DaytonDailyNews.com

By Frank

July 10, 2009 10:11 AM | Link to this

You knew it was drive-in night when mom was making popcorn on the stove,poured it into a brown paper bag. I grew up in Park Layne, hated to see it close.

By Dan

April 30, 2008 11:34 PM | Link to this

Ok, everyone who loves drive-ins and lives in the Dayton area: the Melody 49 Drive-in opens May 1, Thursday night, with the area’s first showing of Iron Man at roughly 8:45. Be there as the Melody 49 opens up what may be its last season!

By Ron G

April 23, 2008 10:56 PM | Link to this

Ahhhh, yeah it’s a bummer its closed, but there’s THREE other open drive-ins within about 20 miles of this one. I have to drive 60 miles to find an open drive-in.

By Chet Cuccia

April 23, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this

I read that one of the reasons why drive-in theatres died out was because of Daylight Savings Time.

By Tim C

April 19, 2008 10:44 PM | Link to this

Belmont Auto Drive in and Southland 75 days. WOW! Free suckers for the kids if your under 12, worth lying over your age for not just only to save dad a few coins huh? best popcorn in the world if i remember right too! Had to leave early because Mom thought the secnd show “Cincinnati Kid” with Steve McQueen was not good for kids to see.. remember the traffic jams after the show just trying to get out of the parking lot? Did anyone elses Mom pee in a empty coke cup to save a walk 2 the restroom?

By Pamela

April 19, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this

I will miss the drive in experience and I wanted all my grandkids to know what it was like too. I have the best memories of the drive in as a kid. I wish the good things in life could never go away!!! Some times progress isnt so great.

By Lesley

April 19, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this

The one in Sidney is sill open. At least for now.. I had fond memories of the one in Piqua as a kid. That too was sold and now is owned by the Amvets. I think everyone should get to experience the drive in a least once in their lives.

By MARK

April 19, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

They take up a lot of land, and don’t give an equal tax revenue to the municipalities. City councils now try to fit as much as they can, in as little of space as possible. Ever played SimCity? That shows you how the city planning game is played. It’s all about high value tax revenue generators.

By Dave

April 19, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this

I noticed in the article, “It was only used 3 months a year” O.K. I remember that some Drive-ins had heaters that you could plug into the speaker post and warm the interior of your car, they were used frequently during the fall months. The world is all about money now and people sit in the house and watch DVD’s and Tapes instead of going out in the real world because it is getting really scary out there. Goodbye 50’s and 60’s—be afraid be very afraid!!

By Lewie

April 19, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

There used to be a drive-in in Miamisburg down the road from my family’s first home. They used to give kids lollipops with safety sticks (loops) as the cars pulled in. From then on, my brother and I would always call them drive-in suckers.

I remember going to Southland 75 many times, too. Drive-ins were great for families since noisy or crying children weren’t likely to disturb other viewers. I’d rather see a movie in a drive-in anytime over going to a theater!

By MARK

April 19, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this

Ive read all these comments on all the drive-ins, and everybody seems to have forgotten about the North Star Drive-In on North Dixie. The North Star Drive-In had a miniature golf course, and also had trampolines. They paved paradise & put up a Krogers. !

By Scott

April 19, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this

The Captain Kidd, Belmont, Southland 75 and on occasion, a cruise up 75 to 70 W over to the Melody 49. Homemade popcorn, and a cooler full of cokes. We’d grab our sleeping bags and wear our pj’s and probably be out like a light by the second feature. Great memories!

Here’s a memory for you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_vramg08aw

By pete logan

April 19, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this

I have lived in Park Layne for the last twenty years, and in the New Carlisle area for thirty five years and i have many fond memories of the Park Layne Drive-in. I remember also going to the Dayton East Drive-in. With so few drive-ins left, I use to say that I lived about five minutes away from two of them. Park Layne and Fairborn.

By Cheryl

April 19, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this

Hearing that the Park Layne is closing forever has made me very sad. Knew it was bound to happen, but still hate to see it. I grew up going there as my mother used to manage the snack bar. One of my sisters worked in the concession stand and the other worked the ticket booth in the 60s and 70s. I ended up working in the ticket booth in the 80s.

Hearing of this did make me remember the circus that used to go to Park Layne elementary. Does anyone else remember that?

