The first drive-in movie was shown in New Mexico, in 1913. However, it wasn’t until the 1950s, when car ownership was much more common, that the idea started to gain widespread popularity. The appeal of drive-ins, first and foremost, is the atmosphere, distinguished by an informal, open-to-everyone feel. Whilst the popularity of drive-in open cinemas declined dramatically after a peak in the 1960s, they have recently made a comeback, with several opening in and around London, (thanks in part to social distancing measures reducing the use of cinemas in the traditional sense). One of these new drive-ins is located in the car park of Alexandra Palace; I was lucky enough to get tickets for their showing of “Friday”, a 90s comedy film starring Ice Cube and Chris Tucker earlier this month.
Upon arrival, around 9pm, and after scanning our ticket barcodes, our car was allocated a portable speaker: the large movie screen was to play out in silence from the outside, whilst each enclosed car was able to enjoy the full movie experience without interruptance or distraction. We were then directed to a car space by marshals, and almost immediately after switching off the engine, the screen lit up, illuminating the whole car park, signalling the start of the pre-movie advertisements. Simultaneously, staff on roller skates drove round, delivering food and drinks to those who had ordered it, (we had come prepared with snacks already and so were already indulging in popcorn and salted crisps).
If the drive-in atmosphere had not already taken effect, it was the trailers that threw me back in time, with snippets of Grease, Jaws and Pulp Fiction (amongst others) creating a nostalgic exhilaration that you could almost feel through the other cars. The branding of the graphics was in keeping with this theme too: bold, bright pops of colour and smiling cartoon mascots were more than enough to make you start to question whether or not you had really gone back in time.
The movie began soon after. The feel-good comedy was extremely apt for an already lighthearted ambiance, and despite it now being well into the night, the car park felt awake and vibrant; the portable speaker almost engulfing us in the movie. I thoroughly enjoyed the two hour long feature, and I lost count of how many times I burst out laughing throughout. I started to see why drive-ins had gained such popularity and I could really appreciate the appeal. By the end of the movie, I had almost forgotten that I was parked in a car park. The marshalls made our exit even smoother than our entry, guiding us orderly through the gates, and back into the real world.
My experience at the drive-in was nothing but positive, I couldn’t recommend it highly enough. I hope that even when the world goes back to normal, and social distancing is no longer a part of our everyday lives, that the revival of drive-in cinemas will stay as a permanent, alternative way to enjoy the movies we love.
