Drive-In Theaters: A History from Their Inception in 1933

by Kerry Segrave

Book Overview

A primarily American institution (though it appeared in other countries such as Japan and Italy), the drive-in theater now sits on the verge of extinction. During its heyday, drive-ins could be found in communities both large and small. Some of the larger theaters held up to 3,000 cars and were often filled to capacity on weekends.The history of the drive-in from its beginnings in the 1930s through its heyday in the 1940s and 1950s to its gradual...

• Format: Library Binding
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0899507522
• ISBN13: 9780899507521
• Release Date: December 1992
• Publisher: McFarland & Company
• Length: 286 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Great, in-depth look at the history of drive-ins.

If you are looking for a book with basic info and lots of pictures then you are better off buying "The American Drive-In Movie Theater" or "Drive-in Movie Memories" by Don and Susan Sanders. If you are looking for a well-detailed research book, then this is really the only choice. The author discusses the inception of the drive-in concept, the growth years, the difficulties that drive-in owners faced, and the eventual decline, backing it up with good data along the way. There is much more to the story than people realize and it is all in here. For example, the initiative to create a "daytime screen" to extend the hours in which a drive-in could remain open is covered in great detail, the legal issues, the battles with the studios and the distributors and on and on. Highly recommended!