Remember the scene in Grease where the T-Birds and the Pink Ladies meet up at the drive-in for a night out on the town? Now you and your friends (and family) can too! 

Drive-in theaters officially opened for business in 1933 in New Jersey, where Richard Hollingshead created a drive-in as an option for his mother and others who couldn’t comfortably fit in the standard theater seats. Drive-ins reached their peak in the 1950’s and 1960’s, when more American families owned cars. As the novelty of automobile ownership wore off and suburban sprawl moved more people away from city centers, the drive-in business faded. 

Drive-ins hold a nostalgic feeling as families bring their pillows and blankets to curl up in the car and watch the movie from their favorite car seat. Many drive-ins also allow patrons to bring folding chairs and set up outside the vehicle for an outdoor experience. 

While some theaters show older or B-rated movies, others show the latest films at a fraction of the cost. A standard movie ticket costs $12 or more per adult, whereas drive-in tickets are about half the price. Drive-in theaters make their money from the concession stands and therefore do not typically allow outside food and drink. 

While standard theaters were closed during COVID, drive-in theaters provided an alternative to allow people the opportunity to safely socialize from a distance while still enjoying a night at the movies. People discovered it was a great way to do family night! 

FLORIDA IS HOME TO SEVEN DRIVE-IN THEATERS, WITH AN EIGHTH ONE SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN THE SUMMER OF 2022.

Of the seven theaters in Florida, we are fortunate enough to have one in our (almost) backyard. Located in Marion County, the Ocala Drive-In offers two screens, each showing a double feature nightly. These are typically movies that are concurrently playing in the standard theaters so that discounted ticket just did double time! Parking in a grassy lot, patrons tune their radios to the station playing the movie they are watching and relax with their popcorn. 

Next time you are looking for a date night or family night, check out a drive-in theater and keep the old American pastime alive! 

FLORIDA DRIVE-IN MOVIE THEATERS 

Ocala Drive-in Theatre – 4850 S. Pine Ave., Ocala, 352-629-1325 

Joy-Lan Drive-in Theatre – 16414 U.S. Highway 301, Dade City, 352-567-5085 

Fun Lan Drive-in Theatre – 2302 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, 813-234-2311 

Silver Moon Drive-in Theatre – 4100 New Tampa Highway, Lakeland, 863-682-0849 

Ruskin Family Drive-in Theatre – 5011 N. U.S. Highway 41, Ruskin, 813-645-1455 

Lake Worth Drive-in and Swap Shop – 3438 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth, 561-965-3624 

Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop – 3291 W. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 954-791-7927 

NEW VENUE COMING SUMMER 2022 –THE LIGHTHOUSE, Eustis, FL

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