He sold the tickets, started the player piano and started the movie. Drivein movie theaters in philadelphia, south jersey and. The varbalow circuit also operated the first run savar theatre in downtown camden. Both of these theaters gave way when the new victoria theater was built at 2516 federal street. By the late 1950s, driveins were in their heyday and there were more than 4,000 outdoor movie screens across the country. White eagle hall is the place to visit if you are interested in dance, family shows, comedy, live music, and theater in the jersey city area. From the 1930s to the 1970s, drivein movie theaters were popular hangout spots for teenagers and young couples. Highlands, new jersey has the highest elevation along the entire eastern seaboard, from maine to florida. Drive ins have made a comeback in recent years and theyre continuing to grow in popularity. Richard hollingshead opened the first theater for the autobound in camden, n. The 4 best drivein movie theaters near cincinnati wander.
Driveins have made a comeback in recent years and theyre continuing to grow in popularity. The theater dating back to 1949 and the last remaining drivein in new jersey enlisted the support of local and state officials in working to get the governors blessing to reopen. Its successful debut prompted others to follow, and by the mid 1950s driveins numbered well over 4,000, some of which held room for over three thousand cars. From the 1930s to the 1970s, drivein movie theaters were popular. The drivein movie theater is making a comeback gunther. Family drive in theatre in stephens city is a two screen classic drive in theatre serving the washington, dc metro area. The countrys first official drivein theater in camden opened in 1933. Rutgers explores camden drivein theater, the first in the country nj. Moviegoers in depressionravaged pennsauken made history on the night of june 6, 1933.
These days, though, only about 330 drivein theaters remain in the united states. On this day in 1933, eager motorists park their automobiles on the grounds of parkin theaters, the firstever drivein movie theater, located on crescent boulevard in camden, new jersey. There was room for 400 cars, and hollingsworth made sure that the entire family, including the kids, felt welcome. Top drivein theaters in america travel channel blog. The concept was developed by richard hollingshead jr. Generally, across america, the peak years for drivein theaters were the late 1950s. The worlds first drive in movie theater opens in camden, new jersey. Camden county officials are preparing to launch a campaign to lure an amazon headquarters to. Advertising it as entertainment for the whole family, hollingshead charged 25 cents per car and 25 cents per. The drivein movie theater is making a comeback gunther toodys. Houston gets a new drivein movie theater at sawyer yards.
In 1932, hollingshead conducted outdoor theater tests in his driveway at 212 thomas avenue in riverton. Open drivein movie theaters are starting to pop up all. Nostalgic images of drivein movie theaters drive in cinema, drive in movie. The first drivein theater opened in camden, new jersey, in 1933. The coolest retro drivein movie theaters in america. Get 50% off hundreds of family movies when you preorder on fandangonow today. On june 6, 1933, the first drivein theater in the united states opened in camden. This is national drivein movie day, celebrating that historic moment 85 years ago when richard m. Feb 26, 2019 the first drivein movie theater opened in camden, new jersey, in 1933 the brainchild of richard hollingshead, general sales manager of his fathers auto products company. The drive in theater was patented in camden, new jersey by chemical company magnate richard m. Houston is getting its own drivein movie theater at sawyer yards. Hollingshead worked for his fathers company, whiz auto products. It opened up on june 6, 1933, and remained in business for three years.
By may of 1964 there were only four movie theaters open in camden the stanley. Huber operated hubers family theater at 2409 federal street in 1918. From the 1930s to the 1970s, drive in movie theaters were popular hangout spots for teenagers and young couples. Njs last drivein theater presents new films with a piece. Camden is a city in and the county seat of camden county, new jersey, in the united states. Electronics magazinewikipedia billed as budget friendly family fun, and paired with a growing interest in automobiles, drive ins thrived across the united states. For less than a dollar, the whole family could enjoy a b hollywood movie from the comfort of their own car. Viewers watch a movie at shankweilers drivein during the heyday of drivein theaters. The drivein theater is a new jersey invention, created and launched in camden in 1933. Just before world war ii, 9 of the 15 drivein movie theaters open in the. According to the new york film academy, americans loved heading to the drivein with their friends and family so much that, at its peak in the 1950s, there.
