This was to be the summer of doing new things.
I did two new things.
As you know, I went to a park to feed chipmunks and squirrels, which I later found out is probably illegal. (Therefore, I want credit for doing something new and being a rebel.)
I’m not quite sure what personality type it is when you protest the thought of everything, but then when dragged kicking and screaming to an event end up embracing it and loving it.
Well, whatever that disorder is, I have it.
Introverted extrovert, maybe?
Recently, I was dragged to the drive-in.
The Barrie area is lucky to still have one, with three screens.
I hope your town has one, too, because I would hate to see them go the way of the payphone, where you can’t find one anywhere.
To be clear, I have been to a drive-in dozens of times, just not for about three decades.
So, my friend suggested this would be a fun adventure, but we would need to pick a movie.
Here was the conversation:
“What do you want to see?”
“Well, I can’t do horror or violence, especially not outside in a car at night.”
“So, what can you see?”
“I cannot see It, with the creepy clown in a sewer. I cannot see Rambo. Too much possible blood. I can see Abominable.”
“That one is animated.”
“Yes, about a yeti trying to find his way home. I can likely handle that, unless the snowman gets hurt."
“Fine, we will go see that.”
And once that difficult decision was made, we were off for a Saturday night of entertainment.
A few observations about the drive-ins of 2019.
It is not that cheap. I was expecting a flat fee for the whole car, but that’s only on “carload night." I guess since you see a double feature, it's reasonable enough.
There is a rule about bringing in your own food.
Really? Isn’t that the whole point of the drive-in? The fun is bringing your own snacks from the dollar store and dressing in tacky clothes because nobody will see you. We were not arrested for sneaking in the Snickers. We did buy hotdogs and popcorn for $25, so I think that makes it fair.
You no longer pull up to the pole and hang the giant speaker on your window. (Think Fred Flintstone.)
I have to admit, I was disappointed. The poles were still there, though. Now, you turn to a special frequency on your car radio to tune in the movie soundtrack. How fascinating! I don’t have a clue how that works, but it seemed magical. Plus, you can adjust your own volume.
I was charmed by the old-fashioned announcements on the screen.
The announcer was straight out of the 1950s, reminding families to keep an eye on the "youngsters" and telling us that, for our “movie-watching enjoyment and that of our neighbours," to turn car lights off.
It was so quaint. (I was searching for Mr. Rogers). I really missed the commercial where the hotdog jumps into the bun. That needs to come back.
The movie began with a classic Road Runner cartoon. It was like seeing old friends! I wondered what the children of today were thinking. When Porky Pig appeared to say “That’s all, folks,” I wanted to cry.
Childhood revisited.
Also, I wondered why some of the minivans were parked facing away from the screen. I learned this is how families watch now. The kids lay down on the truck bed and watch curled up in blankets. The parents sit outside on lawn chairs, which seems to cancel out the whole point of the drive-in, but it seemed to work.
Helpful hint: Read your car manual before dark so you know how to shut off your dashboard lights. Don’t accidentally turn on your hazard lights, because there could be angry honking.
Some things have never changed, though. I don’t remember ever seeing the second feature on date night. Years ago, it was because of romantic passion. Now, it was because I wanted to be home by 10. There were still steamy windows, but for entirely different reasons. Not due to panting, but due to hot flashes.
Overall, it was a really simple and fun outing shared with lots of happy families. It felt like a throwback to a more innocent time. I recommend it!
Oh, and regarding Abominable? Thoroughly entertaining. We totally forgot it was animated. It was a million times better than the last Tarantino disaster I sat through.
