Comments on: Drive-in Theaters – A Money-Saving Movie Experience

By: The Best Money Blog

The Best Money Blog — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:55:25 +0000

We used to have the best drive-in theater. It was right in the middle of the city, and they got a lot of business. They ended closing down, probably because they were bought out, and the movie theater in the shopping center that replaced it sells tickets for $11.75! Even when it first opened they cost $6.75 and that was 10 years ago.

By: Funny about Money

Funny about Money — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 18:50:51 +0000

What a hoot! We used to love drive-ins. None are left around here, though.

When I was a little kid, the company town where I grew up had an “outdoor” theater. It wasn’t a drive-in (no one owned cars). It was an open-air amphitheater with a big drive-in screen. People could walk in and picnic on the grass or sit in bleachers to watch the show.

By: Squirrelers

Squirrelers — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 15:58:38 +0000

Very timely post, with summer official here within the last week.

Drive-in movies can be a lot of fun as a family outing. For young kids today, in a generation of digtal everything, it’s a fun novelty to go see a drive-in. It can be a great family outing. For teenagers, I think it still brings some of the same fun and opportunities as in generations past:)

By: Tim Landry

Tim Landry — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:00:39 +0000

LOL – back when I was in High School (1958-1962) drive in movies were ILLEGAL in Quebec

By: Money Reasons

Money Reasons — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:06:15 +0000

We love our drive-in theater! It’s less than 10 minutes away from our house! Ours is a bit price though, it’s $16.00 per car instead of person. If you have a large family, it’s a great deal though!

Drive-in theaters, what a great blast from the past! I wish more people would go to them. There has been times that there were only 10 cars in the drive-in theater in my location. I worry about it going out of business…

That would be a shame!

By: Ronald

Ronald — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 13:55:50 +0000

We are fortunate here in the SF bay area to have a number of drive in theater’s still around.The one in Napa where I grew up was closed permanently after the screen came down in heavy winds,narrowly missing school children walking home from the nearby elementary school.The site has condo’s on it now.There was also one in Vallejo which I believe was turned into a mobile home park in the 1970′s There is a multiple(3 or 4 screen) drive in in Sacramento still operating during the summer season.
High property taxes on the huge lots have forced theater operators to find extra ways of making money.The theaters in Concord and Oakland have “flea markets” where both commercial and private sellers can rent a space during the day.(the San Jose one used to do this too but I don’t think they still do)
I have many fond memories of stretching out in the back of the family station wagon,trying to stay awake through the double feature!

By: Linda

Linda — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:04:13 +0000

I wish there were still more drive ins around rather then Mega Plexes. We love the drive in and it feels more like an entire evening out. We do pack some of our own treats and like you said it’s a double feature for the price of one. hard to go wrong!

By: jim

jim — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 18:45:02 +0000

We used to go to the drive in when I was a kid and I remember it fondly. I remember seeing Flash Gordon at a drive in. But then most of the drive ins got shut down. The nearest one to us is now about 45 minute drive. It certainly can be a good deal price wise especially for families with kids.

By: Kosmo @ The Casual Observer

Kosmo @ The Casual Observer — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:19:50 +0000

Gotcha. I didn’t read that carefully and was thinking you and wife. (65 / (2*2))

I’m suddenly concerned that the ticket prices in Iowa are “pricey” according to a guy in the Bay area.

By: Lazy Man

Lazy Man — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:06:44 +0000

$9 is pricey. I was using a rough $8 average for a family of four to see two movies (8 tickets – 4 adults and 4 kids), when I estimated the $65. I might have been a couple of dollars on the high side, but not by much.

It takes awhile, but you if you work at it, you can develop a Dionne Warwick mental block. Once you reach that point, it’s all upside.

By: Kosmo @ The Casual Observer

Kosmo @ The Casual Observer — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:14:57 +0000

Yikes. And I though $9 movies around here were pricey :)

There’s a drive-in about 45 minutes from my home town. I haven’t been there, but my sister’s family goes there quite a bit. You can actually get pizzas delivered to you at the drive-in.

Maybe it’s just me, but I can never hear “San Jose” without having the song “Do you know the way to San Jose” run through my head. Maybe it’s best that I don’t live in Silicon Valley.