Hey Jon, I just ran across this, I grew up in Harriman/Midtown area. I can remember going to this drive-in when I was a kid with my parents and yes the poles use to have speakers..lol.. and in later years you tuned into a FM station. Last time I seen a movie there was around 2011 or 2012. I have since moved to Maryville and there is a Drive-In here called Parkway Drive-in and they show newer movies in the summer and fall as well as have a flea market set up during the day on the weekends..They were somehow affiliated with the Midtown Drive-In because the flyers they gave you at the ticket booth when you bought your tickets also had the movies that were showing or coming up for Parkway Drive-in on the other side and if I'm not mistaken they called both the concessions The Blue Moon Cafe. I'm not sure exactly what happened, I also heard bad location, old equipment and too expensive to update as well as they only charge for who they see in the car and people were hiding in trunks and backs of SUV's and not paying. not to mention the gas station/store next door that sold food and drinks a lot cheaper. They always posted no outside food but really are they going to check the cars coming in? also they said no re-enter if you left, well assuming they were meaning you left in your car I can see that but there is no way they could have had someone there watching for people sneaking in and out going to the store that's property connects to the Drive-In..It's really sad because it was closed for many many years and I was an adult when it reopened and I have driven by when a popular movie come out like Spider Man there were cars lined up down the road at 6 and 7:00 waiting for them to open the gates to make sure to get a good spot to sit..I have been by there but haven't really thought to look as to the condition..I will have to check that out next time I make it down that way!! If you have never been to a Drive-In you should make your way to Maryville and experience the whole Drive-In tradition...and hey you get 2 movies back to back...
We have a drive in close to here in Dillsburg PA that is packed every weekend. It's not unusual to be turned away because there is no space. Family owned since 1954. The new digital projectors killed a few places as they couldn't afford $25k to put them in as you need a special one for drive ins. They can still be popular though!
If I had money I would buy one in a heartbeat... because the love and because with proper management they DO thrive and can be kept alive. Most common problem I've noticed with drive-ins failing is lack of proper advertising and owners that refused to show Rated R or horror movies and go HYPER focused on making it "family friendly". The ones near me kept their 35mm projectors so they can show Special 35mm 3rd late Features (Usually horror or sci-fi) that are huge draws... and Using them for horror Movie Weekend long film Festivals etc. People are driving from 2 hours away to meet up with their out of town friends at the ones nearest me, every weekend they are packed and doing alright!! For the special weekend long festival we have people driving from different states some up to 4+ hours away and they sell out Friday Saturday and Sunday weekend passes.
SuperEvilC I agree, just drop the family thing. No one under 12 or 13 should be allowed to go. with the fares, all they need to do is hire security and its like putting on wrestlung shows. Even 10 bucks a person and it will rock. say no bottles, and byob is ok. A lot of people claim gangs, druggies, illegals, and minorities ruined these places.
Jon, back in the day the drive-ins had speakers that you could hang on your window now you use a radio station but the last drive-in I remember going to was the Redwood Drive-in in Grants Pass, Oregon in 1987 and the movie we saw was "Batteries Not Included" the theater is now gone and replaced with an apartment complex. Love your videos. Keep it up! Out of the 70 Drive-ins that were in Oregon only 3 are left.
Yeah I think we only have one around here thats open during the summer. I think its about a half hr away. Its a shame we dont have more around. Ive only been to one. I was just a kid but i remember it was fun. Lol got to sit on top of our little buggy car. This was a good one. Loved this. It was neat to see. Thank you for sharing. 😃
I am interested in re-opening old Drive-In Theatres to their former glory with a few updated changes .I thank You for this video .It shows that the public would still be interested in the Drive - In experience .
Really awesome that you said God Bless, i enjoy all of your videos ,KEEP them coming, drive ins are really cool ,hope you go back and check on this one and others
We used to take our girls to the drive in on Friday nights in their jammies about once or twice a month. Family night!! The one we went to was called 100 Twin in Fridley Minnesota.
Thats so cool.We had a drive in movie theater here in NJ. It was on Highway 35 and called the 35 Drive In. My parents took me my brother Pete and my cousin Kimmy to see Jaws there the Summer of 75. We seen alot of movies there but that was the best. I remember wearing our pajamas there and playing in the play ground before the movie started and eating at the concession stand. That was the good old days.
Grew up in Holmdel. That was our drive in of choice. Actually saw Days of Thunder there in 1990. Closed shortly afterward. Heard they knocked down the Red Oak Diner too!
