Monday, August 1, 2011

My Drive-In Story

Years ago when I was probably around 8 or 10 we had been to Enterprise.  Now for those of you who live in small cities, towns or simply out in the country you know that going to the "Big City" is major event especially when you are a young child!  We didn't have a movie theater, a skating rink, a great place to buy clothes, and many many other things.  So we would go to Enterprise for these things or when Mom needed to do a lot of shopping! 

On one particular trip home from Enterprise we asked what that "billboard" was behind Wal-Mart.  Mom explained that it wasn't a billboard it was the screen from an old drive-in movie theater.  We were amazed and started asking questions.  She told us about how everyone knew who was there on the weekends and who was on a date by where they were parked!  She told us that they showed the movie on the screen that we thought was a billborad and would put a box in the car for the sound.

And then she made the ultimate mistake...she told us about sneaking people into the drive-in in the trunk.  We were just dumbfounded about how this was possible!  We asked questions like "how did you breath in there", "could you hear what was going on" and many, many, many other questions. This was just so foreign to us and we were intrigued 

Finally when we got home we had to go into the pasture to do something in the barn (I don't remember what because that was not the important part).  We immediately asked if we could ride in the trunk!  Mom laughed and said yes.  She loaded us up and drove about a MILE.  We asked her to turn up the music and talk to us.  She drove over big bumps to toss us around.  We were HOOKED! 

A few days later another trip to Enterprise was needed.  This time we were heading to Wal-Mart.  So my brother and I naturally asked if we could ride in the trunk.  Mom just thought this was hilarious! But she consented and really, what parent (back then) would refuse her children an activity that would keep us entertained for the full 30 minutes of the drive to Enterprise.  So she loaded us up and threw a flashlight in and off we went.

My brother and I had so much fun in the trunk listening to the radio, getting her to turn the station for us, and guessing where we were on the trip there! We both knew when we had made it into Enterprise because of all the "stop and go" at the numerous stop lights.  Mom told us when we were turning into Wal-Mart and telling us to get ready to get out.  When all of a sudden we could tell she was a little frazzeled.  Finally, after what felt like 20 minutes in the trunk of driving around, she parked.  When she got us out of the trunk it felt like a half mile walk to the entrance of Wal-Mart. 

And parents you all have probably figured out the reason for her frazzle!  Of course she was worried about getting us OUT of the trunk in the middle of a busy shopping center.  I mean how would she explain to a police officer that we really DID want to be in the trunk, that she IS a good mother! We have laughed about this for years. 

When I started putting together my list I almost wrote "sneak in" to the Drive-In movie!  They built this around my senior year in high school and I have really been wanting to go!  So on the list it went-without the sneak-in part.  We were pressed for time after trying to finish 18 holes of golf and then getting rained on. We decided we were going to fly over there to see a movie!  I had called to see if my Grandmother wanted to go but unfortunatly she was unable to make it.  We talked the whole way there about what it used to be like and how it was so much fun.  I had suggested we get my brother's car so we could pop the back hatch and watch from the back but Mom didn't want to do that.  We were running late but got there just as it was starting!  It was a wonderful time....YES it was a little hot, but we never got miserable and didn't have to crank the car once!

When we pulled in she was so happy to see that the names of the different screens were the names of the old drive-ins!  "The Goober", "The Dixieland", "The Skyview", and "The Starlight" Below is a picture of the marquee when the drive-in was about to open! 

We saw "Crazy Stupid Love" at the "Skyview" I think!  On the ticket stub where we paid it gave us the station on which we could listen to the movie-no more boxes that go in the window.  It was a great experience and I loved checking this item off the list with my Mom!

(On a side note I hope to get some pictures unloaded tonight to post about the dumpling making!)

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