Friday nights were usually reserved for parental leisure
activities...Mom liked to go dancing, Dad preferred
Duplicate Bridge. But sometimes after dinner, Dad would
announce,"Clean up the kitchen girls, ship-shape, we're
going to the Drive-in!"
Chances were good there was a Western playing at our
local Drive-in; I'd seen plenty! Dad would commence
popping corn and always announced he was the "Popcorn
King", because "every kernal popped." Mom would get
the cooler and fill it with soda pop. This was also
a treat...we we were not allowed to drink pop except
for special occasions.
Blankets, pillows, a batch of popcorn, the cooler packed
and we were ready to go to the Drive-in ... in two cars.
Two cars, you ask ? Well, once we arrived, both cars
positioned next to one another, Mom and Dad would sit in
Dad's car and we kids enjoyed the private use of Mom's
convertible. Dad was no fool... this way he could enjoy
his Western without our yaking in the backseat.
Initially, Patty and I would bicker over who sat behind
the wheel (the coveted spot). I thought the other
movie-goers would think I was old enough to drive.
A round of "paper,stone and scissors" settled the fight.
Two out of three rounds (if Patty lost the first round.)
I blame myself for this, I was always gullible enough
to fall for,"Let's play again, Susie, two out of three."
I think I just heard the word "play." Fair was fair...
the second feature we would switch seats. My Little
Margie slept peacefully in the backseat.
I miss those memorable summer nights at the Drive-in.
The 50's...a playground under the screen with swingsets,
teeter-totters and a merry-go-round to play on before
"Showtime". I guess liability was not a big concern
back then.
Gone are the days of swinging under the big screen until
the cartoons started followed by a race to the
car. I miss the "intermission clock", "spot-lighting"
the screen and the horn honking when the film broke.
Several years ago Mom and I were reminiscing about those
Drive-in days. She said,"You know, Honey, we didn't take
two cars just because you girls would talk a lot during
the movie. We would occasionally 'smooch' between the
gunfights." Can you imagine that ?