Fairview Drive-In Info Rt. 33 East Newton, IL 618-455-3100
Admission Prices
Adults $ 6.00
Children $ 3.00
Children = Ages 3 to 12
An American Classic still travels on!
The Fairview Drive-In has been opened since 1953 and has been remodeled twice, once after the original screen was blown over because of a wind storm. The Fairview is large enough to hold 250 cars! So, it's by no means tiny.
Did you know that the first drive in was an old sheet hanging in a back yard? Richard M. Hollinshead set an old projector up on the hood of his car and used a sheet as his screen, By doing so, he was able to combine his 2 greatest loves: cars and movies. It's amazing, but at a time when many had so little that they were able to create their own entertainment. The 30's were an exciting time.
By the 50's Drive-Ins had become a way of American life. Many a child was born due to a slow movie and a fast engine. Just look back at a popular t.v. show, Happy Days, and picture your parents or grand parents during that time. This was the best period for the Drive-in. Some drive-ins were so large that they span 28 acres! They had playgrounds, outdoor seating, restaurant and even a shuttle! One man even designed a drive-in for both cars and air planes. How cool is that?
As time went on, the drive-in began to die off, by the end of the 80's it looked like the drive-in was about to end. However in the past few years there has been a rejuvenation of the old style drive-in movie theater. With the hustle and the bustle of modern life, sometimes it just nice to pull in, sit back and enjoy the show. . .Heck, they've even began opening them in Europe and Russia! Here's to the old American Classic, may she live on forever!
