The drive-in

My mum told me that when she first moved to Australia, one of her first experiences going to a cinema was at a drive-in where she and my dad watched Pretty Woman. Incidentally, it’s one of my mum’s favourite movies.

However, I’m pretty sure she didn’t react the same way I did when I first went to a drive-in. I am not sure they are a big thing in Australia, but I know they are in America. When I heard that my mum had been to one, right here, in Australia, I was pretty surprised. A couple of years ago I knew they existed but they seemed like a novelty, and also a bit of a rare find. I am probably wrong, because I don’t see movies often, so I wouldn’t really know.

Dawn-1

Tristan took me to one on the weekend, which was my first time going to a drive-in, and we saw Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. I hope that trumps all your assumptions, because Jamie tells me that the drive-in is apparently a make out point for couples, and Tristan is not only just a friend, but a movie about apes isn’t romantic to say the least. Ha. Also, I hadn’t seen the first movie, but it was a bit of a “whatever, I’ve never been to a drive-in, so okay” moment.

It surprises me that there is a drive-in near where I live, though. You’d think they have nothing in suburbia, especially not western Sydney, haha. When we arrived there I was completely gobsmacked. I said, “Oh my god, this is awesome. There is a diner. Holy crap. This is incredible.” I went on and on (and on) about it for about twenty minutes, practically drooling over how quaint, but awesome, the place was. Yeah, okay, so there was just a huge screen and a diner up the back.

Diner-1

But I walked into the diner and I thought, “Holy crap it’s a diner. It. Is. A. Diner.” Sure, I had seen diner-style eateries before, and every Hungry Jack’s eatery is designed like one, complete with wall decor, but this was different. I felt like I had walked into America, but that’s probably inaccurate because I have no knowledge of an American diner other than from what I’ve seen in movies. We bought sweet potato chips, even though my mind kept telling me to get a damn milkshake. But it was cold and I wanted to return to the car where Tristan had brought his doona (I don’t even call it a doona, he did. I usually call it a quilt… or just a blanket I guess). I’m sure I had a nap while we sat there waiting for the movie to start.

It was really good, certainly not a movie I would go out of my way to watch myself, but I am glad I got to see it. At some points the tension and violence was really upsetting and sad. I thought the communication between the humans and apes, and the apes with each other, was quite mesmerising. I don’t have any other movie to weigh it up against, though. The ending wasn’t a completely happy one, but it was a good one, given the rest of the movie. Overall I’m pretty satisfied.

I also got to drive a bit over the weekend, and my dad taught me how to reverse-parallel-park. It was not as difficult as I had initially imagined. You just need to take your time and look through all the mirrors. I’ve only tried it between cars in a rather empty street, though.

Time for a Random Irrelevant Part of the Post: Tristan and I went to a little playground in our neighbourhood, and I predicted that the calculator would use the digits 1, 2, 3 and 4, in that order. They usually do. The front of this section was labelled “Shop”, and the calculator was just sitting on the top part. It reminded me of a toy kitchen I had when I was a kid, with a top shelf, a bottom shelf, and a stove in between with rotatable dials.

playground

Comments on this post

Drive-ins were pretty big back then! I tried looking for some drive-ins and found about 5 within an 80km circle radius from LA. Indoor cinemas took over the drive-ins *o*. Maybe it’s more common in the less main cities or something. Hopefully you enjoyed watching Dawn of the Planet of the Apes :). I heard it was a good movie.

It’s also hard to find diners these days! Or at least the ones that are classic-line. But since this is a drive-in, it makes sense for it to have a diner!

Reverse parallel parking isn’t too bad once you get used to it. From what I learned, it’s the best way to get into a parallel parkway :).

A drive-in cinema has just opened in Liverpool, but I haven’t got a car so that kind of ruins that. However, it’s definitely an experience that I would like to try.

The diner looks so cute! I’ve never been to one before but, like the drive-in cinema, they’ve just opened one in town, so I should give it a go.

I’m glad you enjoyed the film. :) I have to say, it’s not one that I’m particularly interested in going to see.

I think we used to have 2 drive-in theatres in Canberra but they’re both gone now, one is a set of apartments that are named after the drive-in.
I remember going to one as a kid.. I don’t remember the movie or much at all except popcorn and there was a playground. Also, I call them Doona’s as well.

Drive-ins haven’t been big in America in a while–they are stereotypical 50s things. There is a 50s-style drive-in near Matt’s cabin that has actually been there since the 50s though and going there is pretty cool, although a lot of the speakers don’t work anymore and I can’t stay awake for the second movie, which STARTS at midnight. D:

Hmm interesting, ours uses a radio station to tune into. I think the speakers they have there stopped working, but they are still sitting there.

I agree with Rachel. Drive-in’s are a stereotypical 50’s thing. They were quite big in the 1950’s era and 1960’s. We do have some here in California, but not very many. They’re going out of style. There is only one that I know of and it’s at the Beach. I believe it’s called “Ruby’s”. It pretty much meets the criteria of a 1950’s diner. We also have one diner called “Richie’s”. It has a LOT of the movie star decor. Pretty fancy. But it still reminds me of a Denny’s.

We do have one drive-in-movie-theater where I used to live. It was probably about 10 or 20 miles away (I can’t really say, as I’ve never been there) haha! But yeah, a friend of mine just went there recently herself with her boyfriend. So they do exist, but they’re rare.

I’ve never been to a drive-in movie before! Always thought it looked really interesting and fun, but I suppose I wouldn’t want to go to one in Singapore because it’ll be too hot and icky :s

Also, I’m a little late but I really love your new layout! The colours! ♥ ♥ ♥