I snuck in there several times to see movies back in the 90s. Tried to get the owner to play old horror movies there, but he never would. Many family members, including my dad are buried up the hill right behind the screen there in Piney Grove Church cemetery.
Jake Marlow Your family buried behind the movie screen??? That may be the coolest damn comment I have ever seen on TH-cam!!! I am dead serious!!! (Pardon the unintended pun)
Drive ins are so cool and so sad that some are even torn down. We have one not to far that finally converted over to digital about 2 to 3 years ago. I miss the time they had the speakers outside that hook up on the window when rolled down. My favorite is in Gibson City, IL. It is awesome to have in the area because most of the town's are small.
Yes their were speakers one on each side, now you can get it on your FM radio station. I grew up during the 60, 70s alot of fun. I do know they went from film to digtal costing around 200 Thousand dollars also when VCR came out late 70s that just about killed the Drive ins. Sad because it was alot of fun.
Awesome! Thank you for taping this! I love the old drive ins! There are at least a couple still open, that are fairly close to where I live, here in Missouri. :-)
You are exactly correct when you said that the speakers are on a radio station. it has been this way since the mid 1980's because I used to go to a lot of drive in theatre movies just outside of where I lived at the time. There are some drive ins still around but they are few and far between.
I don't know if anyone else mentioned the fact that this drive in probably closed down due to the fact that movie studios no longer make the movies available on 35mm film. Everything has gone digital. It is sad because many smaller drive ins and theaters have been forced to close their doors because they can't afford to pay the price of digital projectors. I'm not sure about this particular drive in. I'm hoping that they are closed temporarily while they raise the money to upgrade. It's sad to see drive ins across the country closing down due to this.
I ran the Projectors in Logan, Ohio in the early 80's. I worked at the ancient downtown walk-in and the Drive-Inn. I was showing "Poltergeist" one time a a few of the Bats that lived in the old building went out over the audience flying erratically, you could have heard the screams in the next State over!! lol
Memories, memories, memories. We used to drive to El Paso to watch movies at the Fiesta Drive Inn on Mesa st. every Monday nights in the 70's. The movies were $5.00 a carload and we would squish as many as we could get into our car to go 15 miles to watch a movie. This was in the early to middle 70's and it was something we looked forward to every Monday night. In the 60's we would go to the Aggie Drive inn and it was so much fine. Too bad they discontinued, but with the threat of gang violence its all for the best. To vulnerable sitting in car or outside car if people begin to shoot at each other. A few crooks have to ruin for several.
Im in Michigan and we had like 3 drive in's . 2 in town and another in the next town.. I grew up in the country ans there was another about 1 mile away across the farm fields we could watch with no sound from the back yard. They are all gone now. The last one I went to was about 6 or 7 years ago in Memphis Tn. and it was great. I wish there was one left here. As a teen we used to sit in the back of my truck and enjoy....Fond memories!
I remember going to one around 1972 in upper Michigan...had the window hanging speakers, AND window hanging Heaters...'twas cool as heck. The heaters looked exactly like the speakers...
This drive-in is in Roane County Tennessee, it closed around 2013. The people that owned it said they couldn't keep it open because of having to up grade to Digital. I used to go here and watch movies on the weekend, it was always nice to sit in the back of the truck with family and friends and enjoy the outdoors and movies.
See these articles: archive.knoxnews.com/business/roane-drive-in-theater-for-sale-ep-409848086-359322191.html/ www.knoxmercury.com/2015/05/27/walmarts-threat-to-the-parkway-drive-in-puts-maryvilles-future-in-the-spotlight/
great video buddy! really enjoyed it felt like I was there first hand as well! just subscribed so ill be tuning in to you vids. take care out there bud
Dude. This is an awesome video 👌!! Thanks for showing this. If the projector and other items are still there than that business should be remodeled, updated, or anything and should operate again.
I remembered another drive in theater that I saw when I was a kid that used to showed horror movies. It just rotted away. There is another one that is still open for the summer. This one has been running since the 1950’s. I haven’t been to it since 2005. I don’t liked to drive late at night. I’m not as young as I was.
Just caught a glimpse of the projector. Looks like a Century projector probably sitting on a Simplex soundhead. Couldn't tell if it was set up to run with a platter or they ran changeovers. It could have been a Simplex XL projector. That's what I run in my movie trailer. Digital killed drive-ins. The film projector was about 5 grand in its day but the new digital projectors could easily push $100,000. Few drive-ins could afford them. Then they stopped making film so you were forced to go digital or close the shutters. Hundreds closed. Where is this theater? Doesn't look like it's take a lot to get it open. I'm just dumb enough to try it!
