History of the drive-in


The first drive-in movie theater opened in 1933 in Camden, N.J. At the time, they were called “park-in theatres” and the term drive-in evolved later.


Richard Hollingshead invented the concept after his mother complained that traditional movie theatre seats were uncomfortable. He envisioned a place where people could watch from the comfort of their vehicle and experimented in his own driveway with different projection techniques.


Hollingshead mounted a 1928 Kodak projector on the hood of his car, pinned a screen to some trees, and placed a radio outside for sound. After he received a patent for the concept, he opened Park-In Theaters, Inc. with an initial investment of $30,000.


After Hollingshead’s patent was overturned in 1949, drive-in theaters began popping up all over the country.


By the mid-1960s, there were about 5,000 drive-ins nationwide.


It became an iconic American experience and many people have fond memories of going to the drive-in on a Friday or Saturday night.


But when Betamax and VHS tapes were released, the industry began to suffer. The 1980s were the toughest decade for Kendra’s family, but they hunkered down and made it through.


“Those were tough times. I remember it. But the novelty eventually wears off and people want to get out of the house and go do something,” she said.


Crowds began to return to the hometown theater.


Another factor affecting drive-ins, particularly in larger cities where drive-ins once thrived, was the land was more valuable as real estate than it was a business, so many sold their operation and apartments or condos went up in its place, said Dearing.


And the conversion to digital was another setback, albeit more modern. The conversion was expensive and upwards of 100 theaters nationwide closed rather than convert to digital, she said.


But Kenda Drive-in was not one of them. It converted to digital four years ago.


“It was a huge expense. We had no choice. It was convert or close. A lot of theaters didn’t make it,” she said.


The Drive-In today


Kenda, a math and science teacher, and her husband Todd bought the drive-in from her parents in 2003. They started dating when she was 13 and have worked alongside each other for years.


“Todd and I had lots of dates at the drive-in. I grew up in a working family. I did activities at school but I was used to mom and dad not being there because they worked every night. If someone called in and we didn’t have enough concession help, I worked. It didn’t matter what was going on. You are always closer when you work together, play together and are together. It’s a good deal for kids to work and to work in a family business and be vested, they have a better clue where everything comes from and how hard it is to make that money,” Kenda said.


Her own boys worked the family business and still pitch in when she’s short-handed — the “boys” are adults now.


6 Living Well i May/June 2017


Kenda Drive-in can accommodate 250 cars on the six acre lot. Dearing estimates 50 to 60 percent of her customers are from out of town and most drive at least an hour to get there.


What was once old, is new again.


“It’s a novelty, there’s not many left,” she said.


The theater has many multi-generational customers, particularly locals.


She’s seen couples start coming as kids, then grow up and date, get married, and then they disappear when they have babies. When the kids get a little older, the couple gravitates back to the theatre. It’s the natural progression.


The drive-in is open year-round, but is open more days in the summer: Friday through Tuesday, May to September. Thursday is special event night. They host “Throwback Thursday” the last Thursday of each month where they invite people to


come in with vintage cars and show a free movie.


“Last year, we averaged 60-150 antique cars on any given night. People really enjoy that because the car people have a chance to visit and hang out with each other. It’s an informal car show,” she said.


There’s also a few kid’s nights in the summer with free cotton candy and face painting on a Thursday. Watch Facebook or the website for announcements.


It’s a lot of work, but being part of a family business that is 51-years-old is pretty special and makes it all worth it. Kenda hopes the tradition will continue and one of her sons might want to take over the business one day.


“I hope it doesn’t end with us,” Kenda said. “I hope it remains a viable business.”


Sources: History.com contributed to research for this article.


DEAN CURTIS FOR LIVING WELL


Vanessa Buroughs of Mount Vernon comes to the Kenda Drive-In about three times a year. She is with her daughters, Tessa and Tori, and son-in-law, Preston Brock.


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