On june 6, 1933, the first drivein theater in the united states opened. The first drivein movie theater was built on a 10acre plot in camden county in 1933. Eighty two years ago this month the firstever drive in movie theater was opened in camden new jersey. The drivein theater was patented in camden, new jersey by chemical company. The drive in theater was patented in camden, new jersey and the first such theater was opened in nearby pennsauken in 1933.
It was located on crescent boulevard in camden, new jersey and the price of admission was 25 cents for the car, plus 25 cents per person. Hollingshead set out to invent a new business that would make his fortune. A drivein theater or drivein cinema is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor movie screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles. It operates seasonally from march thru december, offering family entertainment, double features, events with digital sound and projection. He advertised his drivein theater with the slogan, the whole family is. The drivein movie theater, a ubiquitous component of the hollywood and. Innovation common core state standards for english language arts.
History of the drivein movie theatre austins best new. The theater doubles as a takeout restaurant with dinner, snack and dessert options. The drivein movie theater may be just the cure for lockdown. The drivein movies background driveins a drivein is an outdoor movie theater in which people watch the movie from their cars. On june 6 th, 1933 hollingshead founded parkin theaters and opened the first drivein on crescent boulevard in camden, new jersey. Family drivein theatre in stephens city is a two screen classic drive in theatre serving the washington, dc metro area. With rooftop cinemas unable to hold its usual rooftop movies, an old forms reborn. Camden is a city and the county seat of camden county, new jersey, united states.
Within this enclosed area, customers can view movies from the privacy and comfort of their cars. Eventually pennsauken opened a drivein theater on airport circle, which lies on the camden border, he said. It was on that day in 1933 that richard hollingshead opened the first theater for the autobound in camden, n. A drivein theater or drivein cinema is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor. Did you know the birthplace of the drivein was in camden. The original drive in move theater opened on june 6, 1933. The worlds first drivein theatre opened in camden, new jersey. They have an intimate event space that can be used for fundraisers, corporate meetings, weddings, private parties, and pretty much any type of event. Elementary school grades 35 middle school time period.
See more ideas about camden new jersey, camden, new jersey. Camden a once prominent but now faded pop culture phenomenon got its start 82 years ago in new jersey. The series, which is free and open to the public, will show movies on. Did you know that camden was once home to the first drivein movie theater. Patent 1,909,537 for his drivein theater invention, and opened his first drivein theater in new jersey on june 6, 1933. Another theater, the crystal palace, was open at that time at 2508 federal street. Camden is located directly across the delaware river from philadelphia, pennsylvania.
On this day in 1933, eager motorists park their automobiles on the grounds of parkin theaters, the firstever drive in movie theater, located on crescent boulevard in camden, new jersey. At that time, admission to a movie was 25 cents per car and 25 cents per person. Some drive ins have small playgrounds for children and a few picnic tables or benches. The first true drivein theater as we know them today was opened on june 6th, 1933 in camden, new jersey. Auto parts salesman richard hollingshead opened the worlds first drivein theatre in camden, new jersey on june 6th, 1933. May 16, 2020 open drive in movie theaters are starting to pop up all over new jersey. The drivein movie theater is making a comeback eighty two years ago this month the firstever drive in movie theater was opened in camden new jersey. Classic drivein movie theaters still exist in virginias.
Jul 28, 2019 on this day in 1933, eager motorists park their automobiles on the grounds of park in theaters, the firstever drive in movie theater, located on crescent boulevard in camden, new jersey. Drivein movies became an icon of american pop culture. The first seashore resorts opened in cape may and long branch in the early 1800s. The first drivein movie theater opened in camden, new jersey, in 1933 the brainchild of richard hollingshead, general sales manager of his fathers auto products company. Of course camden was the home of the worlds first drivein movie, invented by richard m. Eightysix years ago on this day, june 6, the first drivein theater opened in camden hollingsheads drivein. Shows new movies, double features, holds events, family oriented, pet friendly, movies in digital sound and image format, classic car speakers and playground for the children.
