WELCOME! ENJOY THE SHOW!

Happy Halloween!

Welcome - thanks for stopping by! We hope you'll wander around the Drive-In and tell us what you like...and what you'd like to see. We are a small group of drive-in and B-movie fans that share a common passion for horror, schlock, high strangeness, and all things terrifying. The picture above of the Valle Drive-In in Newton, IA is just one of the many things you'll find at our site. We hope you enjoy this throwback to an era time forgot, when movies were cheap, cars were big, and weekends were spent under the stars. For all those ozoners, B-movie fans, and horror freaks out there in this great big world...

This site is dedicated to YOU!

Happy Halloween!

[Signed]

The Drive-In of the Dead Staff

P.S Don't forget your speaker on the way out!

Living After Midnight

At the stroke of midnight tonight, the dead shall rise...

www.driveinofthedead.com

On A Mission

San Antonio Texas Mission 4 outdoor theaters Drive In Movie Theater P2182208
Originally uploaded by mrchriscornwell

Counting down the days until we open our virtual drive-in. Two more days until the dead comes to life! Today's featured drive-in is in San Antonio Texas - the old Mission 4. A grand structure that looks like it was built to last, if not for the broken and shuttered windows it looks like it could still be in operation.

Final Days

Pines Drive In
Originally uploaded by The Observer59

According to the description this picture was taken in July of 1979. Very cool to see a nicely framed shot from back in the day. It wouldn't be long before drive-ins like this one would start closing down all across the nation.

It's Like Something Out Of A Dream...

dreamy drive-in
Originally uploaded by bob merco

I think this drive-in was the central location of my last nightmare...

Zombie Attacks!

AMC Plans Live Zombie Attacks Around 'Walking Dead' Premiere

Cable network AMC is planning to stage “zombie attacks” in 26 major cities to promote its upcoming zombie series “The Walking Dead,” The Hollywood Reporter said Monday.

The network has recruited hundreds of people to don zombie makeup and gather around landmarks in New York, Washington, D.C., London, Madrid and several other cities.

The staged attacks will begin in Hong Kong and Taipei at dawn on Tuesday and then spread across the globe over 24 hours. The final attack will occur at a premiere event in Los Angeles, where the cast, crew and media will view the first episode ahead of its Oct. 31 debut on AMC.

“The Walking Dead,” based on the comic book series of the same title, follows the survivors of a worldwide undead epidemic as they travel across the U.S. seeking safety. The series was developed by Frank Darabont, who directed “The Shawshank Redemption” and “The Green Mile,” both based on Stephen King books.

[Courtesy of the NY Post]

Under a Blood Red Drive-In

The days are counting down until we open our gates! The ticket booth is finally complete, the projection room needed a lot of work but is at last up to code, and the snack bar fully stocked and ready to serve you your favorite movie-time snacks. Our friendly and courteous staff are looking forward to serving you!

Dead Tired

I'm back after an absolutely exhausting weekend. Our annual Halloween/birthday party went great - we really couldn't have asked for a better day. After a freakishly warm October, the weather-man gave us a grim forecast for Saturday - 55 and rainy. Instead, we got blue skies, abundant sunshine and 70 degrees - an absolutely perfect fall day (as an added bonus I got to watch my beloved Iowa State Cyclones whup up on Texas on television!) We had a great turnout with some fabulous costumes, the haunted house in my garage was a big hit, and all the kids were winners and left with plenty of candy and prizes from our games (Wheel of Fate, Apple Bob, Beanbag Toss, and Pumpkin Seed Spit).

Teardown - on the inside of our house, not the outside graveyard or garage - took ALL DAY yesterday, from 7:00 a.m. until I crashed in bed at 8:00 p.m. But that's what it takes to get ten giant Rubbermaids filled and stored back into the crawlspace. And to think - next week I do it all over again for the outside props! Man, Halloween can be exhausting...

P.S. Pictures to come...

Deserted Desert Drive-In

Drive-In Movie Theater, Clifton, AZ, 2002
Originally uploaded by Dean Jeffrey

I'm sorry - did I say that drive-in in Wyoming was in the middle of nowhere? Clearly I was mistaken - for here is the real deal. Located out in the Arizona wild, this ozoner would never suffer from light pollution.

Wanna Go Play?

Theatre 1, Ford-Wyoming Drive-In
Originally uploaded by metroblossom

Look at how proudly this structure stands out in the middle of nowhere (it's in Wyoming after all...) I love the playground equipment right in front of the screen. That's just how I remember the layout of our own drive-in before it was demolished back in '89. Swings and a teeter-totter right up front and center - it must have driven the people in the front row nuts!

Vintage

Motorvu Drive-In Movie Theater
Originally uploaded by UTAHKID

What looks like a drive-in that's built to last couldn't overcome man's thirst for real-estate. According to the description, the Motorvu was one of the first casualties in The Great Ozoner Purge - it was demolished in the early 70's and is now a Smith's Food & Drug.

