Ah, the drive-in.
A way to enjoy the big screen from
the comfort of your car.
Drive-ins were once all the rage
and now some theaters are seeing
patrons flock to them once again
during the coronavirus outbreak
for some social distancing approved fun.
When's the movie gonna start?
Well Bella, not until it gets dark out,
but I know you like the drive-in and I do too.
Yeah, I like it.
Roy Jackson has been going to The Admiral Twin
in Tulsa, Oklahoma for decades.
His eight year old daughter, Bella,
is a regular too.
A trip to the drive-in has taken on
new meaning for the family.
Drive in movies are America
and it gives families the sense of hope
and understanding that everything
is gonna be okay.
When you're within your own family vehicle,
that's safety, that's something that makes things normal
and you can control that,
your own environment,
to know that you're going to be safe
and that you're also gonna keep others safe,
especially in this time of social distancing.
Blake Smith owns
The Admiral Twin and The Starlite Drive-In
in Wichita, Kansas.
He's kept both open to give families
some fun during this tough time.
I'm looking at it in the sense of
it's really more of a community service in some ways
that people are gonna get cabin fever.
This is a safe way to be entertained
and just get out of the house
for just a little bit.
But owners are taking
extra precautions are taking people safe.
Blake closed his concession stands
and is asking people to bring their own snacks.
In St. Louis, Missouri,
the owner of the Starlite Drive-In
says he's spacing cars farther apart
and asking patrons to use the restroom
before they arrive.
Doug Mercille says he'll stay open
as long as he's allowed to.
Unless they just come to us
and tell us that we need to shut down,
we feel that we provide a safe environment.
That safe environment
and momentary escape from the news
is now more important than ever, Blake says.
I think it's a really important experience.
A good movie can take you away
from the stress for a couple of hours.
And how doesn't need that?
For insideedition.com, I'm Caitlin Ford.