Is the Time Right for Drive-In Movies?

For the past few years I have talked with friends about what a cool idea it would be to bring back the Drive-In Theater.  I remember with fondness how Mom and Dad would dress us in PJ’s at 7 PM and we would go to the local Drive-In in the station wagon to see a double feature-  typically a kid’s Disney-type movie (I remember Hawmps) followed by something more geared for the grown-ups.

Back then the sound for the movie was piped into the car by a lame metal box that you hung on the inside of the driver’s window.  There was no such thing as stereo sound and sometimes the box crackled and hissed which made the movie hard to hear.

But now with local FM broadcasting methods, you could easily pipe surround sound into a car radio over the FM band.  Concessions could be handled by the central kiosk or by waitresses called up by SMS text messaging.  Once you solve the sound problem and work out a good way to get fresh concessions to the guests, all you need a is big plot of land and a giant movie screen.

A couple in Virginia have decided to go for it.  From WTOP here:

A couple of Virginia entrepreneurs say they’re planning to open a drive-in movie theater this summer.

John Heidel says he and his wife have been dreaming about opening a drive-in for years and finally decided to go for it.

Heidel says the Goochland Drive-In will open in June or July on a 10-acre site just off Interstate 64 in Hadensville.

Heidel says the theater will have about 340 parking spaces and will play first-run movies on a 90-foot screen. Viewers will be able to tune in the sound on their FM radios.

The Heidels plan to start nightly double features at dusk. They haven’t set prices yet, though Heidel says tickets will be $6 to $7 for adults and about $3 for children.

Thanks to Dan for the story.  For my readers-  do you have memories of Drive-In theaters, or do you think this is a good idea?  Anyone still have Drive-In movies in their area?