By JIm

April 19, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this

Saw Night of The Living Dead at the Troy Dixie. It scared the heck out of me. Had to drive by a cemetery on the way home. I was sure the zombies were going to get me. I was so scared I could not sleep. Watched the sun come up the next morning. Those were the days!

By Brenda

April 19, 2008 7:26 AM | Link to this

I hate to see it go, it was the only drive-in I felt safe at. A great era coming to an end.Pretty soon they will all be gone and If we want to take in a new movie, we can all go pay 8-9 dollars a piece for one, or wait until it comes out on dvd.

By Paula

April 19, 2008 4:44 AM | Link to this

What ashame another one is gone.Park Layne 69 was almost in my There were so many-North Star, Dixie, Dayton East, the one near the Dayton Mall,Millers Grove,Sky Born. So many memories.It was a place parents could take the kids for cheap.Falling in love,…Sneaking in either by hiding in the trunk or covering w/a blanket to hide your age-LOL The best would be 4th Of July-Back in the early 70’s I live in Northland Village between the North Star and Dixie they had best fireworks show.

By Diane

April 19, 2008 2:32 AM | Link to this

I’m in shock!! I love Park Layne Drive-in! I grew up going there, my kids worked there as I also worked there briefly. They used to have a fireworks display every 4th of July. Had my 1st date there(I was 8 years old)hehe. We saw Kissing Cousins with Elvis Presley. It will be very sad to see it go. All my schools have been torn down now this. Not a sentamental town anymore.

By deb

April 19, 2008 12:42 AM | Link to this

i worked at the park layne drive-in about 30 years ago when i was a teen. i had so much fun! i remember watching disney movies when i was a kid. i live in louisiana now and last summer when i came up here to visit family we went there and now i’m so glad i experienced that one last time. anyone out there that has not been to a drive-in needs to hurry up and go before they close the rest of them. i will miss that place. this is so sad!!!

By jackie

April 18, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this

oooh I remember my grandfather and grandmother taking my sister and I to the Sherwood Drive on w third st. We would buy a box of the best coney islands in the world off third st and sit an watch the movies. My grandfather was into horror movies. remember seeing “The Skull”, Frankenstein . I also remember playing WAHOO a bingo -like game. The sherwood had two screens back then. Also there was the Sunset drive-in off Germantown pike. We had fun,nobody bothered anyone. these were the days!

By phyllis

April 18, 2008 10:18 PM | Link to this

My husband & I had our 1st date at the Melody Drive In-Springfield, Ohio. We saw a movie called “Tammy & the Bachelor” with Debbie Reynolds. We will be married 50 years in August. We took our 2 children to drive-ins which were very reasonably priced. Like others said, they played at the playground until the movie started, ate homemade popcorn & then usually fell asleep.You had to remember not to drive off with the speaker still attached to your car.These were great summer nights in the 50’s&60’s

By Pam

April 18, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this

I grew up in Park Layne and have so many memories of the drive-in. Mom and Dad would load us up in the car and we’d wear our jammies to the movies. Heck, we would fill up the cooler and take our own snacks. We would play in the play ground and then run to the car when the cartoons started. If you got the right spot, you could watch two movies at once. The drive in was a fun place to hang out in the summer when we were in high school … .ooohhh the stories!!!

By willyd

April 18, 2008 8:16 PM | Link to this

I remember going to the “Melody” on east 40 and seeing Beach Blanket Bingo. 42 years later and we are still married. I love ya….

By tom

April 18, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this

I remember going to the Drive-in in Sidney. I don’t know if it’s still open or not. My family took us there back in the 50’s. We had to listen from the speaker that hung from the window. There was one here in Hattiesburg MS., but it closed last year from lack of business. I miss the Drive-in’s.

By Terry

April 18, 2008 7:52 PM | Link to this

I had an aweosme friend, Bill Kettler, that used to manage a theater for Chakeres. He ended up committing suicide but boy, I have fond memories of going to the drive-in when he worked there. I visited Phoenix a few years ago and they had a drive-in with six screens. How awesome is that? You get sick of one movie, drive around til you find another picture you like and viola!

By Sweet

April 18, 2008 7:34 PM | Link to this

I met my first boyfriend at the Stardust Drive-in in Springfield..He worked at the concession stand..Duane Fry where are you??? lol…That was a great summer I think my G/F Carolyn and I saw every movie..I was sad when they tore that one down… then the Newmoon..then Showboat…next will be our Melody !!

