I wonder if movie theatres are going the way of drive-ins

[Craig234]

There was a time there was no shortage of drive-in theatres. What changed? Movies and cars didn't go away. But they disappeared, few left, now almost none.

Movie theatres have long been facing big problems. Home theatres replace them, for decades they generally haven't made a profit from tickets sales, only snacks. They're facing more problems now following Covid and streaming. Perhaps they'll disappear? It's very different than it was for decades.

 

[holbritter]

There was a time there was no shortage of drive-in theatres. What changed? Movies and cars didn't go away. But they disappeared, few left, now almost none.

Movie theatres have long been facing big problems. Home theatres replace them, for decades they generally haven't made a profit from tickets sales, only snacks. They're facing more problems now following Covid and streaming. Perhaps they'll disappear? It's very different than it was for decades.

I miss drive-in theaters! The playground areas for the kiddos, before the movie started. Fun times.

 

[Loulit01]

I have fond memories of Drive-ins. Movie theaters I was never a fan of.

 

[ttwtt78640]

Drive-in theaters had problems with their screens being visible to those outside (limiting the rating of films they could show) and had to compete with people’s easy ability to bring their own snacks and drinks.

 

[Chock Full o Nuts]

We still have one drive-in around here. Had actually closed the gates for a time, but not long ago opened back up.
I haven't been there or a theater in many years, in most part because I don't really watch movies anymore.

Can't recall the last "new" movie I had watched. Been a long time.. I did watch E.T. a while ago.

I think part of the lack in theater attendance is the short window until you can see it from home in some form. A month or two.. Years ago could be many months.

 

[The Stars Tremble]

Drive-ins were a pretty awesome concept. They should have had a revival when Covid came along.

 

[jpevans]

Drive-in theaters had problems with their screens being visible to those outside (limiting the rating of films they could show) and had to compete with people’s easy ability to bring their own snacks and drinks.

In New England the had to cope with a 3 month season too. Also people driving off with the speaker still attached to their car.
I used to brink my kids to the drive-in in my truck with a mattress in the back & back in to a spot, a cooler of snakes etc. It's condos now, another is a Home Depot, others are so gone I can't remember the exact spot where they were. There is still a few,but none close.
It's been more than a few years since I attended an indoor movie. They became white boxes. Theaters were an experience when I was young, former vaudeville theaters with ornate appointments, one or two balconies, chandeliers, plush seats. All for a quarter.

 

[Chock Full o Nuts]

... a cooler of snakes etc.

For when the carload next to you are getting loud and obnoxious?.
I know.. snacks. Stupid auto correct.

 

[The Stars Tremble]

I used to brink my kids to the drive-in in my truck with a mattress in the back & back in to a spot, a cooler of snacks etc.

I never really understood snacking during a movie (in any format.) But a mattress in the back for when the kids get bored of the movie, is a genius idea which regular movies cannot match.

 

[MaryP]

There was a time there was no shortage of drive-in theatres. What changed? Movies and cars didn't go away. But they disappeared, few left, now almost none.

Movie theatres have long been facing big problems. Home theatres replace them, for decades they generally haven't made a profit from tickets sales, only snacks. They're facing more problems now following Covid and streaming. Perhaps they'll disappear? It's very different than it was for decades.

Theaters priced themselves out of the market. If Hollywood is charging them too much, then they'll be sorry eventually, too. Yes, I think theaters are on the way out. They closed the Loews near Bar Harbor, which no doubt packed them in during the summer, but the folks who actually live up there in Hancock and Washington counties can't afford those prices very often. And popcorn was $11! I nearly dropped my teeth.

 

[Superfly]

There was a time there was no shortage of drive-in theatres. What changed? Movies and cars didn't go away. But they disappeared, few left, now almost none.

Movie theatres have long been facing big problems. Home theatres replace them, for decades they generally haven't made a profit from tickets sales, only snacks. They're facing more problems now following Covid and streaming. Perhaps they'll disappear? It's very different than it was for decades.

I was literally just telling HBG yesterday that Covid proved that things people had been begging for for years was doable, even if they said it wasn’t.

Case in point - streaming new release movies. When my late husband was still alive, we never got to go to the movies, because he was disabled. We had to wait until it was released for home viewing.

Now, often, we have a choice. Like the new Insidious movie. We were thinking of going to see it today, but I’m not about paying $50 for 2 people to go to a movie. When it streams in a couple of weeks, we are going to watch it at home.