Used digital video projectors are now on the market. If someone wanted to reopen this theater, they could budget around $50,000 for a used video projector and server rack. For sound, they could get a brand new commercial low power FM radio transmitter for about $2,500.
Hi there, the reason this drive in closed I suppose is BC they didn't have the money to upgrade to a digital projector, which costs several thousand dollars. I know a few drove ins here a while back were up for raffle thru Toyota for "save your favorite drive in", and the ones who got picked got a new digital projector. We have one here in Cuba, MO, luckily they had enough following and business to get the new projector and not go dark and keep rolling. And as for the speakers, most of them after years didn't work, and to upkeep them costs quite a lot of money, so a lot of theatres elect to just take them down and sell them as memorabilia and switch to a fm transmitter in your car, usually in the 88 or 90 FM frrequency. All this info thanks to me growing up around drive in owners all my life. KUDOS'!!
That used to be the case, however, unless you just happen to be Wal-Mart, many of your big box stores are now closing up shop thanks to online competition from Amazon, e-bay, and others. That's why Sears, JC Penney, K-Mart, Toys R Us, and many others are closing up
Oooh, nostalgia - Yes, the white poles were for speakers that you hook onto your window - then it switched to radio - where you would tune into a station to listen to the movie...
Yes at one time you would put the speaker inside your car, it hooked on the door window, facing the inside. Later years you could tune in on your radio a certain channel
I wish they would come back. we need them. having said that, I remember crime becoming an issue, so sad, the times were more decent and innocent it seemed back then
Abandoned Exploration_Urbex1979 i have question for you what happened to this drive in its just sad to see people let this go why was it aboundant when they couldve kept it open
I believe the biggest reason , if not mistaken, is movies are all releases in digital. Digital is the movie standard now. You may still see film for old movies but none of the new. Digital projectors are very expensive which is force closing those drive-ins that were hanging by a thread. Those that are well supported (The Rodeo Drive-in at my town) are still going strong and were able to switch to digital.
You are referring to the Parkway Drive In, which is jointly owned by Doug Freeman and Perry Humberd: www.parkwaydrivein.com They also own the Midtown property featured in this video. They've been featured in several local news media articles discussing how they've been trying to sell this location since 2009 because movie distributors quit distributing movies on actual film. Perry Humberd said that Midtown doesn't generate enough revenue to justify spending $200,000 to upgrade the projection house to digital, where as the Parkway Drive In does, so that's why they invested the money at that location and not this one. If anyone is interested buying the Midtown, the owners can be reached at: tndriveinmovies@yahoo.com
What I wouldn’t give for a drive-in.....good times in high school sitting on the hood of my car, burning those mosquito coils and those good old fashioned doobies. My, my how time flies. It seems like life was better then.........BECAUSE IT WAS!!!!!!!!!!!!! (wahoooooooooooooooo)
Malcolm Crawford I am so glad that Texas supports Drive-in Theaters more than in any other state who rather shut them down to either build churches, shopping centers, or a damn Wal-Mart over this important Amerikana activities during the spring & summer months or all year around in some states especially down South people do not know what they're missing today nor they understand I was raise on drive-ins too!
If they can get anybody to buy it, they can always use it for outdoor concerts. That would make good use of the property too. How much is the property? And also where is it located?
See this article for how much the property is: archive.knoxnews.com/business/roane-drive-in-theater-for-sale-ep-409848086-359322191.html/ See these articles for its location: cinematreasures.org/theaters/10501 www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g55087-d3389627-r164806631-Midtown_Drive_In-Harriman_Tennessee.html
I suggest someone contact a local car club and they can do car hop cruise inn nights for that do wop or rat rod hot rod groups here in san diego we did a nostalgia film cruise in an old theater and it was a success
I don't see any drive in anymore.. if I owned that I would totally have it in use.. I would also use all that space for all kinds of stuff for the community get togeathers...oh the ideas I have...lol
where is this at ? I tried getting info on this...I wish I knew the size of that screen ! spec is awesome to know ! as well as location . Thank you so much , that was awesome !
this is near my hometown of Harriman TN. the place really went to hell when alot of the things we loved closed. there is this and the skating rink that brought such good memories. both are now gone. great business opportunities there just sitting for the right person.
