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Stars and Stripes Drive-In Owner Ready for Premiere Showing in Lubbock on Thursday
Lubbock, TX, Avalanche-Journal ^ | 08-17-03 | Davis, John

Posted on 08/17/2003 5:21:43 AM PDT by Theodore R.

Stars and Stripes Drive-In owner ready for premiere showing Thursday By JOHN DAVIS AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

He's keeping his fingers crossed and he's feeling opening night jitters, but local drive-in theater operator Ryan Smith said Thursday's the day his dream comes to life.

As workmen finished digging the fenceposts and awaited the arrival of cabinets on Friday, Smith said he's ready for Thursday night when the projectors start rolling at the Stars and Stripes Drive-In.

"I don't know if we're going to have a packed house," Smith said. "I want people to come early. I'll be ready to get people in here and get the first show going."

Smith said he's worked hard to give the diner a 1950s feel. It's adorned with chrome stools, stainless steel splash guards and a checkerboard floor.

He consulted his grandparents, who built and operated the Sky-Vue Drive-In in Lamesa, his parents and his sisters for advice while planning and building.

But, when he looks around, there's not just one thing he's proud of most.

"The whole thing," he said makes him most proud. "Just how nice it is. Just how all of our efforts have come together to make a first-class drive-in for Lubbock."

Many people have come down the driveway over the past few weeks to inquire about opening night, said Ryan's mother, Linda.

"One guy said 'I can't wait,"' Linda said while taking a break from cleaning countertops.

Her son dropped out of law school, but she said she's not concerned because he's doing something he loves.

"He's always been a people person, and he's always been an entrepreneur," she said. "I think it's really going to fit him well. I think he's learned a lot about starting a business, that's for sure."

Ryan said the cash-only box office opens at 7 p.m. and the show starts around 8:30 or 9 p.m. Entrees and snacks will be under $10. Tickets cost $5 per person.

The Stars and Stripes Drive-In, with room for 1,000 cars, is located at 5101 Clovis Highway, between Quaker Avenue and Frankford Avenue on the south side of the street.

jdavis@lubbockonline.com 766-8713


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 1950sstyle; diner; drivein; lubbock; opening; ryansmith; theater
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To: Theodore R.
MOST closed years ago. There's somewhat of a retro revival for drive-ins. I've been toying with the idea of starting one myself, here in NoVA.
41 posted on 08/17/2003 4:26:35 PM PDT by witnesstothefall
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To: Theodore R.

Hollinghead's Story

    DRIVE-INS.COM

It's said his motive was to sell more auto products. After all, that's what Richard Hollingshead did for a living back in the 1930's. And, he theorized, the best way to do this was to establish a place where people could park their cars, enjoy a meal, and watch a movie outdoors.

He experimented by nailing a bed sheet between some trees, put a 1928 movie projector on the hood of his car, and placed a radio behind the "screen" for sound. He even positioned a number of automobiles with blocks under their front wheels to improve viewing.

There would be other experiments along the way, including the use of lawn sprinklers to simulate the effects of rain while watching a movie outdoors. Eventually, Hollingshead had the makings of his drive-in. In August of 1932 he applied for a patent.

Richard Hollingshead opened the world's first Drive-in Theatre in Camden, New Jersey on June 6, 1933. Its successful debut prompted others to follow. The second drive-in appeared less than one year later in Orefield, Pennsylvania. Shankweiler's Auto Park opened on April 15, 1934 and is the oldest continuously operated drive-in theatre in America. By 1942, there were almost one hundred drive-ins scattered across 27 states. The Boom Years It wasn't until after the Second World War, however, when drive-ins really spread across the country. Part of the reason was improved technology. RCA introduced in-car speakers, which replaced the old and inefficient bullhorns mounted on the drive-in screen. By 1948, there were an estimated 820 drive-ins.

With the baby boom of the late 1940's and early 1950's, young families began discovering the drive-ins. Many drive-ins added playgrounds and train rides to encourage family attendance. Just like the generation itself, drive-ins were also "booming". Concession stands were a large part of the draw and success enjoyed by drive-in owners. Utilizing a cafeteria-style operation they could feed hundreds of kids and adults during the 10 minutes of intermission, which sometimes featured cartoons and a clock counting down the time to the beginning of the second feature.

The 1950's brought other innovations to drive-ins, like in-car heaters and mobile concession carts. However, their appeal was still driven by the casual and convenient alternative they offered to traditional indoor movie houses. You could put the kids in their pajamas and spend a cool summer evening at the drive-in, rather than heading for the city and a "stuffy" indoor theatre.

