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US Drive-In Theaters Making a Comeback Amid COVID Pandemic

Peyton Bigora

   Hungry for a night out of the house, people are turning to the
   nostalgia of drive-in movie theaters as a safe entertainment option
   amid coronavirus social distancing orders.

   Today's total of [1]305 drive-in locations is minimal compared with the
   more than 4,000 drive-in locations in the United States during the
   1950s, but the attention they are receiving recently as a safe way to
   go out while practicing social distancing is something not seen in
   recent decades.

   The 1952 [2]Haar's Drive-In Movie Theater in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania,
   is one of the few original theaters that survived past the late 1980s
   and is the only one in York County.

   Vickie Hardy took co-ownership of the family business in 2003 and
   opened the theater's doors Memorial Day weekend, May 22-24, for the
   first time since the pandemic's start.

   The first stay-at-home orders for the area were announced in March,
   before the start of drive-in movie season, which gave Hardy time to
   prepare for business during a pandemic.

   "We were following all the announcements and following the guidelines
   as they were announced, so we knew we would have to implement them,"
   Hardy told VOA. "We were getting ahead of the game. We were getting all
   the products we needed and getting it all set up the way it was going
   to be required in order for us to open up."

   Early regulations for adhering to social distancing required the
   drive-in to use only half of the 500-car main lot and none of the
   overflow lot. Movie-goers must stay within their designated space and
   wear a face mask if they leave their space.

   "We were filled to capacity all three nights," Hardy said. "Now keep in
   mind, the capacity is half what we're accustomed to, so we did sell
   out. We had a lot of inquiries to continue purchasing tickets, and so I
   was disappointed we were not able to accommodate all that wanted to
   come."

   Even with the generational lull of the drive-in theater trend, Hardy
   wasn't surprised to sell out on the holiday weekend, since it is their
   busiest time of year.

   "I believe everyone is ready to do something a little different than
   being in their house staring at their four walls," Hardy said. "So no,
   I wasn't totally surprised."

References

   1. https://www.uditoa.org/media.html
   2. https://www.haars.com/