The first drive-in movie theater opened on June 6, 1933, in Camden, New Jersey. The idea of a drive-in theater was created by Richard M. Hollingshead Jr., who wanted to create a new form of entertainment that would be accessible and affordable for the average family. Hollingshead was inspired by the experience of watching movies from his car during bad weather and wanted to bring that experience to the masses.
The first movie shown at the drive-in theater was “Wives Beware”, a comedy starring Adolphe Menjou. It was a silent film with English subtitles, and it ran for about 90 minutes.
The idea of watching a movie from your car was revolutionary at the time, and it caught on quickly. By 1938, there were over 15 drive-in theaters in existence across the United States.
In its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s, drive-in theaters were immensely popular—at their peak there were over 4,000 operating in North America alone. Drive-in theaters provided an escape from everyday life and allowed families to spend quality time together without having to leave their cars. They also attracted teenagers who wanted a place to hang out with their friends without having to worry about what time they had to be home or what their parents would think.
Unfortunately, due to changing tastes and rising costs, most drive-in theaters have closed down in recent years. As of 2020 there are only about 300 drive-in theaters still operating in North America—a far cry from their peak numbers in the 1950s and 1960s. Despite this decline, drive-ins still remain popular with many people—especially during the summer months when families can take advantage of milder weather for outdoor entertainment.
The legacy of “Wives Beware” lives on today as it was the first movie ever shown at a drive-in theater—a revolutionary concept that changed how people watch movies forever. Drive-ins may not be as popular as they once were but they will always remain an important part of cinema history thanks to its pioneering role back in 1933 when “Wives Beware” first lit up the screen at Richard M Hollingshead Jr.’s original Camden Theater location.
Conclusion: The first movie ever shown at a Drive-In Theater was ‘Wives Beware’, a comedy starring Adolphe Menjou which ran for about 90 minutes with English subtitles back in 1933 when Richard M Hollingshead Jr.’s opened his original Camden Theater location revolutionizing how people watch movies forever since then