Many recall drive-in theater

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, August 2, 2008

Old timers leaving Fergus Falls or entering town along Pebble Lake Road recall the Fergus Drive-In Theater that formerly operated during the summer months just south of the American Legion building. Most outdoor theaters, here and elsewhere, closed during the 1970s.

In 1946, following World War II, the number of outdoor theaters across the United States totaled only 155. Two years later, in 1948, the number had grown to 820. A decade later, in 1958, the number of drive-in theaters nationwide had grown to over 5,000.

Perham residents went to the Prairie Drive-In, those in Wahpeton motored to the Valley Drive-In, Detroit Lakes had the Sky View Drive-In, Alexandria residents went to the Sunset Drive-In and Moorhead had the Starlite Drive-In.

The Fergus Drive-In Theater and others in nearby communities advertised “fresh, hot popcorn, ice cold soft drinks, tasty hamburgers, delicious hot dogs, your favorite candy, crispy hot French fries and pizza with your favorite toppings.”

Many babyboomers sat in the back seats while their parents watched from the front of the vehicles. Part of the side window of the vehicle, on the driver’s side, had to be partially rolled down so that the speaker could be attached.

A popular movie at drive-in theaters in 1955 was “Scared Stiff” starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. A decade later, into the 1960s, those same babyboomers were back at the drive-in, but this time with girlfriends or boyfriends. Many kidded about tongue-in-cheek intellectual classics such as “The Mad Doctor of Blood Island” or “The Man with the X-Ray Eyes.”

By the end of the 1970s, the drive-in movie heydey was mostly over. However, a few outdoor theaters remain to this very day. Two of them are located at Long Prairie and Warren.