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Retro Road Trip: PA’s Drive-In Movie Theaters
R071069 Becky’s Drive-In, Berlinsville, PA. Photo courtesy of Discover Lehigh Valley.
Retro Road Trip: PA’s Drive-In Movie Theaters
WENDY ROYAL There are few things in this world that trigger a case of nostalgia for baby boomers like drive-in movie theaters. But, it isn’t only boomers who appreciate these icons of entertainment; Gen Xers and millennials are packing the kids in the car or setting out for the perfect date night. Seriously, if you want to score some points with your significant other, a surprise trip to one of Pennsylvania’s drive-ins would be a great departure from the same old date-night routine. Pennsylvania was an early adopter of the outdoor movie theater craze. In April 1934, Shankweiler’s Drive-In in Orefield, Lehigh County, became the second drive-in movie theater to open in the U.S. Today, it is the oldest operating drive-in in the country. The Keystone State ranks second behind New York in the number still in operation. The evolution of technology, like the switch from window speakers to radio sound and the move from traditional to digital screens, has improved the quality of picture and sound. But the essence of the drive-in experience hasn’t changed in more than 70 years - waiting for the sun to go down, the smell of freshly popped popcorn and making memories with family and friends. My own memories include taking in a movie with a carload of friends when I was a teenager and then going back to the Columbia Drive-In (no longer in operation) as a young mom with my husband and our children watching from the open hatchback of our car.
Bar Ann Drive-In Portage, PA 15946 Becky’s Drive-In Berlinsville, PA 18088 Brownsville Drive-In Grindstone, PA 15442 Carrolltown Hi-Way Drive-In Carrolltown, PA 15722 Circle Drive-In Theatre Dickson City, PA 18508 Comet Drive-In Theatre Dunbar, PA 15431 Cumberland Drive-In Theatre Newville, PA 17241 Dependable Drive-In Theater Moon, PA 15108 Evergreen Drive-In Theatre Mount Pleasant, PA 15666 Garden Drive-In Hunlock Creek, PA 18621 Haar’s Drive-In Theatre Dillsburg, PA 17019 Kane Family Drive-I Theatre Kane, PA 16735 Mahoning Drive-In Theater Lehighton, PA 18235 Midway Drive-In Theatre Mifflintown, PA 17059 Moonlite Drive-In Theatre Brookville, PA 15825 Palace Gardens Drive-In Indiana, PA 15701 Pike Drive-In Theatre Montgomery, PA 17752 Point Drive-In Northumberland, PA 17821
Riverside Drive-In North Vandergift, PA 15690 Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theatre Orefield, PA 18069 Silver Drive-In Johnstown, PA 15904 Skyview Twin Drive-In Carmichaels, PA 15320 Sky-Vu Drive-In Theatre Gratz, PA 17048 Starlight Drive-In Butler, PA 16001 Super 322 Drive-In Clearfield, PA 16881 Sunset Drive-In Waterford, PA 16441 Moonlite Drive-In West Wyoming, PA 18644 For links to all these locations, visit www.whereandwhen.com/pennsylvanias-drive-in-movie-theaters.
STEAM TRAINS
We will be hosting the Gramling’s traveling steam train, Jeddo Coal Company #85! “Mack” is a 0-4-0 coal burning steam engine built by Vulcan Iron Works in 1928. Experience the thrill of a live steam engine! Listen to the whistle, the steam escaping and the huffi ng and puffi ng as the train pulls away from the station.
