Cinema Under the Stars: America's Love Affair with Drive-In Movie Theaters
Elizabeth McKeon and Linda Everett
When Richard M. Hollingshead Jr. first projected a movie onto a white bedsheet stretched between two trees at his home in Camden, New Jersey, in 1933, little did he know that he was on the verge of creating an entirely new entertainment industry. With America just beginning its romance with the automobile, it's no surprise that the general public found this new form of moviegoing irresistible. Fun and affordable, the drive-in quickly gained popularity among families with young children. And, of course, the local drive-in was a favorite weekend hangout for teenagers: a place where they could go just to meet friends or take a sweetheart for a romantic evening of movies under the stars. Although drive-ins are no longer as popular as they once were, in many communities a devoted following still seeks out the open-air theaters at twilight.
Cinema Under the Stars is a reminder of those wonderful times, as well as a recounting of the history of the drive-in experience. Here is the story, and here are the memories: B movies, concession stands loaded with goodies, screen towers, ticket booths, scratchy speakers, speaker poles, and intermission. It is all here—a nostalgic look at one of America's all-time favorite pastimes.
| ELIZABETH MCKEON is the author of Fit for a King: The Elvis Presley Cookbook, Cinema Under the Stars, and numerous other books. |
| LINDA EVERETT is a writer and researcher who provides photography services to writers and publishers. She lives near Ocean Park, Washington. Both authors have also collaborated on Elvis Speaks, a collection of Elvis Presley quotations. |
$14.95, Paperback
ISBN-10: 1-58182-002-2 (Paperback)
ISBN-13: 978-1-58182-002-7 (Paperback)
Paperback Currently Available
