Georgetown Drive-In

The world's first dedicated drive-in movie theater opened on June 6, 1933, in Pennsauken, New Jersey. Invented by Richard Hollingshead Jr., it featured a 30-by-40-foot screen and terraced ramps to ensure every car had an unobstructed view. Admission cost 25 cents per car and 25 cents per person.

How it Started
Hollingshead, a sales manager at his father's auto products company, was inspired to create the venue after watching his mother struggle with the cramped seating in traditional indoor theaters. Before opening his commercial lot, he tested the concept in his own driveway:

The setup:
He mounted a 1928 Kodak projector on his car hood, hung a screen on trees, and put a radio behind the screen for audio.

The ramp patent:
He figured out optimal car spacing by placing blocks under front wheels to adjust sight lines, ultimately patenting his "Automobile Movie Theater" concept in May 1933.

The Boom and the Legacy
Although the original Camden drive-in only lasted a few years, it sparked a massive cultural phenomenon.

The peak:
By the late 1950s, the History.com editors note that there were roughly 5,000 drive-ins operating across North America
The survivors:
As of 2026, roughly 500 to 600 drive-ins remain operational across the U.S., including early pioneers like Shankweiler's Drive-In Theater in Pennsylvania (opened in 1934).

Friday, May 15th, 2026 and Saturday, May 16th, 2026

SCREEN 1
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie 9:05 pm
Project Hail Mary 10:45 pm

SCREEN 2
40th anniversary of the original
Top Gun 9:05 pm
Top Gun Maverick 11:10 pm

STARTING MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
Friday through Sunday
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu