If you enjoy movies and the cinematic experience, today is a special day. 89 years ago today, the nation's first real drive-in movie theater opened right here in South Jersey.

And while most people know the first drive-in was located in Camden (not really), there is more to the story.

Technically speaking, that drive-in in Camden (Pennsauken, actually) wasn't the very first one to open.

What was considered a "partial drive-in theater" opened in New Mexico in April 1915. That was a large indoor theater that happened to have places for cars to park around it so people could watch the performance. That theater closed about a year later and it certainly wasn't the typical drive-in theater experience that we all know today.

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Not much happened with the concept until 1921 when cars were able to park around an outdoor movie screen to watch silent films in a small town in Texas.

Interested in the idea, about a year later, a man by the name of Richard M. Hollingshead, Jr., nailed a movie screen to a couple of trees in his yard at 212 Thomas Avenue in Riverton, NJ, and with a little experimentation, he got things to work pretty well (how far apart cars needed to be spaced, how the sound would match the pictures, etc.).

The birth of the drive-in movie theater can be traced to 212 Thomas Avenue in Riverton NJ - Photo: Google Maps
The birth of the drive-in movie theater can be traced to 212 Thomas Avenue in Riverton NJ - Photo: Google Maps
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That movie screen nailed to some trees set off a drive-in movie craze that would sweep the nation in the decades that followed.

In August of 1932, Hollingshead applied for a patent for what he developed, and on June 6, 1933, he opened the first true drive-in movie theater on Admiral Wilson Blvd. in Pennsauken (it's where the Zinman Furs building stands today).

The nation's first drive-in movie theater opened at Rosemont Avenue and Admiral Wilson Boulevard in Pennsauken NJ on June 6 1933 - Photo: Google Maps
The nation's first drive-in movie theater opened at Rosemont Avenue and Admiral Wilson Boulevard in Pennsauken NJ on June 6 1933 - Photo: Google Maps
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However, it wasn't smooth sailing. Just three years after opening, Hollingshead sold his theater because it failed to turn a profit.

While that theater wasn't a money-maker, people loved the concept and several drive-in theaters opened the following year. By 1950, there were over 4,000 drive-ins across the country.

By the 1970s, drive-ins began to fade into history, however, many either reopened or have survived and are now doing quite well.

While those in South Jersey know the Delsea Drive-in on Delsea Drive in Vineland reopened a number of years ago, there are several other theaters within a short drive from our area.

Delsea Drive-in Theater in Vineland NJ - Photo by leah peragine on Unsplash
Delsea Drive-in Theater in Vineland NJ - Photo by leah peragine on Unsplash
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Shankweiler's Drive-in is located just outside of Allentown, PA (they typically only show family-friendly movies), while Becky's Drive-in is near that area in the small town of Walnutport.

And for a truly amazing retro experience, the Mahoning Drive-in in Lehighton, PA, (near the town of Jim Thorpe in the Poconos) has developed a massive (that's an understatement) cult following that has people driving from all across the country to check out. (Editor's note: the Mahoning doesn't show new movies. In fact, it only shows older movies on 35mm film on its original projector. It is definitely worth the drive if you love drive-in theaters.)

Meanwhile, over the years, South Jersey was home to nearly two dozen drive-ins. Do you remember any of these?

Remembering 21 Old South Jersey Drive-in Movie Theaters and What's There Now

South Jersey used to have nearly two dozen drive-in movie theaters -- now, only one remains. Let's take a look at those old theaters and what has replaced them.

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By the time (no pun intended) you get to the bottom of this list, you'll be looking at things that are over 150 to almost 200 years old right here in South Jersey.

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