ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

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The biggest drive-in theater that existed during their heyday was Johnny's All Weather Drive-In, located in Copiague, NY from 1957 to 1984 — a lifespan of almost thirty years.

That incredible outdoor movie complex covered approximately 28 acres and could accommodate 2,500 cars with one large screen.

But it also included an indoor theater that seated 1,200 people!

For most of its life, Johnny's All Weather Drive-In showed the same movie (with different prints, of course) on both the indoor and outdoor screens.

This giant drive-in's experience included an outdoor roof-top viewing area, a full-service cafeteria, an outdoor concession stand, a playground, and a trolley train named Tally-Ho that would take you from the front gate to the indoor theater!

Guys, I just learned about this drive-in today, and I promise to do more research on the subject. That place sounds like "drive-in heaven" to fan of drive-ins like me.

Unfortunately I've yet to find a single good image of this legendary drive-in worthy of being posted here . . . so I'll shift gears now and make a startling announcement!
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I learned today that the "largest drive-in in the world" is now being built in Eustis, Florida, a relatively quiet waterfront town.





The pandemic has caused the few remaining drive-ins in America to become popular again, because they offer a way for families to go to the movies without worrying about getting Covid-19.

And now somebody has decided that drive-ins might be worth reinventing . . . in a big way!

This totally new kind of drive-in theater is called the Lighthouse 5 — the brainchild of the CEO of Veritas Theatres, Spencer Folmar. He wants to feature a five-screen outdoor theater which is unlike any other!

Instead of one giant parking lot with hundreds of cars — many of which are so far from the distance screen that if they watched a movie on their cell phone it would provide a bigger picture — the Lighthouse 5 will have five screens, each one with a reasonably-sized viewing area, all arranged in a pie-shaped pattern with the cars facing outward from the center.

The whole complex will cover 72 acres — which is why this new outdoor theater is being called the "the world's biggest drive-in".

It isn't because it will have the largest screen or hold the most number of cars — a record still held by the legendary Johnny's All Weather Drive-In.





At the center this new and well-designed complex will be a gorgeous restaurant / snack bar — with a lighthouse on top!





Lighthouse 5 is not just going to be an outdoor movie theate — it will also have an elegant on-site restaurants, camping ground, and many other activities to make it an all-inclusive place for people to enjoy.

Mr. Folmar envisions the 72-acre property as a family destination, because he wants to reignite tourism in the town where he was born.

I gotta admit, guys, this sounds like a cool idea.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)