The owners need to rethink this, it could be used for private parties, weddings reunions the list is endless. And they would make way more money than the old school way. I loved the drive in when I was a kid but now days it's to unsafe, Like I said invent new uses buy about 30 to 40 old non running 57 Chevy's caddies etc.... paint them up new seats see where I'm going with this..Loved the tour and memory lane.. I can still hear daddy asking my dates where they were taking me if they said the drive in movie, Daddy would say the Hell you are Boy!
You have that right SuperEvilC , I am lucky enough to have three in a ten mile radius of my house. Two have the new digital projectors while one plays retro 35mm movies and yes they have many Horror Festivals and 80's weekends. For $10 you can camp on the grounds. mahoningdit.com/
Watched many a good movie there when dating, Harriman ...showed movies in 2013, smurf 2 and wolverine....they would put hotdogs and snacks in replica cars...too cool....
If anyone is interested buying the Midtown Drive In featured in this video, the owners Doug Freeman and Perry Humberd can be reached at: tndriveinmovies (at) yahoo.com
dude im sorry but that firetruck inside that office or projector room is bad ass....i dont trust myself cuz i wouldve found a way inside and took all the cars, and that fire engine toy,,,they could be worth money,,,yeah yeah i admit it,,,i wouldve slid on inside....at least i admit it tho,,,,,relax,,,thats too far for me to travel to get the stuff
Hey Jon, I just ran across this, I grew up in Harriman/Midtown area. I can remember going to this drive-in when I was a kid with my parents and yes the poles use to have speakers..lol.. and in later years you tuned into a FM station. Last time I seen a movie there was around 2011 or 2012. I have since moved to Maryville and there is a Drive-In here called Parkway Drive-in and they show newer movies in the summer and fall as well as have a flea market set up during the day on the weekends..They were somehow affiliated with the Midtown Drive-In because the flyers they gave you at the ticket booth when you bought your tickets also had the movies that were showing or coming up for Parkway Drive-in on the other side and if I'm not mistaken they called both the concessions The Blue Moon Cafe. I'm not sure exactly what happened, I also heard bad location, old equipment and too expensive to update as well as they only charge for who they see in the car and people were hiding in trunks and backs of SUV's and not paying. not to mention the gas station/store next door that sold food and drinks a lot cheaper. They always posted no outside food but really are they going to check the cars coming in? also they said no re-enter if you left, well assuming they were meaning you left in your car I can see that but there is no way they could have had someone there watching for people sneaking in and out going to the store that's property connects to the Drive-In..It's really sad because it was closed for many many years and I was an adult when it reopened and I have driven by when a popular movie come out like Spider Man there were cars lined up down the road at 6 and 7:00 waiting for them to open the gates to make sure to get a good spot to sit..I have been by there but haven't really thought to look as to the condition..I will have to check that out next time I make it down that way!! If you have never been to a Drive-In you should make your way to Maryville and experience the whole Drive-In tradition...and hey you get 2 movies back to back...
We have a drive in close to here in Dillsburg PA that is packed every weekend. It's not unusual to be turned away because there is no space. Family owned since 1954. The new digital projectors killed a few places as they couldn't afford $25k to put them in as you need a special one for drive ins. They can still be popular though!
Still think it's the most fun way to see a movie....shame they're all but gone..
If I had money I would buy one in a heartbeat... because the love and because with proper management they DO thrive and can be kept alive. Most common problem I've noticed with drive-ins failing is lack of proper advertising and owners that refused to show Rated R or horror movies and go HYPER focused on making it "family friendly".
The ones near me kept their 35mm projectors so they can show Special 35mm 3rd late Features (Usually horror or sci-fi) that are huge draws... and Using them for horror Movie Weekend long film Festivals etc. People are driving from 2 hours away to meet up with their out of town friends at the ones nearest me, every weekend they are packed and doing alright!! For the special weekend long festival we have people driving from different states some up to 4+ hours away and they sell out Friday Saturday and Sunday weekend passes.
SuperEvilC The cost of converting to digital and land values is what drove these under. The land cost is what made it profitable to sell.
No, the VCR and video stores drove these places out of business.
SuperEvilC I agree, just drop the family thing. No one under 12 or 13 should be allowed to go. with the fares, all they need to do is hire security and its like putting on wrestlung shows. Even 10 bucks a person and it will rock. say no bottles, and byob is ok.
A lot of people claim gangs, druggies, illegals, and minorities ruined these places.
