INTERMISSION: “Refreshment Time”. Brought to you by Drive-in Theatre Intermission Films

About Me and Detailed Contents (Please Read)

Hi viewers!

My name is Megan and I’m a twenty-one year old student in my second year at DeakinUniversity. This website is a project conducted under my Contemporary Australian Cinema unit. My idea is that it will be a combination of indulgences for the senses, exploring our creative sides, with the main feature being on the Hoyts Drive-in/ Village Starlite Drive-in, Frankston. Included will be:

– Authentic advertisments and trailers shown during the intermission of films shown at the drive-in’s during the 60s and 70s

– I will use my previous knowledge of Architecture through my studies at RMIT University as a Bachelor of Design and Interior Design student (2008/2009) to formulate an essay on the psychology behind old and modern cinema and it’s affect on audiences

– Interactive Poll’s I have created in which viewers are able to choose from multiple choice answers about their experience (or lack of) at the Drive-in’s

– An Interview I conducted with Andrea L, who has worked for the Lunar Drive-in for six years!

– A collaboration of personal memories from drive-in movie-goers of varying demographics  that I have spoken to and interviewed along the way (I encourage you to add your own experiences to keep the discussion flowing! It is a great way to see how audiences experience and remember drive-in entertainment in different ways, and how the atmosphere and look of drive-in’s has changed over time)

– A slideshow of photograph’s I have taken while visiting the Village Coburg Drive-in

MAIN FEATURE INCLUDES:

– A link to my contribution to the Bonza database

– Photographs of the Frankston drive-in location; while it still operated, and today in 2012,  long after the site was demolished and replaced with other buildings (sourced from Googlearth)

– Origional posters of the top 4 films shown at the Frankston drive-in during the 1970’s

– Infornmation regarding the drive-in’s change of operators (from Hoyts to Village), the ‘skyline’ experience, Frankston’s ‘grill bar’ and cafeteria furnishings.

– AS WELL AS:

– Tips for first time drive-in visitors

– Famous quotations about the cinema in general

– And Links to other helpful websites

INTERMISSION: “Drive-in Ice Cream”. Brought to you by Nebulax

An essay on the psychological impact of cinema’s and interacting with film culture

 The late 1930s attempted to impose an architecture which would be appreciated by the masses through its use of architectural ‘social realism’. They were aware of the psychological effects of colour and decoration on cinema patrons moods and feelings. It will be shown in this essay that these architects, their intentions and their buildings have implications for what Architecture and its meaning is in modern cinema.

 With the hindsight of just about ninety years it could seem that the awe-inspiring theatre/cinema architects were trying to use contemporary psychological theories to make suitable environments available for the showing of moving pictures and in my opinion, their endeavor obviously worked in every way. It shaped impressive places of enormous appeal to viewers, who came in their thousands. As we shall see, they were to create an escape from reality not just for the lower classes but especially for middle and upper classes. Burris-Meyer and Cole (1949), in directing architects how to design cinemas, demonstrated a sense of place by outlining the importance of the entire experience of theatre.

The showman’s first contact with any member of his audience occurs when that individual comes in sight of the theatre. From that moment until the patron is on the highway or subway headed for home, his every movement is the showman’s concern. The easier and pleasanter the patron’s progress from home to theatre seat and back again, the better the showman’s chances of making and holding a repeat customer. (Burris-Meyer and Cole, 1949:16)

The movie theatre architects wished to articulate a number of attributes, in their designs. They wanted the viewers from all classes to feel important; they wanted to provide all the visual design elements usually accessible only to the wealthy, and to create a total environment consistent with the make-believe, escapist content of films.

 THE SOCIOLOGY OF THE CINEMA

Though much written by cinema historians overlooks information regarding the venues in which films were shown and the audiences who watched them, some writing on the escapist “dreamworld” is available. To its writers, it is where disadvantaged patrons with supposedly boring, unfulfilled lives could whittle away a number of hours in an extravagant atmosphere, secretly living out emotions portrayed on the screen.

According to Handel (1950) no studies of theatre/cinema audiences were made until approximately World War II, although Jowett (1976) discovered a small amount of earlier studies which attempt to evaluate the suspected influence of movies on children and young adults. The Regent Theatre,Sydney,Australia, programme of the official opening in 1928 supplied the following commitment:

Today at wish we conjure up glories that are gone; they live again in tense reality upon our screens. There too, we leave a record of ourselves – the mighty and the meek, our prayers and strange despairs. The dreams we have may crystallise and stay for ever.

