1999 33¢ Celebrate the Century - 1950s: Drive-In Movies
US #3187i – Celebrate the Century stamp honoring the drive-in boom of the 1950s.

On June 6, 1933, the first drive-in movie theater opened in Camden, New Jersey.  The number of drive-ins in the US would eventually grow to over 4,000, becoming a beloved pastime for millions.

Before the drive-in theater became popular in the 1950s, seeing a film was not usually a family activity.  Children attended a matinee during the day, while adults got dressed up to go to the theater at night.  During this time, the peak of the baby-boom years, families became more interested in doing things together.

1951 3¢ American Chemical Society
US #1002 – Hollingshead’s family ran the R.M. Hollingshead Corporation chemical plant in Camden.

Drive-ins reportedly existed as early as the 1910s, but Richard Hollingshead Jr. of New Jersey filed the first patent and is credited with inventing the drive-in theater in the 1930s.  Reportedly, Hollingshead was inspired to develop the drive-in after his mother complained that the seats in the movie theater were less comfortable than those in her car.

1999 33¢ Drive-In Movies Mystic First Day Cover
US #3187i – Mystic First Day Cover

Hollingshead drafted several layouts for the theater and experimented with them in his driveway.  He mounted a 1928 Kodak projector to the top of his car and then duplicated a variety of weather conditions to test how the theater would hold up.  Hollingshead then nailed a screen to trees in his back yard and lined up cars in front of it to work out how the cars would be parked, the best angles, and elevations.  At one point, he built several ramps for drivers in the back rows to get a good view, but those ramps turned out to be too expensive and required too much maintenance.

1999 33¢ Drive-In Movies Fleetwood First Day Cover
US #3187i – Fleetwood First Day Cover

Hollingshead continued his testing for several months before combing the ideas that worked best and applying for a patent.  On May 16, 1933, his invention was assigned US patent number 1,909,537.  Hollingshead, along with three investors, then began construction.  After three weeks and a $30,000 investment, it opened on June 6, 1933, to a sold-out crowd.  The first movie he played was Wives Beware.  Admission prices were 25¢ for the car, and 25¢ per person, with no car to pay more than $1 total.  Hollingshead originally called it a “park-in theater” and advertised it as a place where “the whole family is welcome, regardless of how noisy the children are.”

1999 33¢ Drive-In Movies Classic First Day Cover
US #3187i – Classic First Day Cover

Hollingshead’s theater, which had space for 500 cars, was an instant hit, and people from far and wide to enjoy his movie-going experience.  During its first summer in operation, the theater’s employees noted they had seen license plates from 43 different states! Despite the theater’s popularity, its patrons had one major complaint – the sound.  Hollingshead had mounted three RCA Victor speakers to the screen.  The people parked closest to the screen complained the sound was too loud, while those in the back could barely hear it.  Hollingshead was determined to keep his customers happy, so he visited the RCA Victory factory in Camden to look for an alternative.  RCA then developed small speakers that could be mounted on each car.

2008 42¢ Fins and Chrome
US #4353-57 – Fins and Chrome stamps featuring five classic cars of the “Fabulous Fifties”

Soon, drive-ins were springing up all over the country.  However, these other theater owners ignored Hollingshead’s patent.  He spent a great deal in legal fees, but was unsuccessful in getting the royalties he sought.  Hollingshead also struggled because he had to pay up to $400 for each movie he played, many of which had already played at indoor theaters.  Despite the 50¢ admission fee and additional earnings from the sale of drinks and snacks, he was unable to make a profit.  Hollingshead sold his theater in 1935, and its new owner moved the operation to Union, New Jersey.

Drive-in theaters became especially popular after World War II, and at its peak, there were more than 4,000 drive-ins in the 1950s.  One of the largest and most elaborate theaters was built in Copiague, New York.  It had an indoor viewing area that was heated and air-conditioned, a playground, cafeteria, restaurant, and a shuttle train to cover the 28 acres.

However, drive-ins could only be operated during certain times of the year and required good weather.  In the 1970s, the oil crisis led many to buy smaller cars, making the drive-in less comfortable.  And the invention of the VCR made watching movies at home a comfortable option.

Today, there are about 300 drive-ins still in operation.  Drive-ins enjoyed a resurgence during the COVID-19 pandemic – when indoor theaters closed, drive-ins offered families safe, socially-distanced entertainment.

Click here for a neat site dedicated to drive-ins, including fun facts, more history, and listings of drive-ins in every state!

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Do you have fond memories of your local drive-in?  Share them in the comments!

Discover what else happened on This Day in History.

Do you know who pioneered the field of neonatology, the area of medicine specializing in premature and ill newborns?  Check back tomorrow for more.

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4 Comments

  1. Oh yes, as a first year “baby boomer “ I went to outdoor theaters many times. Fond memories of a bygone era. Let me see, I think I paid around.75 c to get in. I know that sometimes you heard of certain people hiding in the trunk to save.75 cents. At today’s prices the , the trunk would be loaded! Thanks again for a good read.

  2. One night at the local drive-in (Minnesota), while seated in my father’s 1957 Ford, the manager came by and asked me to open the trunk. I did so and all that was in it was a spare tire and jack. The trunk was big enough to to hold a person, yes, but no one was in it. To this day I have no idea why this car was chosen unless it was just a random check.

  3. My firsT time at the drone in theater my Dad took my Mom, me and two little friends. We played on the playground and then watched the movie THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. in my teenage years I went many times. Hated to see so many close! Thanks for the interesting article- very enjoyable!

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