I live in chattanooga,tn. we had several drive-in theaters hete. I loved going to them when I was a kid with my family. those were the good old days
I could sit there & just soak up the nostalgia
Jon, back in the day the drive-ins had speakers that you could hang on your window now you use a radio station but the last drive-in I remember going to was the Redwood Drive-in in Grants Pass, Oregon in 1987 and the movie we saw was "Batteries Not Included" the theater is now gone and replaced with an apartment complex. Love your videos. Keep it up! Out of the 70 Drive-ins that were in Oregon only 3 are left.
The M-F in Milton Freewater, one in La Grande and the 99 in Newberg..the M-F drive in doing well since Covid-19 😎
Yeah I think we only have one around here thats open during the summer. I think its about a half hr away. Its a shame we dont have more around. Ive only been to one. I was just a kid but i remember it was fun. Lol got to sit on top of our little buggy car. This was a good one. Loved this. It was neat to see. Thank you for sharing. 😃
Loved those old Drive- ins.There were so many of here the Ft. Worth area,Arlington,& Irving.That was where the kids went on the weekends.
Great video !
I am interested in re-opening old Drive-In Theatres to their former glory with a few updated changes .I thank You for this video .It shows that the public would still be interested in the Drive - In experience .
Thanks for your comment.
Brand new ozoner opening Summer 2020 in Monroe, MI......yayyyyy!!
We just happened upon you tonight. What luck. Love your videos. Love Tennessee! 😁❤️
I love any theater drive in are the best
Really awesome that you said God Bless, i enjoy all of your videos ,KEEP them coming, drive ins are really cool ,hope you go back and check on this one and others
Fascinating exploration!
I also like you say God Bless ,again thanks for video, I hope to see more of drive ins they are great memories
Alot of drive in theaters are making a comeback due to the covid lockdown, I bet this would be a goldmine for someone to reopen.
We used to take our girls to the drive in on Friday nights in their jammies about once or twice a month. Family night!! The one we went to was called 100 Twin in Fridley Minnesota.
Thats so cool.We had a drive in movie theater here in NJ. It was on Highway 35 and called the 35 Drive In. My parents took me my brother Pete and my cousin Kimmy to see Jaws there the Summer of 75. We seen alot of movies there but that was the best. I remember wearing our pajamas there and playing in the play ground before the movie started and eating at the concession stand. That was the good old days.
Grew up in Holmdel. That was our drive in of choice. Actually saw Days of Thunder there in 1990. Closed shortly afterward. Heard they knocked down the Red Oak Diner too!
I snuck in there several times to see movies back in the 90s. Tried to get the owner to play old horror movies there, but he never would. Many family members, including my dad are buried up the hill right behind the screen there in Piney Grove Church cemetery.
Jake Marlow Your family buried behind the movie screen??? That may be the coolest damn comment I have ever seen on TH-cam!!! I am dead serious!!! (Pardon the unintended pun)
So is my husband’s grandmother
Watched the gremlins there for Halloween this year, it reopened and is super fun
Drive ins are so cool and so sad that some are even torn down. We have one not to far that finally converted over to digital about 2 to 3 years ago. I miss the time they had the speakers outside that hook up on the window when rolled down. My favorite is in Gibson City, IL. It is awesome to have in the area because most of the town's are small.
Yes their were speakers one on each side, now you can get it on your FM radio station. I grew up during the 60, 70s alot of fun. I do know they went from film to digtal costing around 200 Thousand dollars also when VCR came out late 70s that just about killed the Drive ins. Sad because it was alot of fun.
Awesome! Thank you for taping this! I love the old drive ins! There are at least a couple still open, that are fairly close to where I live, here in Missouri. :-)
You are exactly correct when you said that the speakers are on a radio station. it has been this way since the mid 1980's because I used to go to a lot of drive in theatre movies just outside of where I lived at the time. There are some drive ins still around but they are few and far between.
There are about 350 drive-ins left in the US (source: United Drive-In Theatre Owners assn.)
Actually it is closer to 300 now...UDITOA hasn't updated their numbers in a while and digital conversion has killed a ton.
Ahh memories, used to take my girlfriends to drive-in to see
CLOSED FOR THE SEASON
lol...👍👍 thanks Big John
Thank you all for shearing your awesome memories with me i love it.
You don't see many of them still standing. Thank you for sharing!