Weathered

Drive In
Originally uploaded by BURИBLUE

Wow. What a really magnificent screen (and picture). A great shot that shows the slow march of time working against this once-great landmark. Really beautiful - I could look at this picture all day...

Back...

Ughh... Finally back after having my butt severely kicked by a major cold. My sincere apologies for not posting on the blog - it took well over a week, but I finally got rid of it (I hope). Now back to the home haunting, making last minute repairs to the drive-in, and trying to enjoy the last remaining days of October before the greatest day of the year. Here's hoping I stay healthy for the last two weeks - there's still so much to get done!

Exit Only

drive_in_MO
Originally uploaded by PopKulture

Continuing our series of dead drive-ins as we countdown the days until Halloween (and the launch of our own drive-in!) we take a look at a beautiful old screen in Missouri. As far as drive-in theaters go - I think the sign out front on this one is very telling.

P.S. I have relatives that live in Missouri. Hmmmm...

Overgrown Giant

Fran-Linn Drive-In Theatre
Originally uploaded by drewcjm

Obviously the person that took this picture noticed the inherent beauty of this cinematic monolith - but I often wonder if anyone else notices these grand, abandoned structures? Do you suppose the Florida commuters that zoom past Turner and SR-60 even give this amazing structure a second thought?

Screen In A Sea of Grass

At the drive in, O'Halloran Hill, SA
Originally uploaded by Captain Will

Man this photo is wonderful - forlorn, but still so beautiful. What is it about these decrepit white screens that is so magical long after they've shown their last film? The memories people have of these places could play right up there on the screen...

Zombie POV

Drive-In
Originally uploaded by Neato Coolville

They know the flesh - the brains - are on the other side of that wall. They can't see them; they can't smell them; they just know...

Mutiny

What a great story - what kid wouldn't love to have their letter to Captain Jack Sparrow actually be answered... IN PERSON! I don't care what anybody says - Johnny Depp is a legend. Watch the video here:

http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00035908.html

Midway Part 2

MIDWAY Drive In. HPIM2162
Originally uploaded by Dan around town

It's nice to find a pic every once in awhile of a drive-in that is actually still open. This well-groomed ozoner is located in Illinois - looks like a great place to take in a movie - and check out that ticket booth! Wonderful!

Built To Last

Holiday Drive-In
Originally uploaded by Joey Harrison

I can honestly say that in all my years investigating great drive-ins across the midwest, I've NEVER seen one quite like this before. Man - this baby was built to LAST! A great shot of a very unique drive-in movie theater. I would love to go to the Holiday Drive-In and snoop around - and what a trip it would be to actually get to go inside...

Monster of the Midway

OH Columbiana County - Midway Drive-In
Originally uploaded by scottamus

Another great decaying monolith, this one in Ohio. Man - that screen was built to last - this place must have been the place to BE back in its prime. Such a shame to see it slowly wasting away. You can't help but wonder why with all the millionaires in this country (and billionaires) there isn't a one of them that is a drive-in movie buff. It would be nice to see one of these relics restored to its former glory...

It Was Once No-Man's Land...

Joshua Drive-In Theatre
Originally uploaded by NoJuan

A great picture that captures the bleak outlook for today's few remaining ozoners, it's a stark reminder that the thirst for prime real estate remains the drive-in movie's number one threat. How many great drive-ins like the Joshua ended up as car dealerships?

Trick

After we got the little critters in bed last night I popped a bowl of corn and got cozy with the wife. As scary movies seem to be in order in the month of October, I chose the modern day holiday classic Trick 'r Treat

Now, as anyone who knows me will attest: I LOVE this movie (with a name like Trick 'r Treat it kind of goes without saying) and am not ashamed to say I place it right up there with John Carpenter's Halloween as one of my all-time favorites. So imagine my surprise when about an hour into the movie the wife actually says:

"When is it going to get good?"

Ouch.

Johnny's Hot Dogs

Drive-In Dreams
Originally uploaded by musicmuse_ca

I found this drive-in interesting because I've never seen one where the concession is located directly underneath the screen. I wonder if it was a space issue, as the screen also seems really high up (although that could be the angle the picture was taken at). I don't know - a constant stream of hungry guests would seem like a major distraction to me while watching the show...

Relic

Drive-In Screen - Old Route 66 near Barstow, CA
Originally uploaded by NoJuan

A true drive-in of the dead. At once breathtaking and tragic - it breaks the heart to see such an icon falling into ruin. Imagine the stories those withered timbers could tell if only you could get them to talk...

Ruth's

Ruth's Drive In
Originally uploaded by Rdrev

Not a drive-in theater, but such a great shot that it was worth posting anyway. I wonder what they serve on the menu?

Countdown...

In honor of it being the first day of that glorious month of October - and beginning our official countdown to opening day - here's a little sneak preview of things to come...