By B

April 18, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this

My kids love going to the Skyborn. When their cousin comes to visit in the summer, we always take him and it’s fun. I think drive in’s are going out because there is no family time anymore. My kids friends love coming to our house to play cards and games. I think that it’s more fun to be alone on your computer or texting people instead of talking on a phone. What irritates me is “oh good another church”, if they have money to pay for property, they have the money to pay property taxes.

By c dean

April 18, 2008 5:53 PM | Link to this

One halloween we ran a special on movies. I forget what it was called but it was billed as a family night out.The first movie was about the house on elm street.It started out with awful scenes and parents started honking and leav ing the drive in.I dont remember what we did.Today nobody would even notice or care about the violence.Does and body remember this?It was in Springfield at the melody i think.sorry my memory just AINT what it use to be.I worked there for a month or so .

By dublg

April 18, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this

Drive-ins…..remember the captain kidd on david road? the belmont off of woodman? southland 75? good times…………GOOD TIMES…. we went to the melody 49 ALOT last year, just like every year…..

GOOD TIMES…………..GOOD TIMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By DC

April 18, 2008 5:04 PM | Link to this

I hope to heck the Melody49 doesn’t close! We used to have a drive in here in Troy, there was one in Piqua, Miller’s Grove,etc. I love the drive-in-Iwish we had one closer. When you have 4 kids, the drive-in’s the way to go! Some of my best childhood memories and high school too are due to the drive in!

By Jennifer

April 18, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this

I remember as a little girl going to the drive in with my mom, sister ,and grandmother. We hsd a lot of fun just being together. I have taken my children to the drive in and they enjoyeed it. Going to the movies with little ones in a theater is stressful. trying to get them to stay in their seats and to watch the movie. But, at the drive in, when they are ready to move around they can go for a short walk or play outside the car. I love going to drive-ins.

By Post by Britt

April 18, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this

This is the youth of today! My God! Help us.

By Stephanie

April 18, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this

I think the reason they are diappearing is the profits aren’t as good as they used to be because of DVD’s and cable. I also feel like the world has become full of greedy people that could care less about keeping those precious things that have given us our memories. We are slowly but surely loosing what some of us consider part of the American dream.

By britt

April 18, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

WE went to the year roun drive-in(holiday) years ago. I had heard so much about the food there. First with angusburgers and crap At the gate they told us to declare any food. If e wantedto kee it it was 5bux a head!!!!! Ths evn incuded drinks. They informd u that hey had spotters roamin and anyone caught ith “outside” food wouldbe escorted out! Guess what. The wre actualy shin pencil flashes in our window. So much for getting high or heavy petting, lol We never went back. britt

By Stephanie

April 18, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this

I think one of the reasons that Drive-ins are disappearing is the fact that almost everyone can sit at home and watch a DVD or watch cable. Maybe the profits aren’t big enough for the owners anymore. It seems to me that greed has everything to do with what is going on in the world now. Nobody wants to give up that darn dollar!!!! We are slowly but surely loosing the american dream to greed.

By Paul

April 18, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this

Thank all of you for refreshing my memory. Being a former “Southsider”, I remember Southland 75. Ahhhh!the memory of trying my best to “score” (nudge-nudge-wink-wink) with various “trophy” dates. Hell with the movie!..let’s “Gazorgida-Gazorgida!!!!! My record wasn’t bad over the years, I smile when remembering them. The question: Drive ins are dying out because no one wants to get “spunge” on the cloth seats. Leather is too hot/slippery. IDIOTS!!! Netflicks!, Blockbuster!Pay per view! DUH!!!

By Stephanie

April 18, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this

I also grew up in Ohio and we used to go to the Drive-in. When I had my own child I took her to the Drive-In. It is a great family activity. When I moved out here I was pleased to find that they have one Drive-In left. It has four screens. Reading the article made me very homesick for Ohio and for the way it used to be! I had a wonderful childhood in Springfield, Ohio. I hope that some one will think to keep at least one Drive-In in operation. I loved those commercials for the concession stand.

By Norman

April 18, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this

When they closed the Azusa drive in here in LA County a couple of years ago they got an original print of “The Blob” for the final show.

Wasn’t there one also called “The Melody” on old route 40 east of town toward Harmony? I seem to recall Easter Sunrise Services by St. John’s Lutheran Church out that way at a drive in theater.

