Will Drive-In Movie Theaters Be The New Old Thing?
Think about it…Even when life resumes to “normal,” it won’t be the normal we have known. It will be the new normal. The “life after COVID-19 norm.” And chances are, when businesses re-open, there will be a hesitancy.
We’ve already heard about many businesses that may not survive this coronavirus, social distancing world , like movie theatres. So, why not bring back the drive-in movie theater? Just you and your family or friends enjoying a show on the big screen, while in your car! You are social distancing, you can bring your own food and drink, or they could re-install a 1950’s favorite, the carhop! A server would bring your meals and snacks to your car window. In fact, why not bring back the drive-in restaurants with carhops.
Obviously, here in New England, it would have to be during warmer weather, but it could provide us the entertainment we so crave, and help some struggling businesses.
According to driveinmovie.com, Massachusetts was one of the first drive-in states in the country. The former Weymouth Drive in was one of the first 5 in America, opening in 1936. We still have a few operating that you could take advantage of this summer. I grew up going to the Welfleet Drive-In on the Cape, and still manage to get there most summers.
Here’s the list (from driveinmovie.com)!
Leicester Triple Drive-in
1675 Main Street
Leicester, MA 01524
Opened as a single screen drive-in back in 1967, the Leicester added a second screen and then a third to become a 3 screen drive-in. They are open sea…more about Leicester Triple Drive-in
Mendon Twin Drive-in
45 Milford Street
mendon, MA 01756
The Mendon Drive-in opened in 1954 with a single screen and was one of 58 drive-in theaters operating in Massachusetts at the time. In 1987 it got ne…more about Mendon Twin Drive-in
Northfield Drive-in
981 Northfield Rd
Northfield, MA 03451
The Northfield Drive-in is a single screen drive-in movie theater located in Northfield, MA. It is one of just a few drive-ins we list under two diff…more about Northfield Drive-in
Wellfleet Drive-in
51 Route 6
South Wellfleet, MA 02667
The Wellfleet Drive-in is the last drive-in that remains on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. It is something of a shrine preserving a little bit of everythin…more about Wellfleet Drive-in