge outdoor screen.
Another advantage of drive-ins compared to movie theatres, is that not only is the entry price cheaper for a family, but we can also bring our own snacks and drinks to save even more money.
Unfortunately, slowing business sparked the decline of this family activity, and the obligation to convert to digital projectors in 2013, which meant investments too big to be profitable, also caused establishments to close down, despite a constant flow of customers.
In Canada, there are only about 50 drive-ins still in operation. That’s a lot less than before. However, most of them have updated their equipment with the latest technologies, and loyal customers can now enjoy sound and image of much higher quality.
Obviously, the weather is a major factor in the survival of drive-ins. A rainy summer could spell disaster for any one of them. Nevertheless, going to the drive-in truly is a great activity for the whole family.