Quarantine Chronicles: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of the Drive-In Theater

Operational Saco Drive-In Saco ME © Lindsey Rickert

By: Michelle Mora

With the rise of streaming services and the increase in ticket cost, theater attendance was waning even in a pre-coronavirus world. But after months of streaming content from the comfort of their homes, Americans are ready for a night out. With no sign of when theaters will reopen to full capacity, the answer for many has been the resurgence of the drive-in theater – a retro tradition, with a few modern, socially-distanced twists.

Abandoned East Hartford Drive-In South Windsor, CT © Lindsey Rickert

Though drive-in theaters can be traced back to the early decades of the 20th century, they didn’t rise to national popularity until after World War II. During the infamous “Baby Boom,” when couples were reunited and having children, the country saw a sudden increase in the suburban and rural population and a sharp rise in car ownership due to the end of wartime fuel rationing. The affordability, informality, and intimacy of the drive-in appealed to all ages. Families could bring their children, including infants and toddlers, without disturbing fellow moviegoers, and young people or couples without children found it ideal for date nights. In 1947, there were 155 drive-in theaters and by 1951 there were over 4,000 across the U.S.

Operational 99W Drive-In Newberg, OR © Lindsey Rickert

This golden era of drive-ins would be short-lived, however. Eventually, new developments in home entertainment, like color tv, cable, VCRs, and movie rentals, as well as inflation and real estate hikes, caused drive-in patronage and revenue to decline. Many started showing elicit films to make ends meet and quickly lost their family-friendly reputation. One by one, drive-in theater screens went dark and by the 80s the number of drive-ins dropped to under 200. The loss of these once treasured spaces prompted photographer Lindsey Rickert, to travel around the country, documenting both operating and abandoned drive-ins theaters. “They are this beautiful piece of history that is hanging on and finding new ways to survive,” says Rickert in a 2017 interview with Atlas Obscura.

Abandoned Sage Crest Drive-In, Yerington, NV © Lindsey Rickert

The country’s remaining drive-ins have gained a quasi-novelty status – the appeal lies in their nostalgia rather than their entertainment value. But in today’s bizarre reality, they are making an unexpected comeback. As states loosen restrictions of stay-at-home orders, drive-ins around the country are starting to reopen as a safe space where communities can congregate, watch a movie, and enjoy the summer season.

Along with existing New York venues, like The Warwick Drive-In in Warwick and Four Brothers in Amenia, pop-up drive-ins have begun to make use of the local spaces left empty due to coronavirus. Karpool Cinema has temporarily opened in the parking lot of Kathedral Events Center in Hammontin, New Jersey; MASC Hospitality group is using the Yankee Stadium parking lot for a drive-in carnival this summer; and Catholic Charities of Staten Island will host a summer movie series on the Mount Loretto campus in Tottenville.

Abandoned Sierra Vista Drive-In, Socorro, NM © Lindsey Rickert

Though the nature of the drive-in theater seems to organically fall into safe social distancing practices, venues are taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of their visitors. Staff members direct guests to specific parking spots, all at least 10 ft apart, so they can safely open their tailgates, tickets are purchased on the phone and shown without rolling down the car window, and sanitized restrooms are available with strictly regulated capacity. Some are also going beyond the standard drive-in model to include additional experiences like live music that will play through the FM radio station, and restaurant or food truck options that are ordered over the phone and served directly to the vehicle by servers in masks and gloves. The public response to this resurrected entertainment has been overwhelming. The Bel Aire Diner in Astoria, who has been hosting movie nights in their parking lot, often sell out their 45 available spaces within 1-3 minutes.

Believing in the fruitful future of the drive-in, filmmaker Spencer Folmar is building what he claims to be the world’s largest drive-in theater. Located in Eustis, Florida with space for over 500 vehicles, this immersive experience will use a lighthouse to project movies onto five screens in all directions. The ambitious project indicates that drive-ins are more than a blast from the past, and more than a temporary fix for the awkward present, but a reclaimed space for community, culture, and entertainment for years to come. “A nostalgic and innovative Drive-In Movie Theatre serves the needs of a growing population and the economy of tomorrow,” reads the Eustis Drive-In Facebook page. “See you in the future at the movies!”