By queen

April 18, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this

I REMEMBER GOING TO THE SUNSET DRIVE IN AND THE SHERWOOD DRIVE IN AS A YOUNG GIRL WITH OUR FAMILY AND AS A YOUNG LADY WITH A YOUNG MAN..LOL..THOSE WERE THE DAYS!!TALK ABT. FUN???SITTING AND WATCHING THE MOVIE AND JUST CHILLIN!! NO ONE EVER BOTHERED YOU AND LIKE SOMEONE ELSE SAID,YOU DIDN’T HAVE OTHER PEOPLE INTERRUPTING THE MOVIE..TODAY’S KIDS DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE MISSING..BUT THERE ALL SO INTO THEMSELVES THAT THEY WOULDN’T EVEN CARE..ALL THE CAREFREE DAYS OF BEING YOUNG ARE JUST ABT. GONE..

By Lea

April 18, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this

I too remember the 75 & Cruise-In on RT#25 in Miamisburg. Great memories of baths then poping corn, filling the cooler, at dusk swinging in the play area, at dark the movies. EASY now we have digital this to make this work with digital blue, then program the remote to the DVR..and & and confuse the old then pay Time Warner more. The rich get richer, middle class=poor. Old ways are silly why?

By stuckdog

April 18, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this

I think it’s day light savings time. In summer it can still be light out at 9pm.
Sure was a lot of fun back then.

By the Strawboss

April 18, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this

Why are Drive-Ins dying out? Probably because you say they play “picture shows,” conjuring up thoughts of black and white images flickering across an old sheet nailed to the wall. Young people have no idea what you’re talking about. Refer to them as movies and they might regain an audience.

By Jill

April 18, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this

I never frequented Park Layne myself but our family loves the drive-in! I think I heard Ohio is the state with the most working drive-ins today. We went all the time while growing up. Today we go to Dixie or Melody 49 with our children often. It is a treat & who can beat seeing 2 first run movies for as cheap as 1, you dont have to pay a sitter because the kids usually watch 1 movie and fall asleep and dont have to pay high prices for snacks; you can bring your own.

By RANETTE

April 18, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this

My sons and I frequent the drive-in every season. It’s much more fun than going to a theater not to mention more economical. I enjoy watching movies at the drive-in. It kind of gives you your own space by not having to file into a cinema and listen to surrounding conversations, etc. Long live the drive-in!!!

By TLG

April 18, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this

I grew up in Dayton and going to the Sherwood or Sunset was a weekend routine for our family. I now live in Rhode Island and we have one Drive-In left located in Lincoln. The times have changed and you can’t go back but it’s so good to remember…………

By Todd

April 18, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this

Grew up going to the Melody 49, saw the new Disney movie there each summer. My uncle took me to my first “R” rated movie there (Blazing Saddles), and spent many a wonderful Saturday night there in high school. We still go about once a year, now usually to the Skyborn. I also remember going to one on Salem Ave once in the late 70’s, I forget the movie, but I remember the police chasing some kids through the lot during the movie, I think it closed in the 80’s.

By ms pepsi

April 18, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

I have continued the drive in tradition with my son. we go to dixie at least 3-4 times a year, and i have the number programmed into my speed dial so i can check what they’re playing! :-) I remember often dreaming with my best friend in high school about my buying sherwood twin, and her purchasing the drive thru across the street! If you bought your beer there, you would get $1 off your admission to the drive in. :-)

By the way- Dixie has been open for 2 weeks now! See ya there tonight!

By native daytonian

April 18, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this

I remember when my mother would call us into the house early on fri & sat nites-have us take a bath and put on pj’s. we knew it was drivein nite! She’d pop my brother and I our own bag of popcorn-on the stove with real butter! We’d load up the cooler with pepsi’s and blankets and go! My brother would also fall asleep after the first movie, but i always stayed awake until we were leaving- never made it out the lot though. Playing on the swing set at Sunset, AHH GOOD TIMES!!!

By Hey DDN Why remove the posts

April 18, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

We are all talking about the good old days. If that includes meeting/having fun with some skinny girls from New Carlisle, so what. Its better then all the jungle music/flavor flav, gun throw-in crap going on today!

By Greg

April 18, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

I remember Dayton East drive in on Valley. I went there quite a lot, was right down from where I used to live. Don’t know how many times I saw Star Wars there. Seemed like it was doubled billed with Logans Run or Close Encounters.

