Today's Michael Berry Show is brought to you by the Drive-In movie theater.

You get more out of life when you go out to a movie.

The first drive-in was in Los Cruces, New Mexico, way back in 1915.

After World War II, rising car ownership and a large suburban and rural population led

to a boom in drive-in theaters with hundreds being opened every year.

At its peak in the late 1950s and early 60s, there were over 4,000 drive-in spread out

all across the United States.

By comparison, there are 2,200 indoor movie theaters in America today.

The drive-in success was rooted in its reputation as being family-friendly.

Parents could bring their children to the drive-in movie theater.

They didn't have to worry about a fussy baby or fidgety toddler.

This also allowed them to spend time together without the expense of a babysitter.

The drive-in movie theater was also thought of as a great place for a first date, because

it was considered less formal than going to a cinema film at a brick and mortar theater.

Coincidentally, the greater privacy that made the drive-in so family-friendly gave the

drive-ins a bad reputation, a reputation as being immoral, and they were labeled passion

pits in the media.

No one listening to this program has ever contributed to that reputation, not one.

A number of things led to the demise of the drive-in, cable television, the VCR and video

rental, as well as Jimmy Carter.

You see, the 1970s energy crisis led to the widespread adoption of daylight saving time.

This caused drive-in movies to start an hour later.

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