Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the American Drive-In Movie (2013)
Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the American Drive-In Movie (2013)
Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the American Drive-In Movie
(April Wright, US 2013, 85 min., DCP)
Nearly ninety years ago, the first drive-in movie theater opened in New Jersey. This unique exhibition format surged in the postwar era as car culture came to dominate the United States. At one time, there were more than 5,000 drive-ins in the country. But suburban sprawl, gas crises, and bad reputations affected attendance as these outdoor theaters fell into disrepair. This documentary tracks the history of the drive-in theater and talks with historians, academics, and current owners to explore the enduring attraction of watching a movie under the stars.