[Danielle G.]

Drive Ins​

Ah, the magic of the old drive-in theatres — when a night out meant packing the car with blankets, homemade snacks, and a few mates for a double feature under the stars. The excitement of finding the perfect spot, hooking the speaker to the window, and catching a glimpse of the screen flickering to life was pure gold. It wasn’t just about the movie — it was about the memories, the laughter, and maybe even a sneaky first date. Do you remember your local drive-in and what film you saw there first?

Image source: Australia Remember When / Facebook

 

[Iggydi]

We went to see Blazing Saddles at the Waterford Drive in. It had only just opened and this was one of the first movies they played.

 

[Benny's Light]

I remember as a family going to the Chullora Drive-in (a big trip from the Shire) to see the Sound of Music back in the 1960s. Didn't stay awake for the whole movie though, past my bed time. Every time I see the movie now I remember the happy days of childhood as a family.

 

[Trish M]

Heidi. A magical night.

 

[gamiry]

I can remember two in particular. the first was in Hobart. The drive in was in the middle of the race track and near the army base. My eldest son then aged 4 (now 63) used to stand on the bath and watch the pictures through the window. We decided to take him to the drive-in and he kept sticking his head out of the car window saying "Mary Pop mum,, Mary Pop". It took a while for him to understand that "Mary Pop" was not coming from the sky as she had appeared to do while he stood on the bath tub.
My other memory was of my then husband was the man who played the movies at Narrabri NSW. so I had a choice of which movie I wanted to see.

 

[Mister Data]

One thing I do remember is the long queue of cars after the movie finished trying to get out of the place. In the rush to beat the queue with a fast exit, we sometimes forgot to replace the speaker on the stand outside the car and we had the speaker still in the car and a broken speaker wire dangling out the window by the time we reached the exit!

 

[Oaklegs]

I live 50 metres from the now closed drive in movies in Busselton WA on the Bussell Highway, the last movie shown there was Captain Phillips with Tom Hanks. At present the screen is still there but all the buildings and the raised up areas have been demolished. There were homeless people living in the sheds but now they have been evicted and one is living with his dog Nellie in the bushes outside the fence. Nobody knows what is going to be built there but it will be houses probably.

 

[starrysnan]

Drive ins were great for families and most little kids came in their pyjamas so when they got tired it was into the back seat for a nap. From memory tickets were very reasonable and it was a nice relaxing evening out.

 

[Shazann]

I remember Mum & Dad taking us to the Maribyrnong Drive in Victoria quite often. We would all be in our PJs and we lived to play on the swings before the movie started. I can't recall which movie was my 1st

 

[meighLeigh]

I can't recommend watching "Dr Zhivago' at the Canberra drive in, midwinter. It was decidedly chilly!

 

[Iggydi]

One thing I do remember is the long queue of cars after the movie finished trying to get out of the place. In the rush to beat the queue with a fast exit, we sometimes forgot to replace the speaker on the stand outside the car and we had the speaker still in the car and a broken speaker wire dangling out the window by the time we reached the exit!

What about the broken window in the winter time

 

[Littleboy8]

Ha! Who watched the movie

 

[Wandiwa]

Probably first movie was Herbie the Love Bug. When I was about 15 my sister snuck me in to see the R rated Exorcist, it scared the living daylights out of me.