The DC Traveler

Drive-in Movies

by Jon on June 20th, 2007

The nation’s first drive-in movie theater opened today in 1933 in Camden, New Jersey.

Richard M. Hollingshead, Jr., chemical company magnate testing showing movine in the driveway of his home. He set up a projector in his backyard, and nailed a screen to a couple trees in the backyard. Within a year, he open the first American drive in theater.

As a kid growing up in the city of Chicago, there weren’t many drive-in theaters. In fact, within just a few miles of where I live we had some of the grand old theaters that sat upwards of 3,000 moviegoers. But I do remember visiting a drive-in in the upper Peninsula of Michigan, while visiting my uncle. Crammed in the backseat of his blue 1964 Ford Thunderbird, my sister and I watched our first drive-in movie while my uncle sat up in front snoring.

Pennsylvania and New York have the most active drive in theaters, each with over 25. And there are still a couple drive-in movie theaters within a couple hour drive of DC.

The first drive-in movie theater is The Bengies Drive-In Theatre in northwest northeast Baltimore, near the Martin State Airport. Showing films outdoors for over 50 years, they boast the biggest movie screen in the U.S. (120 feet wide by 52 feet high).

They show “triple” features on most weekends with cartoons, vintage trailers and intermissions clips. , they offer in-car heaters and the occasional dusk-till-dawn shows. They allow you to bring your own lawn chair and sit outside as well.

A car radio is required to listen to the movie. Ticket prices range from $5.00-$8.00 per person depending no the show.

Bengies Drive-In Theatre
3417 Eastern Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21220-2147

The second drive-in is a bit further in Stephens City, VA (about 85 miles from DC).

It’s the Family Drive-in Theater. They show first-run movies on weekends with tickets priced at $7.50.

Family Drive-in
Rt 11 South
Stephens City, VA

Photos - Bengies photos courtesy of Bengies Drive-in

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POSTED IN: Attractions, Just a Bit Weird - Fun & Quirky Places, Nightlife, Sound Like a Local