It all started when Richard Hollingshead, Jr., an auto parts salesman began to experiment by tacking a sheet between two trees, positioning a 1928 Kodak film projector on a car hood to project movies.. as he experimented, he moved cars around in his yard and driveway to see how the picture can be seen with more than one car; he used speakers behind the sheet for sound, and used his water sprinkler to test visibility in rainy weather....

On May 16, 1933 Hollingshead was awarded a patent for his invention.   On June 6, 1933 he opened the first automobile drive-in theatre in Camden, NJ.  The first movie was the British comedy: "Wife Beware".   Ten months later, a second drive-in theatre was opened by  Wilson Shankweiler in Orefield, PA.  By 1958 over 4,058 drive-ins were open and operating.

Unfortunately, in the 60's, 70's & 80's many drive-in theatres began to vanish from the American roadside. Depsite many challenges, the remaining 397 drive-in theatres in the United States are thriving today!   You will see families, children and couples re-discovering the drive-in!  Why?  Each drive-in theatre experience is full of magical memories, that you can not get ANYWHERE ELSE-- that is why we say:
"IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO SEE A MOVIE!"   

2008 represents the 75th anniversary year for drive-in theatres;  if you have not experienced attending a drive-in theatre lately; why wait?  Make 2008 the year--that you re-discover why movies are magical under the stars!