National Drive-In Movie Day is a holiday that commemorates the date of June 6, 1933, when the first drive-in theater opened its doors to the public. No doubt, it was an exciting day for the 400 car slots of people who showed up to watch the movie “Wife Beware” on a 40×50-foot movie screen. It became so popular that 20 years after it had first opened, there were over 4,000 drive-in theaters across the United States. These theaters have become an important part of American culture, and we think that every American should take the time to celebrate them on June 6th every year.

Interesting Facts About Drive-Ins

Now, let’s continue our talk about drive-ins by going over some of the facts we find most interesting about these pieces of American culture. Drive-ins have always been a fun experience, and it’s a bit sad that they’ve disappeared over the last few years, so let’s take the time to honor them by listing some drive-in trivia.

• Richard M. Hollingshead Jr. opened the first drive-in in Camden, New Jersey, on June 6, 1933.
• The original drive-in never turned a profit and was sold and relocated three years later.
• Shankweiler’s Drive-In, which opened in Orefield, Pennsylvania, in 1934, is currently the oldest drive-in theater in the U.S.

Observing National Drive-In Movie Day

For any of us who look forward to celebrating this holiday, we would recommend that a person go to a drive-in and enjoy this experience firsthand. However, we understand that’s not possible for many people as the number of drive-ins has dwindled over the past few years. In those cases, we recommend that people enjoy a movie at their local movie theater or at home. And while you’re observing this holiday, be sure to use the hashtag #NationalDriveInMovieDay on your social media accounts.