Ahh, the drive-in, we hardly knew ye

There's something magical about being in the exact right place at the exact right time. We, as humans, describe this phenomenon as being everything from a noteworthy coincidence to evidence of God's handiwork. I'm not sure which of those two to ascribe it to, but those are the kind of moments that lit the spark to my life-long love of the drive-in.

Back in the 80s, there were more drive-ins than there are now (although the institution as a whole was well on its way to the lingering death that's happening to it today). Occasionally, you would be driving by one and have a clear view of the screen when whatever B movie they were playing had its obligatory nude scene. Nudity, along with other types of sleaziness have permeated our modern culture, so you might think "so what?". But back then, it was a different era, and to a 12 year old boy without cable, any glimpse of boobity was FREAKING AWESOME!

Unlike a lot of other people, I have no fond memories of sitting in the family car in pajamas with mom and dad watching movies in all of their outdoor glory. The fact is, I never actually saw a movie at one until I was about 20 or so, and when I did go that first time, it was with an evenly mixed group of males and females and about two cases of beer. The crush I had on the blond I was with fizzled shortly thereafter that night, but I am, however, still deeply in love with beer.

Over the years, I saw movies at several different drive-ins, and I always enjoyed the unique atmosphere that they provided; half of the cars usually had families in them and the other half had couples on dates, so there was always a weird mix of family values and sinfulness occurring in the same area.

But alas, everything changes and sometimes it just goes away (the Mission 4, San Antonio's last drive-in, was recently vandalized to the point where repair costs will likely see it shut down). Like large sailing ships, live theater, and cowboys, the drive-in will never vanish entirely, but the time in which it was an active part of culture is gone forever. And that's a shame.

Interview with Joe Bob Briggs

This is taken from an email interview I did with Joe Bob Briggs about a drive-in story I was going to do, but got killed for various reasons (including the fact that Joe Bob, bless his heart, sent me the answers three months after I sent him the questions). So, rather than letting it go to waste, here it is, in all its unedited glory.


1. What is the allure of the drive-in? What makes it so different from other movie venues?

It's outside! Like God intended. I'm surprised I have to explain this to you. You watch the movie in the privacy of your own vehicle, where you can do any disgusting thing you want without intervention from the professional scolds who run this country. It's no accident that the decline of the drive-in coincides with the rise of Victorian morality.

2. What accounted for the drive-in’s post WWII rise in popularity and its subsequent decline in the 1960’s and 1970’s?

After World War II, everything in America was about the car. There weren't just drive-in movies, there were drive-in banks, drive-in restaurants, drive-in everything. People started spending more and more time in their car, and at that time it wasn't considered a burden. To some extent, using the car was still thought of as a lark. The cars were also much larger. One reason the drive-in declined in the seventies is that people started buying little Japanese rice rockets, cars so tiny that you couldn't really sit through a two-hour movie when you were folded into one. Then there was the rise of the multi-plex, which really took off in the early seventies. But the main reason for the decline was rising real estate values. The drive-in was always built on the edge of the city, where the urban and the rural meet. That made it prime land for expansion. Most of the drive-ins in the eighties were closed and sold to Wal-Marts.

3. How did drive-in’s come to be associated with Roger Corman type films?

The major studios discriminated against drive-ins and for many years refused to give them major releases. So the independent producers like Corman rushed in to supply them. Also, even when the drive-in *did* score a major release, they would need a second or a third feature. Many of the Corman-type films were sold as "flat fee" second features. You would pay $50 a night for the film.

4. Can you name a couple of what you believe are the all-time great drive-movies and a couple of recent ones that might fit into that mold?

Probably the two greatest ones of all time are Night of the Living Dead and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Recent titles would include The Grudge, the Saw series, etc.

5. What is the difference between “A” movies and “B” movies? What makes a “B” movie great?

The three essentials are the three B's: Blood, Breasts and Beasts. Everything else is gravy.

6. How did the advent of direct-to-video movies affect the drive-in?

There's no question that the old audience for the drive-in second feature is the same audience that went for direct-to-video exploitation fare big time. There was about a five-year period when you could put out anything on video and people would rent it.

7. Any favorite snack stand food, or do you bring your own? Also, what’s your take smuggling beer or other alcohol in with you to drink while you watch the movie?

Alcohol is essential! Hot dogs are standard. Nachos are that added amenity that shows the drive-in owner is a purist.

8. How does the drive-in rank as a dating venue?

If you have a big car, no place better. Tinted windows are essential, however.

9. Is there any chance that you’ll have a new show anytime soon?

Yes, an excellent chance. I'm involved with the new Redrum network, devoted to horror, thriller and suspense movies and tv shows, and I'll definitely have a show on there.

10. Interviewee’s choice…anything on the subject you feel is important that I haven’t asked about.

The drive-in will never die!