LET'S GO SEE A MOVIE: WHAT'S PLAYING AT THE STARLIGHT DRIVE-IN 1965. Click on the images below, courtesy of the archives maintained by the volunteers of The Croton Historical Society.
You may also have an interest in:
--What was playing at the drive-in in 1962 http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2014/01/1962-lets-see-whats-playing-starlight.html
--What was playing in 1950 http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2014/05/now-playing-at-starlight-drive-in-1950.html
What a great set of links and photos. Between losing this and the bowling alley, so sad but the land was worth more. Was it ever so! Thank you though for all these great memories. Your blog is FANTASTIC.
ReplyDeleteRich and Diane Coggers
Boy do we miss the old days in Croton!
50 years ago we went there on our first date, and saw It's a Mad, Mad, Mad
ReplyDeleteWorld.
D & W
Then I must know you!
DeleteWe arrived in Croton in 1966 with 3 kids when the Starlight was in operation. Our 4th was born shortly thereafter. Drive-ins usually had double features in those days. What a great place to go for a family including the baby. Naturally, with 4 kids, you needed a station wagon for space. We turned the car around so the rear was facing the screen and dropped the tailgate. The kids watched the movie from the car roof or the car well. Parents sat on the tailgate or brought lawn chairs. Babies rested in their parent's arms and usually slept If they awoke, Mom or Dad could take them in the front seat and close the windows if they cried. It was togetherness and no expensive baby sitter was needed. If it rained, the movie was delayed until it stopped. If it didn't, a rain check was provided. There was playground equipment at some drive-ins to entertain the kids before the movie or during intermissions or until the traffic subsided after the last film (I'll bet that was like getting stuck in a Toughman traffic jam). I seem to recall a playground at the Starlight but age has fogged my memory and I may be thinking of another drive-in. The snack bar was open throughout the entire movie for those who did not bring snacks or a ice chest with cold drinks. Kool-Aid was a big favorite. Of course, there was always a thermos for coffee. If the movie was lengthy, there was a mad dash to the rest room for the usual reasons, followed by a trip to the snack bar for the kids "goodie" treats. "Bon Bons" (ice cream balls covered with chocolate), "Good & Plenty", and DOTs were a big favorite, or hamburgers/hot dogs/fries if something more substantial was needed. Pizza was eventually added to the Bill of Fare but it wasn't as good as today's pizza. By the way, the entrance fee could be by car regardless of the number of occupants. If not, young folks would cram into the trunk to avoid paying separate fees. Double dating was a great deal for teen-agers who would revert to necking if the movie was boring. Of course, this lead to another problem, foggy windows which could occur even if there was no necking. There was no Rain-X in those days. I think the terms, "passion pit" and "watching the submarine races" came into play during this time. The biggest problem was the speaker on the driver's side if the car faced forward or the opposite side if it was backed in. Some worked and some didn't. If they didn't, the language was fit for a longshoreman. If the space next to you was empty, you could put a speaker on both sides of the car for a stereo effect. You had to remember to remove the speaker(s) from your car window. It was attached to a pole by a metal cable. If you forgot, kiss your car window(s) goodbye. I never forgot to remove the speakers but there is many a tale of woe from others who did. Another problem was transferring the kids to their bedrooms when you got home. Mom carried the younger kids and Dad carried the older ones if they had fallen asleep which was usually the case. In hindsight, I miss those good old days but I suppose that is how many seniors feel in today's complex world.
ReplyDeleteNo comparison to a Toughman jam. The drive-in didn't inconvenience people for miles around and in multiple communities. All that said, it was a great way to spend some family time without breaking the bank. Drive-ins were fantastic and I'm sorry to see so few left in the country. When we go out west to visit family, there are still some around and we always try to take advantage of that.
DeleteLike a Toughman jam???? Uh no.
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