![]() Camera Icon A snack bar attendant provides car-side service to theatre patrons. The format of the “drives” was simple: A news reel or cartoon followed by coming attractions, the B film, an interval to stock up on snacks then the main movie, with car-side service available at the touch of a speaker stand button. The Highway’s success sparked a drive-in craze that swept across Perth, fuelled by growing car ownership and our love of the great outdoors, not to mention a sheer lack of places to go after dark.Ī further eight theatres - the Skyline in Floreat, Lakeway in Swanbourne, Metro in Innaloo and Melway in Melville to name a few - sprung up before the end of the decade and another nine dotted the suburbs during the ’60s. “It was so popular that they later added a smaller boutique drive-in on the premises.” Camera Icon What was once the Highway’s long driveway (circa 1985) is now Gochean Avenue in Bentley. “The Highway was an instant hit and took over from the old open-air picture theatres, causing the Melody and Queens Park Gardens to close. ![]() “Today, we think nothing of going somewhere that has burgers and chips but cafeteria-style dining was a new experience too. “It was a whole new venture and on land that was originally part of the Liddlelow dairy farm,” he said. Camera Icon The area was all dairy farms and small rural holdings when the Highway kicked off. Credit: SuppliedĬity of Canning heritage officer Geoff Moor said the area was all dairy farms and small rural holdings when the Highway kicked off 22 years after the earliest US version. Exact date of image unknown, circa October 1955. Camera Icon Some of the staff at the Highway Drive-In, Bentley Park. There were also 500 bays to hold vehicles attending the second nightly session, a kids’ playground, mini golf course, cafeteria and as many as 30 uniformed staff including car marshals, cashiers, car hops and children’s attendants. Credit: Canning Local History CollectionĪcross a 6ha site backing onto Albany Highway that was readied using almost 31,000t of materials, it featured a towering 13m-high, 15m-wide outdoor movie screen on 240t concrete footings (it had to withstand the stormiest nights, after all), a projection booth, and 650 viewing ramps and stands with speaker boxes along with 16km of cable. Camera Icon The Highway (circa 1985) featured a kids’ playground near the movie screen, 650 viewing ramps and stands plus speaker boxes, and film projection area behind a kiosk with big double doors. Tip: they don’t walk around or check cars.Launched by the late John Pye, who went on to build the Ace entertainment and hospitality group, it was planned and constructed on a grand scale. The only pro is that once the movie was finally started and we didn’t leave our car the experience was a lot of fun for my daughter. I’d rather pay more and go to the drive in located in Fort Worth. The concession building is dirty, looks like it hasn’t been cleaned in years and there was dead flies under the heat lamps. During this time we did try and get popcorn and waited in line for another 30 minutes… completely missing the start of the movie. Our movie started 30 minutes late, multiple people had to go to the concession stand to inform them to turn the screen on. Online they recommend you arrive early to get snacks… not to mention you’re not allowed to bring in food and drinks. After waiting in line for 30 minutes we get to the front and they haven’t even started cooking the popcorn. There was 3 kids working the concession stand and one looked 12 years old, they all seemed miserable. Hardly fits one average person so if you have kids and you’re alone it’s a nightmare. ![]() The bathroom is disgusting and NOT family friendly. Once we parked we headed to the bathrooms and concession stand. There was only one guy working the ticket line- so regardless if you pay online or at the gate you’ll wait in a long line. First and last time I’ll visit this drive in.
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