Try drive-in theater for a change

Although it may seem a past-its-peak mode of entertainment, the local drive-in continues to draw a flock of film fans who like the price ($4 for two movies, seven days a week) and the comfort of an outdoor facility that's nestled in the woods.

Now that Southwest Florida's sweltering temperatures have subsided, the humidity has lessened and the bugs are on their way out of the area, an outdoor movie is an appealing alternative.

Last weekend movie-goers of all ages turned out to see either The Cat in the Hat, Gothika or Elf . Looking for something a little romantic? The theater's two screens are flanked by towering trees and their backdrop on a cloudless night is a starlit midnight-blue sky.

Folks arrive in loaded vans and SUV's, pickup trucks and sports cars.

Some back into what are undefined, gravel-and-grassy parking spots, facing their vehicle's back end toward the screen. They pop their trunks open and use them as seating, or they bring blankets and chaise lounges and set up camp beside their cars. The scene is reminiscent of a tailgate party at a sporting event -- except the roar of the crowd is replaced by the FM stereo sound of the movie.

Gone are the antiquated box-like speakers, dangling cables and poles that used to pipe sound into each vehicle. Remember when one of your parents used to attach that awkward speaker to the driver's side window? Now, drive-in customers simply tune their radio to FM 100.3 for screen No. 1 and FM 103.7 for screen No. 2.

"Our 100 watts of FM sound is enough to blow you out of your own car on the biggest screen at the biggest drive-in movie theater in Southwest Florida," boasts the Naples Drive-In's telephone recording.

Some things haven't changed, though: There's still a snack bar available, where you can stock up on fresh popcorn, hot dogs, hamburgers and french fries. There's also ice cream and a wide assortment of candy.

In addition to a few indoor tables and outdoor seating, there are about six mini-arcade-like games.

If you're in the mood to watch a movie under a starry sky instead of in an air-conditioned cinema, drive on over to the Naples Drive-In Theatre at 7700 E. Davis Blvd. in East Naples, between Santa Barbara and Collier boulevards. Gates open at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, call 774-6661.

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For those nostalgic souls, some interesting tidbits of trivia about the history of drive-in theaters:

According to the www.driveintheater.com Web site, the Naples Drive-In Theatre is one of only 10 "operating" drive-in theaters in Florida. The site lists some 112 drive-ins that are "dead."

The first drive-in theater opened on June 6, 1933, and was the invention of Richard M. Hollingshead of New Jersey. He was issued U.S. Patent 1,909,537, the first for a drive-in theater, which was then declared invalid in 1950 by the Delaware District Court.

Among 18 drive-in theaters that started in the period from 1933 to 1939, two were in Florida, including the Miami Drive-In and the Atlantic Drive-In in Jacksonville.

By January 1942, drive-in theaters had spread across the United States, with 95 in 27 states.

The building of drive-ins slowed during World War II, but the number of theaters increased in 1946 from 102 to 155.

By 1948, there were 820 drive-in theaters across the country.

By the 1950s, the drive-in "boom" was under way. By 1958, there were about 5,000 drive-ins.

One of the largest drive-in theaters was the 28-acre All-Weather Drive-In in Copiague, N.Y., which had parking spaces for 2,500 cars and an indoor 1,200-seat viewing area.

As the volume and size of drive-ins increased, many added more amenities, including playgrounds, miniature trains, pony rides, boat rides, talent shows, miniature golf and animal shows.

Drive-in activity began to slow and then dry up in the '60s and '70s. In the '80s, low attendance almost killed the drive-in. Cable television and the VCR contributed to the decline.