I don't know if anyone else mentioned the fact that this drive in probably closed down due to the fact that movie studios no longer make the movies available on 35mm film. Everything has gone digital. It is sad because many smaller drive ins and theaters have been forced to close their doors because they can't afford to pay the price of digital projectors. I'm not sure about this particular drive in. I'm hoping that they are closed temporarily while they raise the money to upgrade. It's sad to see drive ins across the country closing down due to this.
HOLY ASTRO POPS!!! Look where Jon's at... only two years ago... Great video!
I enjoyed the tour of the closed Drive In. Film is no longer in use so if it opens again they have to upgrade to digital which is a costly upgrade.
I ran the Projectors in Logan, Ohio in the early 80's. I worked at the ancient downtown walk-in and the Drive-Inn. I was showing "Poltergeist" one time a a few of the Bats that lived in the old building went out over the audience flying erratically, you could have heard the screams in the next State over!! lol
We have a drive-in movie theater in Sparta,TN that is open in the summer. Its closed for the winter now.
Memories, memories, memories. We used to drive to El Paso to watch movies at the Fiesta Drive Inn on Mesa st. every Monday nights in the 70's. The movies were $5.00 a carload and we would squish as many as we could get into our car to go 15 miles to watch a movie. This was in the early to middle 70's and it was something we looked forward to every Monday night. In the 60's we would go to the Aggie Drive inn and it was so much fine. Too bad they discontinued, but with the threat of gang violence its all for the best. To vulnerable sitting in car or outside car if people begin to shoot at each other. A few crooks have to ruin for several.
That is nice. Wish they could bring those back. Did u see the old wood burning stove inside the projector room? Cool
Im in Michigan and we had like 3 drive in's . 2 in town and another in the next town.. I grew up in the country ans there was another about 1 mile away across the farm fields we could watch with no sound from the back yard. They are all gone now. The last one I went to was about 6 or 7 years ago in Memphis Tn. and it was great. I wish there was one left here. As a teen we used to sit in the back of my truck and enjoy....Fond memories!
I miss drive in's! Thank you for this neat video!!!!
I remember going to one around 1972 in upper Michigan...had the window hanging speakers, AND window hanging Heaters...'twas cool as heck. The heaters looked exactly like the speakers...
Awesome memories.
This drive-in is in Roane County Tennessee, it closed around 2013. The people that owned it said they couldn't keep it open because of having to up grade to Digital. I used to go here and watch movies on the weekend, it was always nice to sit in the back of the truck with family and friends and enjoy the outdoors and movies.
See these articles:
archive.knoxnews.com/business/roane-drive-in-theater-for-sale-ep-409848086-359322191.html/
www.knoxmercury.com/2015/05/27/walmarts-threat-to-the-parkway-drive-in-puts-maryvilles-future-in-the-spotlight/
Carol I miss that drive in too. Those were the good ole days
great video buddy! really enjoyed it felt like I was there first hand as well! just subscribed so ill be tuning in to you vids. take care out there bud
We've lost our drive-on theatres but there is one south of Brisbane at Yatala.
Thanks so much for sharing this video, you should try going to a drive in i think you would enjoy it
We had Dreamland Drive- in , in asheville ,theater at night flea market by day, brings back memories , thanks.
Dude. This is an awesome video 👌!! Thanks for showing this. If the projector and other items are still there than that business should be remodeled, updated, or anything and should operate again.
I remembered another drive in theater that I saw when I was a kid that used to showed horror movies. It just rotted away. There is another one that is still open for the summer. This one has been running since the 1950’s. I haven’t been to it since 2005. I don’t liked to drive late at night. I’m not as young as I was.
Just caught a glimpse of the projector. Looks like a Century projector probably sitting on a Simplex soundhead. Couldn't tell if it was set up to run with a platter or they ran changeovers. It could have been a Simplex XL projector. That's what I run in my movie trailer. Digital killed drive-ins. The film projector was about 5 grand in its day but the new digital projectors could easily push $100,000. Few drive-ins could afford them. Then they stopped making film so you were forced to go digital or close the shutters. Hundreds closed. Where is this theater? Doesn't look like it's take a lot to get it open. I'm just dumb enough to try it!
Used digital video projectors are now on the market. If someone wanted to reopen this theater, they could budget around $50,000 for a used video projector and server rack. For sound, they could get a brand new commercial low power FM radio transmitter for about $2,500.
