{"id":15195,"date":"2022-02-18T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-18T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/content-manager\/?p=15195"},"modified":"2022-02-18T15:01:31","modified_gmt":"2022-02-18T20:01:31","slug":"the-5-best-drive-in-movie-theaters-in-and-around-new-york-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/blog\/the-5-best-drive-in-movie-theaters-in-and-around-new-york-city\/","title":{"rendered":"The 5 Best Drive-in Movie Theaters In And Around New York City"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Many of us have heard grand stories of our grandparents going to the drive-in theater for Friday night dates, hangouts, or family excursions.\u00a0But, for younger generations, the drive-in movie theater is nothing more than myth and memory.\u00a0What was once a ubiquitous experience in the New York City<\/a> area slowly and steadily waned to the point where drive-in theaters are few and far between.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

That all changed in March of 2020 with the rise of the Covid-19 pandemic. Suddenly there was renewed interest in outdoor, drive-in movie theaters where families could socially distance AND enjoy the silver screen. As a result, there has been a revival of drive-in movie theaters. Even as indoor theaters have opened and social distancing guidelines have eased, people are still frequenting the drive-in theaters in and around New York City.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The History Of The Drive-In Theatre<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

After the 1908 invention of the Model T, drive-in theatres popped up across New York City. But the drive-in was only patented on June 6, 1933, when Richard Hollingshead opened his venue in New Jersey right across the river. He advertised his newly patented project as a place where \u201cThe whole family is welcome, regardless of how noisy the children are.\u201d Soon, the drive-in was all the rage \u2013 exploding in popularity across the country and even internationally.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Drive-in theaters hit their peak during the late \u201850s and early \u201860s, fast becoming the go-to spot for an entire generation of Baby Boomers. At their peak, there were well over 5,000 drive-ins were operating simultaneously across the US.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Despite their success, there were serious problems with the drive-in business model. Drive-ins could only show movies during certain times of the year, required large tracts of land, and were one of the first expenses to be cut in the face of an economic downturn.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

This is exactly what happened during the \u201870s oil crisis, as people began downsizing the size of their cars to save on gas and were less likely to spend money on entertainment for their children. In an attempt to cater to the boomer generation, drive-ins started showing horror and adult films, which started eroding their family-friendly reputation. The final blow was the invention of the VCR, which made it easy for Americans to watch whatever movie they wanted to from the comfort of their homes.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

New York City Drive-ins Theaters Today<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In 2021, there are roughly 300 drive-ins still operating in the US. Most of these are spread across New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. To stay open and operating, most plan double-feature nights and sell refreshments like candy, soda, hot dogs, and popcorn, and some even have built playgrounds for families looking to keep their children occupied.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Fortunately, there are multiple drive-in theaters in and around New York City that you and your family can enjoy!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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