By LC

April 18, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

Had many good times at Southland 75 and the Belmont in the late 70s and 80s. The drive in is such a cool thing—hate to see any of them go. Don’t forget to visit the Dixie Drive-In on N Dixie—they play a wide varitey of movies, many suitable for families, and we love taking our kids there. (LOL—how things change) They think it’s awesome to sit in the truck or our lawn chairs and watch a movie. Anybody remember when we used to call Skyborn the “Skyporn” because they showed raunchy movies??! ha

By Steve

April 18, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this

Good ole Southland 75. What great memories I have there. 2-3 movies and drinking 3.2 Miller beer. Those were the days. Where has time gone?

By Kerry

April 18, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this

Blame it on President Bush! Everything else seems to be his fault, anyway….

By Bob

April 18, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this

What a perfect name for a drive in! The Park Layne 69?! You can’t make this stuff up!

By TN

April 18, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this

Hey, who remembers the Dayton East drive in. It was on Valley street.

By Lisa Mathis

April 18, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this

How disappointing. Having grown up going to the drive-in in Troy I was so happy that several were still operating when I moved back to Ohio and started a family. We have had many fun nights at the Park Layne Drive-In and would have continued going for years to come.

Very sad to see it go.

By TN

April 18, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

Sam, It was Southlaand 75. Kind of different because they had a seating area in front of the concession sstand.

By Kevin

April 18, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

I can remember going to the Miller’s Grove Drive-in in my pj’s, sitting in the back of the wood-paneled station wagon watching Jungle Book. Me and my wife still go with our kids to Melody 49 - sometimes we end up sitting in the front of the truck watching a movie on the front screen while the kids sit in the truck bed and watch the movie on the back screen. Good times!

By Jamie

April 18, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

This is so sad, we loved going there and watching movies. It’s nice going to a regular movie place also but a drive in just makes it more like summer. We will miss it

By Greg

April 18, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

This is just heartbreaking. I love going to the drive-in. Luckily I live north of town and have the Melody 49, but I remember going to the Park Layne Drive-In quite a lot as a kid. My best memory of seeing a movie at Park Layne was when I was a kid and seeing Rocky II with my parents and cousins. It was the end of the film when Rocky and Appollo are fighting and we are all cheering Rocky on except my dad who fell asleep, and would not wake up.

By northerner

April 18, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

Can you say “high-def digital widescreen?”

By Sam

April 18, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

It’s disappointing when a drive-inn closes. I grew up in Dayton, then moved to Columbus, now I’m in Huntsville, AL. My wife and I would go to Drive-Inn’s more than a standard theater, it was just more fun and you could see 2 or 3 movies. The kids could watch the first one and fall asleep in the back seat. It was really sad when they tore down the one by the Dayton mall to build the shopping center that went out of business. I can’t even remember the name of the place.

By anjala

April 18, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this

I loved the drive in back in the day going to the Sunset on Germantown Pike was a Friday nite treat. I also remember Sherwood and Southland 75 which used to have like 1st run movies back then. There are so many nostalgic things that are going the way of the dinosaur that I our kids wont be able to experience.

By Mobea

April 18, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this

Well, they had a good run. It’s true. You do have to look at it from a financial point of view. God isn’t making anymore land so the value of the land may be worth more than they could create by keeping a drive in there. I too, will miss it. I don’t even live in Dayton anymore, but i would make it a point to go to a drive in, because it was one of the few places in the country that still has them. But business is business. Thank you for so good memories I have growing up and going there.

By Bob540

April 18, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this

Yes, sad to see, but its a sign of the times. With cable movies and DVD’s, its just more convenient to sit at home and click buttons than to go to a drive-in (snacks at home cheaper too). Not just the drive-ins, but even cinemas have declined as an entertainment option (too expensive!) I used to enjoy going to Belmont Auto, Southland 75 and Sherwood Twin drive-ins MANY years ago. Kids today miss out and don’t even know it.

By Brittney

April 18, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this

drive ins are so fun why are they dying???? i like being able to sit in the back of a car or truck and chill and watch a movie!!!

By Robert

April 18, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this

Its so sad to hear that since I really like the drive-ins alot.

By Genia

April 18, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this

All I know is that they have been dying out for years and it’s sad. I guess people would rather go inside to a room with a smaller screen or watch them at home. It’s too bad that drive-ins are dying out all over the country. It was more than just going to the movies. It was an adventure. I guess I’m just nostalgic.

By Sandy

April 18, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this

This is SO sad!! I grew up going to drive-ins - I used to take my son to that one! sigh….