The Aut-O-Rama Twin Drive-In Theatre located in North Ridgeville, Ohio is like any drive-in you might imagine. One large parking lot with two giant screens and a snack bar and arcade building centrally located. There is a playground area for younger children and flea markets are held on the grounds every Sunday morning. Opened in 1965, I’m glad to say that the Aut-O-Rama is still independently owned and continues to screen double features throughout the summertime. During my formative years in the 1980s, my circle of friends had a pretty good routine: pile as many people into a car loaded with lawn chairs and a cooler, and pay for as few as people as possible, even hiding kids under blankets on the floor, in the hatchback or even the trunk. Cars parked to face the screen of the movie paid for, but that never prevented any of us from turning around and watching the other feature when bored. Once you tuned your AM radio to the special frequency that allowed you to hear the movie’s soundtrack, it was time to settle back in your semi-comfortable vinyl chair, or possibly the backseat of the car, open your beverage of choice and enjoy the show.

The delight of the drive-in was the social factor. Rare was the night when a group of teens actually watched the entire movie. No, you went to the Aut-O-Rama to hang with your friends, maybe score an illegal beer, and possibly try your first cigarette or Swisher Sweet. You also went to the Aut-O-Rama to wander the parking lot with that girl or boy you had a huge crush on and sit with them on the merry-go-round getting to know each other. If by some chance you were lucky, you kissed in the front seat, navigating the steering wheel and gear shift, or better yet, you moved to the back seat where hands could wander in the darkness and occasionally you peeked your eye open to see what was happening in the movie. (more…)