Stranded at the drive-in…

I have been thinking a lot lately about the movie theatre experience, and then about the effects of COVID-19 in that regard. I think back to my teen years, when most of my movie going happened, sitting with my friends in either the top, or front rows—because there was no in-between—laughing and giggling, and being shushed by me, who, of course, was there for the movie. Occasionally, I would be there on a date, with my and my puppy-love interest’s popcorn-greased fingers intertwined, and hearts a flutter with young and fleeting amorous feelings.

As an adult, I hate to tell you, that the magic of going to the movies is somewhat lost on me, and replaced with, “Wait, popcorn cost how much?” With the advent of Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and the like, I can do most of my movie viewing from my couch, with my dog, husband and toddler. Even if the movie that I desire to see is currently in theatres, if I don’t mind practicing a little patience—which I don’t—I can see that too, as soon as it hits Prime. But with the onset of COVID-19, I have noticed that many films are being released straight to streaming platforms and skipping the projector.

While this is all fine and good, there is one thing that I hope will make a comeback, and under the circumstances, I believe very well could: The drive-in movie theatre.

When I think about drive-ins, my brain conjures up the scene from 1978’s “Grease,” featuring John Travolta as Danny Zuko, complete with leather jacket and greasy pompadour. Zuko sits on a swing at a drive-in theatre with a circus performing hotdog and bun on the big screen behind him, singing, “Stranded at the Drive-In,” a pining ballad of embarrassment, rejection and heartache.

I’ve always wanted to go to a drive-in in a Chevy Bel Air and put the speaker in the window while watching through the windshield as John Wayne, Shelly Winters, or James Dean graced the screen. But imagine the possibilities now? Switch the Bel Air for, say, a Chevy Malibu—Bluetooth sound systems, advanced air-conditioning and heat, heated seats. Watching a movie from the comfort of your own vehicle would be outstanding, not to mention a safe way to get out of the house while following all the new COVID related “social norms.” Rather than being a novelty related attraction, there would actually be a true need for these establishments to return into the movie showing industry.

I have heard it said that this pandemic has made us slow down and reevaluate our time. All right … so now, let’s allow it to turn back time. Let’s bring those parking lot movies back into action. I would gladly pay movie theatre popcorn prices at a drive-in, simply for the ambiance.

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