Classic Americana

The First Drive-In Theater

Before the days of online ticketing and stadium seating, many Americans saw Hollywood's latest hits from inside their automobiles.

In 1933, Richard Hollingshead opened the first drive-in theater near his home in New Jersey. The concept caught on, and soon after, thousands of drive-ins sprang up across the country. Over the years, the popularity of drive-ins has declined, but they've been immortalized in films like Grease.