The Drive-In Was a Hoot
As the sun went down and the movie flickered on the screen, kids and their parents settled in for a night of entertainment.
But in other vehicles, pairs of young lovers climbed anxiously into the backseat to get better acquainted. Indeed, the drive-in theater was dubbed “the passion pit” for good reason.
As a kid and young teen growing up in the 1960s and ’70s, I was too young for such romantic rendezvous; however, I enjoyed many pleasant nights at The Lakeshore Drive-In, which was only about three miles from my home. (At one point, it was the largest outdoor theatre in Rochester, NY and could hold nearly 500 vehicles.)
Whether you were a family or an amorous couple on a date, the drive-in provided an exciting evening away from home. Its concession stands were well-stocked with hot dogs, popcorn, ice cream, and other treats, but many people packed their own snacks and beverages.
However, it wasn’t just food or drinks that movie lovers brought with them. Those who owned vans or pickup trucks sometimes transported their furniture, setting up a makeshift living room under the stars.
The films themselves were typically not what attracted patrons. Occasionally, you could catch a big budget picture, but you were more likely treated to cheap action movies — or horror films starring the likes of Christopher Lee and Vincent Price. But admission was cheap, and you were able to see two or three movies in a single night.
Unfortunately, the picture and sound quality were substandard. The audio was especially poor, exactly what you would expect from an old metal speaker that you hung on your window.
Nonetheless, those were wonderful summer nights, and I loved feeling the soft lake breezes as I rested comfortably on my pillow and munched on snacks.
I usually went to the drive-in with my parents and my brother, and those excursions were always enjoyable. But my most memorable visit occurred one evening when Mom graciously took my brother, me, and my best friend Tim to see a couple vampire movies.
However, these were not your typical vampire flicks. Not even close. You see, the blood-sucking creatures on the screen that night happened to be hot-looking, bi-sexual vampires with beautiful, milky-white breasts. (Apparently, lesbian vampire movies were a significant subgenre during the early ‘70s.)
The cinematic masterpiece was called The Vampire Lovers. I think it was rated R, but we had somehow forgotten to mention that bit of information to my mom.
To our great delight, those sexy vampires had quite an appetite — and not just for blood. (Perhaps those buxom ladies should have been considered for an Academy Award or two. They do have an award for Breast Picture, don’t they?)
My mom is no prude, but in her mind, it was a bit too much for 11 and 12-year-old boys. In vain, she tried to cover my brother’s eyes. (Tim and I were in the back seat.)
She then reached for the keys, but my brother grabbed them before she could start the car.
“It’s time to go,” she announced.
“No!” we cried in unison.
“It’s getting late.”
“But we . . . we have to see how the movie ends,” I pleaded.
Surprisingly, we stayed. Maybe Mom figured that since we’d seen those luscious vampire hooters two or three times already, what difference would it make?
The ending of the movie was pretty good.
I think.
Honestly, I don’t remember much after the breasts.
Mark is a Boomer currently living in Raleigh, North Carolina. His memoir THE MISFIT CHRONICLES describes his humorous misadventures growing up in the 1960s and ‘70s.
