Drive-in Movie Theaters, Almost Extinct

I was reading in Missouri Life magazine that there are only about 500 drive-in theaters still in operation in the United States. I knew that there weren’t many left, but I had no idea that the number was so small.

Considering this, we’re really lucky that even though there may not be any drive-ins in our immediate area, there are a few within reasonable driving distance. Clark 54 Drive-In is in Summer Hill, IL, just a few miles across the bridge from Louisiana. B&B Theaters  also operates a drive-in in Moberly, and, just a little further away, there’s the Route 66 Twin Drive-In, next to Knight’s Action Park in Springfield.

If you want to see a movie outdoors without making a road trip, you’re not completely out of luck. In recent years, our park districts have been having movie nights in some of the local parks. The next is Saturday night, when ‘Puss in Boots’ will be shown at Madison Park in Quincy. Hannibal’s next movie in the park won’t be until August, when families are invited to see ‘Kung Fu Panda 2,’ in Huckleberry Park.

Sitting outside and watching a movie is a great way to spend an evening. It’s nice to know there are still a few options left to enjoy this summertime tradition.