With cars parked bumper-to-bumper, patrons witnessed the screening of silent films from their vehicles. Caver obtained a permit from the city to project films downtown. In 1921, a drive-in was opened by Claude V. įirst drive-in theater, Pennsauken, New Jersey, 1933 Theatre de Guadalupe was soon renamed De Lux Theater before closing in July 1916. The first movie shown by the Theatre de Guadalupe was Bags of Gold, produced by Siegmund Lubin. Automobile entrances and places for 40 or more cars within the theater grounds and in-line position to see the pictures and witness all performances on the stage is a feature of the place that will please car owners. Seven hundred people may be comfortably seated in the auditorium. History Early drive-ins (before WWII) Ī partial drive-in theater-Theatre de Guadalupe-was opened in Las Cruces, New Mexico on April 23, 1915: This also has the advantage of the film soundtrack to be heard in stereo on car stereo systems, which are typically of much higher quality and fidelity than the basic small mono speakers used in the old systems. These speaker systems were superseded by the more practical method of microbroadcasting the soundtrack to car radios. Originally, the movie's sound was provided by speakers on the screen and later by individual speakers hung from the window of each car, which was attached to a small pole by a wire. The screen can be as simple as a painted white wall, or it can be a steel truss structure with a complex finish. Some drive-ins have small playgrounds for children and a few picnic tables or benches. Within this enclosed area, customers can view movies from the privacy and comfort of their cars. Bass Hill drive-in cinema, Sydney, AustraliaĪ drive-in theater or drive-in cinema is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor movie screen, a projection booth, a concession stand, and a large parking area for automobiles.

Drive in movie theater