The 1950s decade was when drive-in theaters hit the top in numbers across the country: from less than a thousand in 1948 to over 5000 in 1958. Nineteen fifty-eight, the year when we were entering the age of 16, old enough to learn how to drive (maybe from Rogers' instructor, Herb Russell), and get a license, that allowed us to go to drive-ins, not only movies but eateries, like the highly popular, Panda and Triple XXX, on our own instead of having to rely on our moms and dads to take us.
Going to a drive-in movie was a usually a more social event. Car occupants could talk during the movie, mingle with others without remaining seated, and kissing a date goodnight early.
Some strange, wrongful things would frequently occur. Many attendees would try to sneak in a friend by hiding him in the back seat floor or trunk. Some would do wrongful things such as illegal drinking or smoking. It was somewhat common for many to leave the theater suddenly and forget to put the speaker back on the post, so they would drive off with it. Horn-riots were a regular event, when the crowd wanted the intermission to end sooner or didn't like what was on the screen. Using the spotlight to flash on the screen also was a frequent happening. Did any of you experience going to the refreshment hut or lavatory and have a hard time finding your car in the dark? I did. Another problem that sometimes occurred was raindrops falling on the windshield, having to turn on the power or motor to get the wipers swishing, which was irritating, and if the weather was cold outside, the windows would fog up. That really would hit the anger trigger.
What was your favorite drive-in? Westview? Trent? I'll bet it was the Y. That was on Rogers' side of Spokane.