The sign at Star LIGHT Drive-In, near the intersection of Gihon Road and Pike Street in South Parkersburg, shares that they were open only Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Showing were “Peyton Place” and “Return to Peyton Place.” Definitely not family films! (Photo provided)

Drive-ins usually showed two features plus a cartoon. With few exceptions, once darkness arrived the movie would begin, as the ads say, “come rain or shine.”

A memorable experience of going to a drive-in was that car windows were usually left down, except for the one on which the speaker was hung, it had to be up 2 or 3 inches; windows being down added to the open-air effect. Unfortunately, the hum and bites of mosquitoes ruined many families’ nights at the drive-in.

John Westbrook recalls that they were once enjoying a movie at the Star Light Drive-in and saw a jeep that smoked horribly, being driven throughout the rows between parking spaces. Could this have been an early attempt at pest control?

Even though admission was relatively inexpensive, it was not at all unusual to see a car pull in and park, and soon a trunk lid would slowly open and two or three kids would roll out.

Drive-ins often offered a special price “by the car” or “truckload.” Pickup trucks or flatbed trucks would usually back into the parking spaces and set chairs in the bed; they were watching in style! I recall a time that my dad took us kids, 3 of us, and 3 of our cousins to a movie at the Mur, all on the bed of a 16′ flatbed truck. I have no idea as to how the movie was. We were “fussing,” dad got mad and we left before the movie even started! It’s a memory you don’t forget.

The Concession Stand

What is a movie without popcorn, hotdogs, potato chips or drinks? All these (and the little boys and girls room) could be found at the concession stand. And yes, one usually had to stand in a line for any of the above!

Passion Pits

Yes, drive-ins availed the opportunity for a form of “closeness” that in theaters, was possible in only the last row of seats. It wasn’t at all unusual to see cars that appeared not to have any occupants. Where could they be? Most drive-ins had a “patrolman” who walked throughout the lines of cars making sure that no “hanky-panky” was going on; they were known to have rapped on many windows.

August of 1980 at the Drive-In

Those wanting to enjoy a movie at the drive-in in August of 1980, after the Mur and Star Light had closed, could select from the following movies: the Riverside was showing, The Surfer Girls; featured at the Sundowner was The Octagon; the Belpre was showing Prom Night, and at The Jungle, Little Darlings could be seen. These movies were all rated “R.”

Or, you could wait a week, when the Sundowner would be showing Herbie Goes Bananas and the Apple Dumpling Gang!

ALL GONE! Today, the screens of the Sundowner and the Jungle are all that remain of this memorable time of our local past.

The Jungle was the last survivor. For nearly sixty years, from 1952 through 2011, the huge screen delighted movie goers in a manner that today only remains in memory.

News Flash! The Jungle Drive-In IS again showing movies! Check out their website.

***

Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: roberteenoch@gmail.com, or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.