History Repeats Itself…All The Time

I have a nostalgic love for Drive In Theaters. From 1947 to 1954, five hundred new theaters opened every year. By 1958, there were more than 4000 Drive-Ins in America. That number held pretty stead through 1970 and then began a precipitous downfall over the next two decades. Now there are less than 300 Drive-Ins left. There were many factors that led to the demise of the Drive-In. But three are relevant to what’s happening to theaters today.

1. Car Culture

In America, car culture peaked in the 1960s. People were in love with their cars. They were big and comfortable, often with front seats that resembled the living room sofa. Drive-ins offered a level of privacy you didn’t get in the theater. People often went to the movie to “make out.