By: Erin Haskell
Vineland- What happened to the days when movie theaters were meant to be outside, and people watched them from the quiet and comfort of their own cars?
It seems that drive-ins are making a comeback, but there is still only one currently operating in New Jersey: the Delsea Drive-in found in nearby Vineland.
New Jersey was home to the first drive-in movie theater,which was invented by Richard Hollingshead in 1928. He performed experiments in his driveway in Camden to test out screen durability and ways to park cars so that everyone could have a clear view of the screen. Hollingshead had the idea patented and opened the first drive-in theatre on Crescent Boulevard in Camden on June 6, 1933. The idea took off, and drive-ins became a popular source of entertainment in the 1950s.
The Delsea Drive-in was built in 1949 by the Budco chain, which was later bought by AMC in the 1970s. In 1987, AMC closed the drive-in due to lack of business. The theater remained dormant for 17 years until November 2003, when investors purchased the property for $1.8 million with an Urban Enterprise Zone loan guarantee.
“The lot was overgrown and the original concession stand was burnt and missing its roof because of the homeless people that had been living there,” said Dr. John DeLeonardis, pediatrician and owner of the Delsea Drive-in. ”We needed to remodel (the concession stand) and by putting a roof on it we could have a longer season.”
The Delsea Drive-in was originally purchased in order to build a skate park for the community, but that project was put on hold when it was discovered that the 120-foot screen was in good condition.
“I was looking for a place to build a skate park because kids aren’t active anymore,” DeLeonardis said. “However, that project has been pushed back six years due to the government Urban Enterprise Zone funds setback. Now the drive-in is carrying its own weight.”
In July 2004, the Delsea Drive-in opened its gates for the first time in years, screening “The Bourne Supremacy” and “Anchorman.”
“It was busy right out of the gate, but a lot of people don’t know about the drive-in,” DeLeonardis said. “The nostalgia of old times gets the customers in once, but it’s the extensive menu that keeps them coming back.”
The Delsea Drive-in’s menu has something for everybody, from movie-themed subs like the Horror Sub, made with roast beef and provolone cheese, to pizza and milkshakes. The most recent creation is the Minion Shake made with bananas, marshmallows and whipped cream. It is named for the little yellow minions in the film “Despicable Me.” Outside food is allowed with the purchase of a $7 food permit.
“I’d rather people bring nothing in because you get the most bang for your buck at our concession stand, and it’s the profit from it that keeps us in business,” DeLeonardis said. “Most of the profits from the movie tickets don’t go to us; they go to the movie studios, so it works out for everyone to come to the concession stand.”
Ticket prices range from $8 for adults, $3 for kids ages 3 and up, and kids 2 years and younger are free. Tickets are sold by screens and not by individual movies. Each screen plays two movies each night.
Even with low ticket prices, the Delsea Drive-in has witnessed people trying to sneak in without paying.
“A woman tried to sneak her kids into the theater by hiding them in her trunk,” DeLeonardis said. “I asked her to leave because it sends a wrong message to the kids. This has happened before, but this story was in the paper.”
Thursday nights at the Delsea Drive-in are College Nights, where college students can receive discounts on concession items with a valid school ID.
“I heard about ‘thirsty Thursdays’ on college campuses and it’s not very productive,” DeLeonardis said. “This way, college students can go to a movie with their friends instead of going out and drinking. The kids who don’t want to drink won’t feel ostracized.”
The Delsea Drive-in is open from March to December, Thursday through Saturday. The box office opens at 6:30 p.m. and the first movie usually starts around 7:30 p.m.
On Oct. 2, 2010, the Delsea Drive-in will be having an independent film festival where independent films will be shown in addition to the regularly scheduled movies, including such films as “Racing Dreams” and “The Extra Man.” For more information you can go to their website at www.delseadrive-in.com, or friend them on Facebook under Delsea Drive-in.
The Whit Online
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