Maybe one of the reasons drivein movies are so much more popular in the united states than in other countries is because the drivein movie is truly an american invention. Camden was home to the nations first drivein movie theater. New york drivein theaters driveins and drivein movie. The idea spread like wildfire and after world war ii, the rise of the automobile industry and the birth of all those baby boomers, they became an iconic symbol. Camden film series celebrates first drivein theater in country, oct. Using a 1928 kodak projector mounted on the hood of his car and aimed at a. Abandoned drivein theaters across america business insider. Njs last drivein theater presents new films with a piece of. Richard hollingshead of camden, new jersey, was trying to solve the problem of the discomfort that his mother experienced in traditional movie theater seating. Jun 08, 2012 on june 6th, 1933 the first drivein movie theater was opened in camden, new jersey. New jersey and the drivein movie theater target age.
Apr 23, 2015 eventually pennsauken opened a drivein theater on airport circle, which lies on the camden border, he said. Although new york state was one of the first 10 states to host a drivein theater the first one opened in ny in 1938 on long island, the empire state was still a late bloomer for driveins. Camden is the 12th most populous municipality in new jersey. But ever since the first drive in theater opened in camden, new jersey back in 1933, these venues have lured americans to the unlikely escape of a wide open parking lot, the air punctuated only by. Houston gets a new drivein movie theater at sawyer yards as. Some driveins have small playgrounds for children and a few picnic tables or benches.
The drive in movie theater, a ubiquitous component of the hollywood and. The official web site for the state of new jersey famous. Nov 14, 2019 eightysix years ago on this day, june 6, the first drivein theater opened in camden hollingsheads drivein. Mar 20, 2020 but ever since the first drivein theater opened in camden, new jersey back in 1933, these venues have lured americans to the unlikely escape of a wideopen parking lot, the air punctuated only by.
About a 45minute drive from philadelphia or camden, the delsea drivein is new jerseys only drivein movie theater. The varbalow circuit also operated the first run savar theatre in. Drive in movies became an icon of american pop culture. The very first drivein movie theater opened in june of 1933, in the heart of camden, new jersey, and americans immediately took to watching the silver screen beneath a blanket of stars. It was built for and operated by the varbalow cirucit who had their offices in the walt whitman theate in pennsauken, new jersey. Drivein movie theaters career training usa interexchange. In the late 1950s, when their popularity was at its peak, there were 5,000driveins. A drivein theater or drive in cinema is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor movie screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles. Family drivein theatre in stephens city is a two screen classic drivein theatre serving the washington, dc metro area. Richard hollingshead, a resident of camden, opened the very first drivein theater in the city on. The first miss america was chosen in atlantic city in 1921. The theater dating back to 1949 and the last remaining drive in in new jersey enlisted the support of local and state officials in working to get the governors blessing to re open.
The drivein movie theater may be just the cure for. Houston is getting its own drive in movie theater at sawyer yards. This was 30 or so years after the camden drivein had come and gone, but people. Jun 27, 2018 the idea officially came to life on june 6, 1933. Open drivein movie theaters are starting to pop up all over new jersey. Hollingshead of camden, new jersey, opened the very first drivein theater. Haus, author of the book south jersey movie house, talks about the oncegreat movie theaters of camden, new jersey.
But ever since the first drivein theater opened in camden, new jersey back in 1933, these venues have lured americans to the unlikely escape of a wideopen parking lot, the air. Rutgers explores camden drivein theater, the first. The drive in has been a staple in warwick, a town of about 32,000 near the new jersey border, since the 1950s, serving as both a family friendly attraction and a popular datenight spot. Find the movies showing at theaters near you and buy movie tickets at fandango. See more ideas about drive in theater, drive in movie theater and movie theater.
The first drivein movie theater opened in camden, new jersey, in 1933. The worlds first drivein movie theater opens in camden, new jersey. Rutgers explores camden drivein theater, the first in. The 14 coolest drivein movie theaters in america mental floss. Camden nj in its prime had many theaters, and it wasnt all movies. New jersey is the only state where all of its counties are classified as metropolitan areas. Open drivein movie theaters are starting to pop up all over. As he put it, he analyzed the market from the standpoint of what people gave up last.
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