The drive-in theater was a phenomenon unique and prosperous in 1950s America. At the height of their popularity, there were over 4,000 drive-in theaters located across the United States. Their great success came because they were suitable to the mindset of the time-they provided a place for a family to be together without dress code, babysitter, or parking problems, and without having to leave their beloved cars. Construction of 23 drive-in theaters occurred in the Indianapolis area between 1940 and 1974. These varied in size and location, but all contained the essential ingredients-a large concession stand, children's playground, and any other gimmick that would gather their audiences before sunset.By the mid-1960s, the drive-in theater industry began a steady decline which has continued to present. The drive-in theater always faced obstacles, including weather, insects, seasons, and poor technical quality of both picture and sound. Adding to this was the change in the American mindset, increased opposition from community moralists, and especially, the rise in property values.This creative project documents the general history of drive-in theaters across the United States, takes a closer look at the drive-in theaters in the Indianapolis area, and records them in an inventory. / Department of Architecture
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/185969 |
| Date | January 1997 |
| Creators | Curtis, Emily A. |
| Contributors | Glass, James A. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | vi, 97 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
| Coverage | n-us-in |
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