Last week marked the 80th anniversary of the drive-in theatre, the first of which opened in New Jersey, USA on 6 June 1933. Sadly, this once great outdoor movie-going institution has pretty much faded away all around the world. Only a couple of the venues still run in South Africa, in Gauteng in particular.
So – considering we’re the nation that produced the hit song “Ag, please Daddy, won’t you take us to the drive-in?”, today we want to know if you have any fond memories of this once popular alternative to the indoor cinema complex? Do you miss it? Do you even remember it? Let’s take a trip down nostalgia lane…
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Last Updated: June 12, 2013
TechniKyle
June 12, 2013 at 11:21
I have never been to one before… Would like to though.
Ilden Webber
June 12, 2013 at 11:29
I saw all the Back to the Future movies at the drive-in.
But my fondest memory is my friend’s mother sneaking us (then 16 year old teenage boys) into the drive-in to go see Basic Instinct. We weren’t allowed to leave the car to get snacks or anything, but at least we got to see the no 2-21s movie!
Kervyn Cloete
June 12, 2013 at 13:13
I loved going to the Drive-In at the old Goodwood Showgrounds (where Grand West Casino now stands) and its arguably where my love of movies was born.
As much as I appreciate the advancements in cinema audio-visual technology, there was something truly awesome about watching movies outside.
I still remember that the very last movie I watched at the drive-in was a double bill of Predator and La Bamba. Because that pairing makes complete sense 😛
WernerE
June 12, 2013 at 14:17
There was a guerrilla drive-in in Stellenbosch last year that was run by a company called Cinemuse. Pay R50.00 per car, bring your own booze and snacks. We watched Top Gun, the Star Wars Trilogy back-to-back, American Graffiti, etc. Great way to bring back some of the nostalgia. Sadly it’s currently suspended 🙁 http://www.cinemuse.co.za/2010/01/venue-drive-in.html
Kervyn Cloete
June 12, 2013 at 15:42
They had one in the rooftop parking of a mall here in Parow a couple of years back, where you could also bring your own snacks and they would then broadcast the audio on a radio frequency which you would pick up on your car radio. Was actually pretty cool until it got closed down.