Hi there, the reason this drive in closed I suppose is BC they didn't have the money to upgrade to a digital projector, which costs several thousand dollars. I know a few drove ins here a while back were up for raffle thru Toyota for "save your favorite drive in", and the ones who got picked got a new digital projector. We have one here in Cuba, MO, luckily they had enough following and business to get the new projector and not go dark and keep rolling. And as for the speakers, most of them after years didn't work, and to upkeep them costs quite a lot of money, so a lot of theatres elect to just take them down and sell them as memorabilia and switch to a fm transmitter in your car, usually in the 88 or 90 FM frrequency. All this info thanks to me growing up around drive in owners all my life. KUDOS'!!
That used to be the case, however, unless you just happen to be Wal-Mart, many of your big box stores are now closing up shop thanks to online competition from Amazon, e-bay, and others. That's why Sears, JC Penney, K-Mart, Toys R Us, and many others are closing up
They do use radio frequency. Where I live, we have two drive-in theaters and they are still running today.
Oooh, nostalgia - Yes, the white poles were for speakers that you hook onto your window - then it switched to radio - where you would tune into a station to listen to the movie...
The last time Midtown was open was in August of 2013. I took my son that year and was super upset when they didn't open in previous years.
Fascinating; something we never had in the UK!
Like how he says God Bless it is good that some on TH-cam Do that
Yes they did have speakers. It was kind of awesome sitting outside watching the movie. I sat on the car hood. It was nice. Cheryl54
Just how often do you get to Roane County? Jc. I have family that lives right up the rd from the old drive in.
I enjoy watching this. It brought back memories. THANK YOU John.Cheryl54
Beautiful property John xxx
Yes at one time you would put the speaker inside your car, it hooked on the door window, facing the inside. Later years you could tune in on your radio a certain channel
use to go to the one in Marshall, Arkansas back in early 70,s
Most had both speakers and radio. First it was AM radio and then FM. As the speakers quit working a lot stopped repairing them and went to radio only.
Mister Hat Makes sence.
wow i used to go to these when i was a kid
I wish they would come back. we need them. having said that, I remember crime becoming an issue, so sad, the times were more decent and innocent it seemed back then
Cool and interesting! 👍
Abandoned Exploration_Urbex1979 i have question for you what happened to this drive in its just sad to see people let this go why was it aboundant when they couldve kept it open
Aaron Cormier it could have been a number of different reasons. Maybe the economy, a bad location, who really knows
I believe the biggest reason , if not mistaken, is movies are all releases in digital. Digital is the movie standard now. You may still see film for old movies but none of the new. Digital projectors are very expensive which is force closing those drive-ins that were hanging by a thread. Those that are well supported (The Rodeo Drive-in at my town) are still going strong and were able to switch to digital.
we have three in the Kansas City,mo kansas city,ks area. been to all of them once. they are always pretty full.
That's awesome.
Drive In Movies was one aspect of American life that never took off in the UK.
Century SA projectors with STRONG 135 lamphouses. Could have been saved with digital if the owners would have been prepared to do the conversion.
they did broadcast movie sound on fm radio
The one here in Maryville, TN stays packed. Hopefully if can hold on...
BigRandyR Yea I been meaning to go to that one.
You are referring to the Parkway Drive In, which is jointly owned by Doug Freeman and Perry Humberd:
www.parkwaydrivein.com
They also own the Midtown property featured in this video. They've been featured in several local news media articles discussing how they've been trying to sell this location since 2009 because movie distributors quit distributing movies on actual film. Perry Humberd said that Midtown doesn't generate enough revenue to justify spending $200,000 to upgrade the projection house to digital, where as the Parkway Drive In does, so that's why they invested the money at that location and not this one. If anyone is interested buying the Midtown, the owners can be reached at: tndriveinmovies@yahoo.com
Yes I live in Knoxville. The one In Maryville is still up and running n popular
What I wouldn’t give for a drive-in.....good times in high school sitting on the hood of my car, burning those mosquito coils and those good old fashioned doobies. My, my how time flies. It seems like life was better then.........BECAUSE IT WAS!!!!!!!!!!!!! (wahoooooooooooooooo)
2:40 Wow... Look at that... Women and Men's Bathroom. I'm gonna cry... Simpler times !
Still building drive ins in Texas. Very popular in Texas.
Malcolm Crawford
Same... very popular in Indiana!!
Malcolm Crawford I am so glad that Texas supports Drive-in Theaters more than in any other state who rather shut them down to either build churches, shopping centers, or a damn Wal-Mart over this important Amerikana activities during the spring & summer months or all year around in some states especially down South people do not know what they're missing today nor they understand I was raise on drive-ins too!