In the same year, at the opening of the State Theatre,Sydney, the venue released this statement:

 To that priceless, peerless, and enduring spirit of High Romance that uncalled leaps to flame in the hearts of all; that divine spark that perpetually gilds this drab world anew with the glowing fairy web of adventure, courage, endeavour, and fancy free; that primal urge of imagination that shone in the flashing eyes of Jeanne d’Arc….

 “The story of the golden age of the movie palace” includes a chapter titled “An Acre of Seats in aGardenofDreams” describing the architects and their designs. It explains that not only did these theatres increase the dreams of the audience but, according to Hall (1961), were the outcome of dreams of the architects:

 “these pleasure domes gave expression to the most secret and polychrome dreams of a whole group of architects who might otherwise have gone through life doomed to turning out churches, hotels, banks and high schools. The architecture of the movie palace was a triumph of suppressed desire and its practitioners range in style from the purely classic to a wildly abandoned eclectic’. (Hall, 1961:93)

On the topic of audiences, Sexton’s and Betts’ writing of 1927 in American Theatres Today recalls “The masses, revelling in luxury and costly beauty, went to be thrilled by the gorgeousness of their surroundings which they could not afford in their home life”. And I believe audiences are disappointed if they don’t discover the thrills they have come to the cinema for. Their favorite cinema is one which gives them the largest thrill. The theatre owners must take this into consideration for the largest part of the audience must come from the masses. Goodlad (1971) lists four effects of escapist, popular mass media which function with reference to social structure. Relaxation, encouraging imagination and providing interaction – especially for people in social isolation.

THE MOVIE-THEATRE USERS

In 1908 The Moving Picture World, stated that two million patrons, one third of which were children, attended cinemas every day. Additionally, people with higher education would visit more often than the low educated  (Handel 1950/1976).

Visits to old theatres today, and an illustrations of theatres, show a huge difference in the quality constructed for the different classes. The stairs and hallways to the cheap seats have little decoration and floor covering (see photographs of entries to Theatre Royal, Sydney); with unmarked benches and little leg room. During the 19th century the only ‘service’ administered to patrons in the cheap seats were ‘packers’ employed to guarantee that everyone was restricted as tightly as possible occupying approximately 2½ sq. feet per person (Thorne, 1971; 1979, citing Royal Commission of NSW, 1887).

19th century gallery seats: Her Majestys, Auckland, NZ -- demolished.

 In 1923, when describing the design of large cinemas, George Rapp stated that the

Purchaser of the cheapest ticket (for the gallery) dislikes the feeling that he is isolated from the rest of the auditorium. And so there has been introduced broad and gradually ascending staircases leading up from lofty and impressive lobbies making the way to the upper levels of the auditorium attractive and inviting (Rapp, 1923).

Thus the classless cinema design was formed. However, this plan did not only articulate a social change: both the architects and the cinema owners wished to improve the psychological state of well-being. The new design allowed all classes to experience the footmen employed to open doors and usher patrons. This created an affect so that for a few hours all patrons could be kings and queens in pseudo opera houses or royal halls. The architects goal being to design environments which communicated to the viewer the feelings of importance (Herzog, 1980). And so the cinema environments were more stage sets where members of the audience were the real performers.

THE FUNCTION OF THE MOVIE PALACE THEATRE

Most of the cinemas which architects claim used psychological concepts functioned much more than just as a place to show silent, black and white movies. Indeed, the movie theatre was rather complicated, far more so than a present-day cinema.

Today cimeas sell sophisticated movies with wide-screen, colour and stereophonic sound, but Marcus Loew, head of MGM says: “We sell tickets to theatres, not movies”. (Herzog , 1980, citing Freeman, 1977). And the cinema supplied an environment of entertainment rather than an environment for entertainment. The showing of a movie was only a small part of these theatres.

Of course the picture is important, and we could not do without it; but what we have tried to do is to build around it an atmospheric program that is colourful, entertaining and interesting. This type of program, with its ballets, musical presentations, stage settings and lighting effects, calculated to form a series of pictures sometimes contrasting and sometimes gracefully merging into one another, was originated by ourselves. (Rothafel, 1925: 362-363)

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INTERMISSION: ‘Speaker Announcements’. Brought to you by Tooleman87

Drive-in experience poll’s

INTERMISSION: “Alien Visits Snack Bar”. Brought to you by DriveInSaturday1963

Interview with Lunar Drive-in worker of six years… Andrea Leket

Q1: Why do you think people choose to view movies at the drive-ins rather than an indoor shopping plaza cinema?

I think it’s all about privacy. People who like talking loudly to their friends while others are trying to listen, or answering their phone and continuing a long conversation while others are trying to watch, these things can be avoided in the comfort of your own car. Then you get to have the experience of a cinema outing and the only person you annoy is yourself!

