Traffic, pollution and teenagers revving their engines at the Kwik-E-Mart. There’s so much negativity about the automobile that just cannot be argued with. But there are some positives of car culture too! Like the good old drive-in movie theatres!
There are still 16 operating in Ontario, thanks to our large population and reasonable climate that allows for a longer drive-in movie season that the rest of the Great White North.
One of the OG spots is the Stardust Drive-In about a ½ hour drive north of Toronto in the town of Sharon. Opened in 1955 by the Murrell family, the Stardust is now operated by the Premier Theater chain that has saved so many old-school theatres by investing in expensive digital projectors.
Here’s a video of the scenic drive up to the Stardust in Demaras Racing’s own No. 16 Mazda Miata track car.
Don’t call it old fashioned’ people loved drive-in theatres because they’re rooted in families. Parents would bring their little kids (some already in pyjamas) out for a cheap family night at the movies. But in the 70s and 80s many drive-in theatres were lost because some theatre owners could not afford to invest in new equipment. They resorted to showing exploitation films and slasher movies still being shot on 35 mm, but it killed the family-friendly feeling.
As urban sprawl ate up the available land, it became more economically viable for drive-in owners to close the theatres so developers to build malls or suburban subdivisions.
To our fellow car-crazy Canucks, don’t just complain that there’s nowhere cool to cruise to. This weekend check out the Stardust or even the 5 Drive-In for the latest Hollywood blockbusters. Even the drive to the theatre is a blast.
Great suggestion but as I have mentioned, sadly we have no drive-ins anymore except *maybe* one about 30 minutes away. But happily, we are all little homebodies so we make do. Have fun though!
Golly, you’d think I owned stock in the Drive-In Theatre Corp … but just FYI Ohio still has 24 drive-ins, the 3rd most in the country (behind (New York State & Pennsylvania).
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https://www.driveinmovie.com/OH.htm
Yes! The starlite is the last one in this area. I checked the website. They are showing “Terrifier 3” and “Speak no
Evil.” hope your options are better!
Oh lordy, oh lord! All slasher movies… a sure sign the place ain’t doing big business any more.
I loved the drive -in movies. Getting to stay in your own car, snuggled up and watch without some asshat kicking the back of your chair or spilling crap on you.
Most have closed down. There are only about 320 left across the entire United States.
I hear you. I can do without someone in my row getting up in the middle of the movie (again) for more popcorn. Really kills the buzz when you’re zoned into a flick.
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When I was a kid, the drive-in was cool because it was just so free. I could play, run around, pass out.
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As a teenager they were cool because I could smoke, watch R-Rated movies, pass out.
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Now as an adult I appreciate them as a nostalgic experience. Like back in the day before the suburbs chased all the drive-ins out of Toronto.
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But I am jealous of Texans. I read that there are still drive-in restaurants with carhops. Nothing like that has existed here in 50+ years.
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https://www.possumkingdomtexas.com/news–entertainment–Historic-DriveIn-Restaurants-and-DriveIn-Theaters-Live-On/7523
Unfortunately none of those are anywhere near me. Around where I live, going to a drive-in would probably result in someone getting shot. I hear gunfire nightly; anything from a simple pistol shot, all the way up to an AK going off. The police scanner provides just as much “entertainment” as movies around here.
Shoot, that sounds more like Detroit than Texas. I don’t know how a poet springs up in such hostile soil.
Very quietly behind double locked doors and a Smith & Wesson. 😉