By 1958, there were approximately 4063 drive-in theatres in the United States and Canada. But their impressive growth and success was about to change direction, and the decline would last for three decades. Dark Skies for Drive-ins Some industry leaders will tell you the biggest reason for this decline was the introduction of daylight savings time. Many parents were reluctant to take their families to the drive-in for showings starting as late as ten o'clock at night. And, with the "baby boom era" coming to an end, there were simply fewer families with children to bring. Many drive-in operators switched to more "adult" or "occult" films. Some also tried to improve their bottom line with flea markets or church services during the daytime on the weekends.

The 1970's and 1980's brought fierce competition with the infiltration of cable TV and VCRs into many homes. To make matters worse, many new indoor movie theatres were being built in the suburbs, with multiplexes offering more screens and more movies. Now, people could watch a film in air-conditioned theatres and "grab a bite to eat" at the mall instead of the drive-in snackbar.

In the face of it all, many drive-ins decided they were better off selling their land to commercial developers, who built an endless number of bland shopping centers over the grass lots of former drive-ins. Land that wasn't sold frequently stood idle, overgrown with weeds or even trees, the once mighty screen tower now a lonely monument to the glory days when drive-ins were king. In 1990, only about 910 drive-ins remained open. Drive-ins make a comeback Fortunately, the story doesn't end there. In more recent years, a number of once-closed drive-ins have re-opened and several new ones have been built from the ground up. Operators who survived the difficult years are re-investing in multiple screens and modern FM radio sound. Playgrounds, miniature golf, and other forms of family entertainment have reappeared in many.

It seems a whole new generation has discovered drive-in movie theatres. Richard Hollingshead, the man who started it all, would be proud that his invention has withstood the challenges of time and cultural change, and is still around today providing affordable family entertainment for communities across America to enjoy.

Hollingshead's Story was written by Rick Cohen

42 posted on 08/17/2003 9:15:23 PM PDT by Eagle9
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To: Eagle9
Headline correction:

Hollingshead's Story


43 posted on 08/17/2003 9:19:29 PM PDT by Eagle9
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To: Eagle9
Headline correction:

Hollingshead's Story


44 posted on 08/17/2003 9:19:29 PM PDT by Eagle9
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To: potlatch

45 posted on 11/09/2009 5:55:08 PM PST by devolve ( . . . "I would caution you against jumping to conclusions!" - Barack Hasan Obama Junior. . . . .)
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To: devolve
Lol, at least she has two arms!! Most won't understand that...heh. Good thing her hips balance out her top or she might fall over and see some stars - and stripes!

I could see drive in movies making a come back in Texas where the weather isn't severe. Easy to take the kids and relax and eat a burger.

46 posted on 11/09/2009 6:03:12 PM PST by potlatch (ACTIONS - Speak Louder Than Words)
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To: Theodore R.

I always loved the drive-in theaters, and the old walk-in movie theaters that were so grand.

I don’t know how safe it would be to go to a drive-in these days, but I guess there could be security measures to somewhat handle the problems.


47 posted on 11/09/2009 6:12:11 PM PST by LucyJo
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To: potlatch

.

‘03 thread!

LOL!

I recranked another dead thread!


48 posted on 11/09/2009 6:16:23 PM PST by devolve ( . . . "I would caution you against jumping to conclusions!" - Barack Hasan Obama Junior. . . . .)
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To: devolve

[I recranked another dead thread!]

You sure did, and I see you thoroughly read my post too...

What do you do, search by keyword?


49 posted on 11/09/2009 6:20:39 PM PST by potlatch (ACTIONS - Speak Louder Than Words)
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To: potlatch

.

The car hop already fell over!

In Texas!


50 posted on 11/09/2009 6:26:06 PM PST by devolve ( . . . "I would caution you against jumping to conclusions!" - Barack Hasan Obama Junior. . . . .)
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To: devolve

[In Texas!]

Didn’t know that, lol.
Some obscure meaning that I miss.


51 posted on 11/09/2009 6:32:54 PM PST by potlatch (ACTIONS - Speak Louder Than Words)
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To: devolve; potlatch

LOL. I got so caught up in the nostalgia that I never noticed the date of the article!

Sent the article to someone who lives in Lubbock and asked if they were going to the opening. LOL.

They sent message back with a big LOL telling me the article was from ‘03, but, as far as they knew the drive-in was still in business. Ha.

That’s the second time I’ve made that mistake. I was good about checking dates for a while. Guess this will be another reminder. *chuckle*


52 posted on 11/10/2009 8:53:31 AM PST by LucyJo
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To: LucyJo

Funny story LucyJo and I can easily see it happening. I have often replied and later noted that it was an old thread. Very often it REVIVES the thread!


53 posted on 11/10/2009 11:13:25 AM PST by potlatch (ACTIONS - Speak Louder Than Words)
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