Drive-in Theaters : A History from Their Inception In 1933

by Segrave, Kerry

• ISBN13: 9780786426300
• ISBN10: 0786426306
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-04-30
• Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc Pub

Summary

A primarily American institution (though it appeared in other countries such as Japan and Italy), the drive-in theater now sits on the verge of extinction. During its heyday, drive-ins could be found in communities both large and small. Some of the larger theaters held up to 3,000 cars and were often filled to capacity on weekends. The history of the drive-in from its beginnings in the 1930s through its heyday in the 1940s and 1950s to its gradual demise in modern-day America is thoroughly documented here: the patent battles, community concerns with morality (on-screen and off), technological advances (audio systems, screens, etc.), audiences, and the drive-in's place in the motion picture industry.

Author Biography

Veteran entertainment-media researcher Kerry Segrave is also the author of such works as Payola in the Music Industry (1994), American Films Abroad (1997), American Television Abroad (1998) and Movies at Home (1999). He lives in British Columbia.

Table of Contents

Introduction	vii
1 A Backyard Invention	1	(10)
2 Patent Battles	11	(6)
3 A Very Slow Start, 1933-1944	17	(18)
4 Postwar Surge, 1945-1949	35	(17)
5 Drive-ins Battle the Industry	52	(8)
6 Communities Battle Drive-ins	60	(4)
7 The Golden Years, 1950's	64	(14)
8 The Golden Years, Showmanship	78	(11)
9 The Golden Years, Selling Food	89	(10)
10 Strange Drive-ins	99	(5)
11 Foreign Drive-ins	104	(11)
12 Drive-ins Battle the Elements	115	(11)
13 Drive-ins Pray for a Miracle	126	(9)
14 Drive-in Sound	135	(7)
15 The Audience	142	(6)
16 Sex in the Drive-in	148	(5)
17 Sex on the Drive-in	153	(16)
18 Decline and Stagnation, 1960's and 1970's	169	(13)
19 Rapid Descent, 1980's and Beyond	182	(15)
20 Conclusion	197	(6)
Appendices
1. Richard Hollingshead Patent	203	(12)
2. Architect's Ground Plan for Camden Drive-in	215	(1)
3. Louis Josserand Patent	216	(6)
4. Early Drive-ins	222	(5)
5. Financial Data	227	(6)
6. Number of Drive-ins, by State	233	(4)
7. Monthly Film Attendance by Type of Theater, 1952-1954	237	(2)
Notes	239	(22)
Bibliography	261	(14)
Index	275