Friday, October 26, 2012

A Day in Broward County- The Drive In Theater

Sometimes a change is good. Whether you live in Miami or are just visiting with us why not take a drive north to Broward County. There are many things to do in the surrounding areas around Fort Lauderdale. Today we are going to open your eyes to an old American legacy- The Drive In Theater.

Here is the history of The Drive in Movie:

In 1923 Richard Hollingshead had an idea! He experimented and put a Kodak projector on the hood of his car. He then nailed a screen to trees in his backyard.  He then put a radio behind the screen for sound- pretty clever don't you think. 

After much experimenting with sound, various weather conditions and visibility of the screen he was able to patent the first Drive-In Theater in 1933. 

Price of admission = 25 cents for the car and 25 cents per person.

The Swap Shop, Fun Lan Drive In, as it was originally call  , opened its first screen in 1950. 

The cost back then was 48 cents. 

If you wanted to be extravagant; pop corn was available for a whopping 20 cents per bag. 



Today the Swap Shop Drive in still operates. It is located 3291 West  Sunrise Blvd in Sunrise, Florida.

While others in the western hemisphere turn the heat on in their homes, put boots on their feet and coats on their backs and  dredge off to the movies you can sit outdoors, under the Florida sky and enjoy an American ole time favorite

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