If they can get anybody to buy it, they can always use it for outdoor concerts.
That would make good use of the property too.
How much is the property? And also where is it located?
See this article for how much the property is:
archive.knoxnews.com/business/roane-drive-in-theater-for-sale-ep-409848086-359322191.html/
See these articles for its location:
cinematreasures.org/theaters/10501
www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g55087-d3389627-r164806631-Midtown_Drive_In-Harriman_Tennessee.html
I suggest someone contact a local car club and they can do car hop cruise inn nights for that do wop or rat rod hot rod groups here in san diego we did a nostalgia film cruise in an old theater and it was a success
it did use radio frequency.i miss itan dc the bowlin alley in midtown
I don't see any drive in anymore.. if I owned that I would totally have it in use.. I would also use all that space for all kinds of stuff for the community get togeathers...oh the ideas I have...lol
One time I forgot to remove the little wire that you hook up to the car antenna and when I drove off it ripped the wire off of the pole.
Davilo Olivad Sounds like something I would do. lol
Davilo Olivad that was a common occurrence at driveins that's why they went to radio I believe
where is this at ? I tried getting info on this...I wish I knew the size of that screen ! spec is awesome to know ! as well as location . Thank you so much , that was awesome !
this is near my hometown of Harriman TN. the place really went to hell when alot of the things we loved closed. there is this and the skating rink that brought such good memories. both are now gone. great business opportunities there just sitting for the right person.
Looks too good to be abandoned. Looks like someone is looking after it and it can open up and showtime.
how much did they have it listed for?
The owners need to rethink this, it could be used for private parties, weddings reunions the list is endless. And they would make way more money than the old school way. I loved the drive in when I was a kid but now days it's to unsafe, Like I said invent new uses buy about 30 to 40 old non running 57 Chevy's caddies etc.... paint them up new seats see where I'm going with this..Loved the tour and memory lane.. I can still hear daddy asking my dates where they were taking me if they said the drive in movie, Daddy would say the Hell you are Boy!
swampmammytheone Lol awesome.
swampmammytheone
The horror movie community goes nuts for horror movie festivals show on 35mm film and they'll drive from all over to attend.
You have that right SuperEvilC , I am lucky enough to have three in a ten mile radius of my house. Two have the new digital projectors while one plays retro 35mm movies and yes they have many Horror Festivals and 80's weekends. For $10 you can camp on the grounds. mahoningdit.com/
This is one of the reasons why we are interested in re-opening the closed or abandoned Drive - In Theatres .
puck30 ARE YOU SHITTING ME??? Pardon my French but you are sooooo damn lucky.
I'm interested in buying this place I have three generations of movie projector operation in my family
Imagine a full blown Rocky Horror party there, scandalous, whoo!
my favorite drivin theater is the getty drivin in muskegon mi
Watched many a good movie there when dating, Harriman ...showed movies in 2013, smurf 2 and wolverine....they would put hotdogs and snacks in replica cars...too cool....
That's awesome
How old do you think it is?
CrazyforTrouble It first opened in 1949.
Exploration Unknown wow really old
THe sign is nice, if they do demolish the building they should definitely leave it up for a while.
I hate seeing these closed down. hopefully someone buys it and re opens the place.
Drive ins are going to make a comeback post covid I hope
somebody needs to reopen this!!!!! it is in great shape!!! wish I had money!!!!!
Went here when I was a kid
I remeber drive in theater's i grew up in p.t wa.
Where is this looking to buy a drive in theater already up
Harriman, TN
did you buy it?
jesus man,,,all them toys inside,,,,lol i keep watching the video
I used to go there as a kid the last movie I saw was the sci-fi classic alien
those are wasps not bees
That would be cool if it was in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
where is this
Rae Star Harriman tn
If anyone is interested buying the Midtown Drive In featured in this video, the owners Doug Freeman and Perry Humberd can be reached at: tndriveinmovies (at) yahoo.com
we still have working theaters
Ron Tor
We do too. There's still many out there... worth the drive!
dude im sorry but that firetruck inside that office or projector room is bad ass....i dont trust myself cuz i wouldve found a way inside and took all the cars, and that fire engine toy,,,they could be worth money,,,yeah yeah i admit it,,,i wouldve slid on inside....at least i admit it tho,,,,,relax,,,thats too far for me to travel to get the stuff