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Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress
Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress
Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress
Before the rise of multiplex theaters, there were drive-in movie theaters that allowed a family to hop in the car, drive up to a large screen and watch a movie in the comfort of their vehicle. Though drive-ins have been on the decline since their heyday in the late 1950s and early 1960s, there are still some cool retro drive-in movie theaters operating today. Here are photos of some of the coolest-looking vintage theaters across America.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
The Skyvue Drive-In Theater is located in Dothan, Alabama, and is one of Alabama’s most vintage-looking theaters.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
This photo shows the Grove Drive-In Theater in Springdale, Arkansas, while it was still operating in the early 1980s.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
The Lakewood Drive-In Theater located in Lakewood, California, pictured during the early 1980s.
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While trends in movies and music might’ve changed since the year you were born, the Mission Tiki Drive-In Theatre has been operating since 1956 in Montclair, California.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
This photo displays a mural of a man on a horse painted on the Van Nuys Drive-In Theater in Van Nuys, California.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A faded sign of the El Monte Drive-In Theater in El Monte, California, taken in the 1980s.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A roadside view of the Mt. Baldy Drive-In in La Verne, California, during the early 1970s.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A photo taken in 1973 of the Olympic Drive-In in West Los Angeles, California. California is famous for its beaches, so it’s no surprise that this sign celebrates the West Coast pastime of surfing.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A view of the large sign from the Victory Drive-In Theater in Van Nuys, California, celebrating the area’s photogenic natural beauty.
Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress
An array of signs for the Mesa Drive-In, which is still in operation and has been since 1951 in Pueblo, Colorado. The theater even offers the same classic movie theater treats you remember from childhood as well as more modern fare.
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A vibrant sign for the Quinebaug Drive-In Theater in Quinebaug, Connecticut.
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The sign for the Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-In in Miami.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A photo of the bright red sign for the Trail Drive-In Theater in Sarasota, Florida, taken in the 1980s.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
The large billboard sign for the Sunset Drive-In Theater located in Moultrie, Georgia, during the late 1970s. If you’re a fan of sunsets, here are photos of some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.
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A photo of the Galesburg Drive-In Theater, a hard-to-miss roadside attraction in the Midwest, during the early 1980s in Galesburg, Indiana.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A photo taken in 1980 of the Drive-In Theatre in Marshalltown, Iowa.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
The large blue sign for the Midway Drive-In Theater in Junction City, Kansas.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
The Paducah Drive-In Theater during the late 1970s in Paducah, Kentucky.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
The colorful back of the Ruston Drive-In Theater in Ruston, Louisiana. It might be vibrant but it doesn’t compare to some of the most amazing street murals in the world.
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A photo taken in 1984 of the Brewer Drive-In Theater in Brewer, Maine.
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Movie-goers pull into Bengies Drive-In Theatre in Baltimore, one of the few hundred drive-in movie theaters still in business. It’s one of many hidden American gems worth visiting.
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A 1978 photograph of the Boro Drive-In Theater in Attleboro, Massachusetts.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A roadside view of the Bay State Drive-In Theater sign in Seekonk, Massachusetts. Massachusetts’ state nickname is the Bay State.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
The Dartmouth Auto Theater in 1984 in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A photo of the Beltline Drive-In in Grand Rapids, Michigan, one of the most underrated American cities.
Becki B./Yelp
A billboard sign of the showings at the Ford-Wyoming Theatre in Dearborn, Michigan.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
The Gay Drive-In Theater in Worthington, Minnesota, in 1980.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A photograph taken in 1988 of the Airways Drive-In in Saint Ann, Missouri.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A full view of the Golden Spike Drive-In in Omaha, Nebraska, which is considered one of the most caring cities in America.
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A showing of the movie “We're the Millers” at the TK-Starlite Drive-In Theater in Neligh, Nebraska.
Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress
A photo of the marquee for the Weirs Drive-In Theatre in Weirs Beach, New Hampshire.
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Cars and pickup trucks enter the Fiesta Drive-In movie theater in Carlsbad, New Mexico. The city of Carlsbad is also known for being home to some of the coolest caves in the world.
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The neon sign of the Flamingo Drive-In Theater in Hobbs, New Mexico.
Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress
A photo of New York’s oldest operating drive-in theater, the Finger Lakes Drive-In Theater in Auburn, New York. It has been in operation since 1947.
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Over 250 Mini Coopers converge for a "Mini" premiere of the 2003 film "The Italian Job" at a makeshift drive-in style theater on the Paramount Studios lot in Los Angeles.
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People arrive for a movie at the Warwick Drive-In in Warwick, New York. Drive-in theaters are just one of the many businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A photo taken in 1987 of the Star-Lite Drive-In Theater located in Minot, North Dakota.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A view of the Skyway Auto Theatre in Ashtabula, Ohio.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A photo of the Winchester Drive-In Theater sign in Oklahoma City. Back in the day, travelers down the historic Route 66 would find themselves passing through Oklahoma City.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A view of the Brewer’s Drive-In Theater in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
The retro sign of the K and D Drive-In in 1987 in Madras, Oregon.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
The billboard sign of the Starlite Drive-In in Medford, Oregon.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A roadside view of the sign for the Maple Drive-In in Indian Orchard, Pennsylvania.
Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress
A photo of a faded entrance sign for the Twin Hi-Way Drive-In Theater in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
The entrance sign for the Sunset Drive-In in Norland, Pennsylvania.
Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress
An old-fashioned sign for the Rte. 146 Drive-In Theater, now called the Rustic Tri-View Drive-In, in North Smithfield, Rhode Island.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
The vintage sign for the Westerly Drive-In in Westerly, Rhode Island.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A photo of the sign for the Viking Drive-In Theater in Anderson, South Carolina.
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A sign for the Malco Drive-In Theater in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis is also famously home to Graceland, a mansion that looks frozen in time.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
The Don Drive-In Theater sign featuring the shape of the state of Texas, in Port Arthur, Texas.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A photo shows the Tascosa Drive-In Theater in Amarillo, Texas. The structure shown in the photo no longer exists, but there is another drive-in theater using this name.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A multicolored sign for the Airline Drive-In in Houston, Texas.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A view of the Bordertown Drive-In in Laredo, Texas.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A photo taken in 1982 of The Gay 90 Drive-In Theater in Del Rio, Texas.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
The entrance sign for the Milentz Drive-In Theatre in Liberty, Texas.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
Everything’s bigger in Texas, including this vintage mural on the building of the Trail Drive-In Theater in San Antonio, Texas.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A wide view of the Mission Drive-In Theater located in San Antonio, Texas.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A photo of the Trail Drive-In Theater in Amarillo, Texas, taken in 1982.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A photo of the Sno King Drive-In Theater in Lynwood, Washington.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A photo of the retro building at the Duwamish Drive-In Theater in Seattle.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
The colorful building of the Star Lite Drive-In Theater in Tacoma, Washington.
John Margolies/Library of Congress
A photo of the Drive-In Theater in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
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A vintage entrance sign for the 45 Outdoor Drive-In in New London, Wisconsin.
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The old-fashioned sign for the Star-Lite Drive-In in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Dreaming of visiting a place you’ve seen on the big screen? Here are some famous movie locations that you can actually visit.
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