Q2: Have you noticed any changes/ technical advancements in the way drive-ins operate since you have worked in the industry?

Yes. Probably the most obvious one was the use of the bulky speakers which were usually broken and let in the cold air in winter, that have been replaced by tuning into the radio. Another is the use of mobile phones! Customers are able to text their order to the candy bar and have it delivered to their vehicle instead of having to get out, make sure their car was secure and venture to the candybar booth.

Q3: What do you think makes drive-ins so special? (particularly for couples)

For me, it’s the old-fashioned nature of it all. It always seems to be so romantic. And what could be more romantic than the three most lovely things combined: snuggling up beneath a blanket, stargazing and watching a good film.

INTERMISSION: Drive-in 1950’s / 60’s video

Memories of drive-in visitors of varying demographics

Image via Wikipedia

NAME: Sandra McKie

AGE: 63

OCCUPATION: Assistant Manager/ Accountant

 

I grew up in a large family, so we didn’t have money for going put. One summer my grandfather paid for us to have a holiday at rosebud. One night my father took only the older children to the rosebud drive-in, we had never been before and it was very exciting to be allowed to stay up late and go out in the car in our pajamas. We played on the swings before the movie started, the film we saw was chitty chitty bang bang. This is one of the strongest memories I have from my childhood as it was such an unusual thing for us to do.

As a young adult I would often go to the drive-in at Thomaston, where I lived with my friends, we would take several cars and park next to each other. I remember driving over the gravel mounds where the speakers are set higher so that your car tilts up towards the screen.

We would go into the snack bar and take the food back to our cars. In summer the movies started really late because they had to wait until it got dark to start. In winter the windscreen would keep fogging up as it was freezing because you had to leave the gap in the window where the speaker hung.

We were so upset when they closed it as the government bought the land to build the ring road.

 

NAME: Matthew Cornock

AGE: 24

OCCUPATION: Civil Engineer

 

I remember the first time I went to the Drive-in. I remember the question “do you want to go to the Drive-in?” and thinking they were a thing of the past. 

Pulling up to the drive in was surreal, like taking a trip back in time. The cinema had a driveway and what looked like a toll gate with a car stuck on the roof. The employees were all dressed as though they were stuck in the 70’s and came to your car, with a smile, so you could buy your tickets. I wasn’t sure what the protocol was, but I can recall being told that my movie was playing on screen 3, and being given a frequency ticket explaining how to listen to the movie. I tuned my radio immediately and remember hearing really old music, songs I wasn’t familiar with.  

Rather than the conventional finding of a seat I was then required to find a park. The ground was all undulated as to create an angle so that no car in front would become an aesthetic obstruction and there were strange poles to either side of the car I can only assume had been there for decades, relics of the sound system of old I can only assume. 

I remember when I was finally parked, my instincts came over me and I automatically checked my phone was on silent and stopped talking only to realize a few seconds later it was completely unnecessary, I was going to be watching the movie from my own personal space and I could do whatever I want.

Once settled I figured the next step was to get popcorn and a drink. So I started towards what I thought was obviously the “candy bar”. Turns out it was like a 70’s style restaurant with checker plate tiles and arcade games. The waitresses were old, they had probably been working the same job since the place opened so many decades ago and I found it hard to believe they ever changed their uniform.

I returned to my car and the atmosphere was unlike anything I had experienced before. People were everywhere and the same music was playing loudly from all the surrounding cars. People were sitting in Ute trays, in the back of 4wd’s with the back doors open and on camping chairs with fold out tables all their to watch the same film.

 I can’t remember what the movie was but sure enough it came to an end, all the cars simultaneously started up in a mad rush to not be inconvenienced by the possible 5 minute delay in exiting the movies. Many cars stuttering as the batteries struggled to hold up. So when the movie was finally over, we just simply drove back to the 21st century.

 

NAME: Leigh Thomas

AGE: 35

OCCUPATION: Electrician

 

 I remember watching “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” at the drive-in when I was a teenager. I will never forget when, at the very moment the first bloody chainsaw killing was occurring, some other movie patron started up his own chainsaw (that, apparently, was in the drunk of his car)! No, he wasn’t a killer, he was playing a prank. The type of prank you could not get away with today! Seems no one has a sense of humour any more!

 

Usually, I went to the drive-in with my girlfriend. “Back in the day”-as they like to say-young couples would attend the drive-ins to make out, and yes, maybe do other things as well! On many occasions, numerous couples (who were all friends) would park their cars side-by-side and party together during the first movie, and then quietly disappear to their own cars during the second one.