Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Mar 1956)

Planning a Drive-In Theatre for the new standards of service Presenting facts controlling and advising procedure in the development of a drive-in theatre in the light of the status drive-ins have achieved in the motion picture industry and in popular recreation. Considerations of higher standards and costs have directed omission of any material representing an attempt to provide for construction without plans hy an architect or engineer familiar with the physical requirements. The purpose is to help the owner to organize the project with a minimiim of waste and a maximum of protection for his investment. G ENERALLY SPEAKING, a drive-in theatre drawing area can be reasonably considered to extend about ten miles in any direction from the theatre. Naturally, the actual distance in a certain direction may vary from that of another, according to the highway system of the region. Ten miles isn’t much of a distance on a main road of four or six lanes; it can be quite a distance, however, where several more miles of bad roads leading off it are required to get people from and to their homes late at night. Then again, a city dominating the area may be large enough to put considerable pressure on part of the recreational traffic toward one direction or another. On the whole, however, the drawing area of a drive-in is likely to include the city it is near, plus well populated districts within ten miles of it. These localities should add up to at least 50,000, and had better amount to at about 75,000 for a drive-in of good standards and somewhat more than average car capacity. Whether to buy the land, or lease it, can be determined only by the circumstances of the most desirable property. Other things being equal, it is considered better to purchase so that (1) the drive-in operator has unencumbered control of the development for his immediate purposes, and (2) he is in a position to benefit from any increase in value accruing from establishment of the drive-in and/or other developments in the area. S/Z£ OF THE PROPERTY The exact amount of land needed, as a safe minimum, depends upon the shape of the property. From a plan drawing accompanying this discussion the general proportions may be observed. In some such proportions. the theatre and its drives require approximately the following acreage: For capacities from 500 to 600 cars, 11 to 12 acres; 700-800 cars, 13-14 acres; 900-1,000 cars, 14-15 acres; around 1,400 cars, 17-19 acres; 1,800 cars, 20-22 acres. Average capacity is about 600, but higher costs resulting from higher standards and wide-screen technique advise larger capacities than formerly. An area that suggests much less than 800 cars is likely to indicate a “marginal” operation. ESTIMATING REQUIREMENTS In arriving at a reasonable capacity, calculate not on the basis of average patronage, but rather according to potential peak attendance. It will be weekend nights, certainly Saturday (weather permitting), probably Friday, and in most communities, very likely also Sunday nights, that you will be depending on to give you your net profit. The acreage should allow for an entrance drive not less than 30 feet wide, and an exit drive at least 40 feet (the exit drive should be wider than the entrance because cars are then moving faster; moreover, usually there are two lanes of departing traffic, and there should be ample width to allow for safe turning into the highway or a side road leading to it). The acreage might well be sufficient for overflow attendance. Such “waiting” area requires around an acre per hundred cars. That figure takes into consideration the possibility that patrons waiting to be admitted may get impatient and decide to leave without seeing the show. They almost must be so systematically parked. The site will of course be on or near an important Better Theatres 1956 Market Guide 35