The man's side of it!

I saw this post yesterday: Drive-Ins Make A Comeback and started to reminisce about growing up in NJ and visiting some of the many Drive-In theaters we had.
Camden, NJ was the home of the first Drive-In theater, invented by Richard Hollingshead in 1933. At the peak of Drive-In popularity in 1967, there were about 46 theaters in operation all through out the state. Some of the Drive-Ins I've been to are; Somerville Drive-In, Edison Drive-in, Amboys Drive-In, Plainfield Drive-In, 35 Drive-In, Brunswick Drive-In, Union Drive-In, Delsea Drive-In and the U.S. 1 Drive-In in Trenton. I guess that's a benefit of living all over the state. Most of the Drive-Ins played only B movies but I remember when growing up my parents took us to see all the wonderful Disney movies. My favorite was Lady and the Tramp and 101 Dalmatians.

One of the many memories that really stuck was when my brothers begged me to take them to see the Exorcist at the Somerville Drive-In. My Mom had said that they couldn't see the movie because it was too controversial and violent, and that they would have nightmares forever. Well after being begged by the bros to go see it I crumbled and agreed with the promise that they would never tell my Mom and so we went later that evening. We had four theater options to go to living in Green Brook: Union Drive-In, Brunswick Drive-In, Turnpike Drive-In and Somerville Drive-In. We told my mom we were going to the Turnpike Drive-In, I don't remember what was playing there that night but Mom had agreed to let the guys go with me.
We got to the theater and loaded up with all the goodies you can possibly buy (back in the day you could buy burgers, fries, hot dogs candy, ice-cream, soda and of course pop-corn) and before the movie started we'd go mess around in the playground under the big screen. When it was dark enough to show the movie we settled down a bit and prepared to watch the show. The movie was very scary to me I remember (I was 19) but at the time all my brothers were joking and laughing at the scary scenes portrayed of the excorcism. After the movie I took the guys home and went home to my apartment. The very next day my Mom calls me up and reads me the riot act, "Why did you take the boys to see the Excorcist, I told you not to!" my Mom yelled. My first words in reply were; "Who squealed!" To which my mom replied,"No one!" "They were all sleeping in the living room with all the lights in the house on and I figured it out for myself." The movie was a big joke while to my brothers while we were watching it, but when the lights went out...

So after reading the CBS article I decided to Google Drive-In theaters in NJ. I found a great website called Hangout NJ Where I found the history of the Drive-In. I then found Drive-Ins.com and discovered to my suprise that the Drive-In down in Vineland (Delsea Drive-In) is open again. My first wife and I had bought a house in Franklinville which is just above Vineland and I took my two daughters there a few times.

I really miss Drive-Ins. If there was one close by I would make an effort to go. Cassie and I are not too thrilled with the comfort of the local movie theater, we bother are large and the seats are very uncomfortable. Plus there is no intermission during the movie (which is a problem for a guy with a two quart stomach and a one ounce bladder). Lately we just rent or buy DVDs and get to enjoy the movies at home, especially since now the turn-around is only a few months from the time the movie previews to when it is published on DVD.

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