Tuesdays With Rita: Drive-In Theater

Last week a few people thought I was writing about drive-in movies. Well, I have to admit I was thinking about them so I thought I may as well write about those memories, too.

The Great Bend Drive-In was on the edge of town and looked very much like the one in this photo...except the playground was more on the other side. Remember those times of the whole family piling in the car, often with our own food and munchies, and heading to the drive-in. We often had to try a few spaces to get one of those window speakers that worked. Then, we  kids were allowed to go down to the playground while the parents stayed in the car. Remember that scene from "Grease" when John Travolta is down at the playground after having a fight with Olivia Newton John?

It was a treat to get to go to the snack bar. At least for us. The hamburgers were pretty bad but I have to admit I sometimes stop at a fast food drive-in and get the cheapo hamburger just because they remind me of those from the snack bar.

As I became a pre-teen they started having "battle of the bands." The concession stand had a flat roof and local rock and roll bands would set up on the roof and play all night long. This was a fun time for the kids. I don't remember a lot except "G-L-O-R-I-A" was a favorite. That and the beach song with the rolling drums.

The ad on my journal page is from one of those "battles." What I don't understand is it says Freddie and the Dreamers were there. Now I can't imagine this being the real Freddie and the Dreamers so I wonder if we had a local band that mimicked them. Do any of you even remember Freddie and the Dreamers? Okay, we'll go there another time.

I don't remember any of the movies but I'm sure I saw all the Westerns especially if John Wayne was in them. One summer I went to Colorado to stay with my sister. I went to the drive-in with my aunt and older cousin and we saw "A Hard Day's Night" starring the Beatles. That was so fun. Yes, I have that movie on video and still enjoy it...especially the accents.

Okay, so the drive-in movies theater has taken me all all kinds of tangents with my memories. How about you? What memories come to you when thinking about the drive-in?

Like the Beach Boys sang, "I love the drive-in."

Materials used for this journal page:

Black watercolor oil pastels

White gesso

Photos from Google Images and ad from "Great Bend Tribune" on the Internet

Matte gel medium

White ink

White Sharpie poster pen

Punch out letters