Now the new Oppenheimer movie and the Last Voyage of the Demeter will probably be movie theater movies.

I don’t want theaters to go away. I enjoy the atmosphere of a nice cold, dark theater on a hot summer afternoon, or a rainy evening. Just make sure that we have the option of either theater viewing or streaming.

 

[Craig234]

We still have one drive-in around here. Had actually closed the gates for a time, but not long ago opened back up.
I haven't been there or a theater in many years, in most part because I don't really watch movies anymore.

Can't recall the last "new" movie I had watched. Been a long time.. I did watch E.T. a while ago.

I think part of the lack in theater attendance is the short window until you can see it from home in some form. A month or two.. Years ago could be many months.

I hear movie theaters used to just be a huge 'everyone goes' thing. Another change is that shopping malls used to be a major place for people to go - a place where many theaters are.

 

[Craig234]

I used to brink my kids to the drive-in in my truck with a mattress in the back & back in to a spot, a cooler of snakes etc.

Now that gets you CPS.

 

[Superfly]

Now that gets you CPS.

I’m guessing you’ve never seen National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation? Cousin Eddie taught us the best way to have babysitters on a budget. Dump a truckload of snakes in the yard and have the kids pick them up and put them back in the bucket.

Keeps them busy for hours.

 

[Rexedgar]

Who doesn’t want to sit in a hot car with sweaty family, friends and listen to a great story on a tinny speaker?

 

[jpevans]

Who doesn’t want to sit in a hot car with sweaty family, friends and listen to a great story on a tinny speaker?

Now the sound is as good as your car sound system on AM.

 

[Rumpelstil]

I wonder if movie theatres are going the way of drive-ins​

probably .....

 

[roguenuke]

So still available in some locations?

Latest movies | Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre | Henderson

Since 1949 this drive-in theatre has been serving guests from age 1 to 101. At the Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre we strive to provide the latest movies at a reasonable price for all ages. Open every weekend. Hope to see you watching movie under the stars.

www.raleighroaddrivein.com

 

[jpevans]

So still available in some locations?

Latest movies | Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre | Henderson

Since 1949 this drive-in theatre has been serving guests from age 1 to 101. At the Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre we strive to provide the latest movies at a reasonable price for all ages. Open every weekend. Hope to see you watching movie under the stars.

www.raleighroaddrivein.com

There is a few in Mass. Summer only of course.

 

[BirdinHand]

Movie theaters have changed SO much around here.

Recliners, full menus, at seat service.

I like it a lot more than when it was uncomfortable chairs and no elbow/leg space.

 

[ralfy]

Streaming.

Later, couple that with movies and TV shows made using lots of CGI and AI. Eventually, most will have virtual sets and actors.

 

[Lovebug]

I went to theaters a few times. Jaws, the exorcist, some star wars whatnot, passion of the Christ. I think that's it. Too loud ( I actually wear ear plugs but it is still too loud for me), too uncomfortable, too pricy, too many people.

 

[Loulit01]

The screens have gotten so much smaller because they take a theater and split it in to a multiplex. Screens are a third the size they were or smaller. And we had double features. Remember them?

There are so many entertainment choices now I don't miss theaters at all.

 

[Craig234]

In the 1930's, 1940's, movie theatres were a national entertainment with almost a monopoly. There was radio, but movies were the big option. It's pretty incomparable to today's internet and home theatre and media and streaming situation.

 

[Perotista]

There was a time there was no shortage of drive-in theatres. What changed? Movies and cars didn't go away. But they disappeared, few left, now almost none.

Movie theatres have long been facing big problems. Home theatres replace them, for decades they generally haven't made a profit from tickets sales, only snacks. They're facing more problems now following Covid and streaming. Perhaps they'll disappear? It's very different than it was for decades.

Most likely. I have fond memories of drive ins. Even going to the movies as a kid in the town lone movie theater. Triple Horror film feature on Friday nights and the Saturday Afternoon double feature. But I suppose movie theaters are on their way out. I steam everything at home from movies to TV shows to sporting events. No hassle, no fighting traffic or the crowd. No outrageous prices for snacks. I’d say they’re on their out.

We’ve come a long way from the first black and white TV set my parents got which there was only 2 channels available, then they went off the air either at 11 or 12 PM only to come back on at 0600 usually with the farm report and the weather. Maybe it was 0500. But movie theaters are going. Soon to be gone.