THE PROGRAM
The normal type of programming for drive ins was usually two feature films with a short intermission between films.
7.00pm Gates and kiosk opened
7.30pm program was started with show advertising slides ran for about 5 to 8 minutes
7.40pm Main feature film was shown
9.15pm to 9.30pm Intermission depending on length of first film , advertising slides shown again and coming attraction slides were shown.
9.30pm Advertising films clips shown and trailers for coming movies shown
9.40pm second feature film was shown
The evening usually finished between 11.00pm and midnight depending on length of films.
On some occasion's where the main feature was a very long film , a short would be shown with it instead of another movie.
During the last days of the drive ins three films were shown sometimes , usually a trilogy like in the case of jaws 1 Jaws 2 and Jaws 3 . Intermission was only held between the first and second movie , the third movie was started at the end of the second with no break , this to keep the time from running too late.
During the 60's television was not available in country areas Friday and Saturday nights were very popular at the drive in ,The Kiosk would stock a large variety of foods from simple sweets, chocolates, cooldrinks and icecreams , not forgetting the famous milkshakes. Hot food , like fries, burgers , hot dogs and tea and coffee.
Many would make it a complete night out , going along at 7.00pm having and evening meal along with two films making it a good nights entertainment. Crowds at the Kiosk were always very good , particularly on cold nights. On Saturdays many would leave the local football game and venture to the drive in for a meal and films. I guess the freedom of the outdoors made it very relaxing for most , more people smoked than not and many would sneak in the odd can of beer or two . Being able to have a beer, smoke and enjoy a meal in an relaxed atmosphere was enjoyable to most. In the case of indoor cinemas people were far more restricted.
Generally the crowds were very well behaved , cinemas were originally staffed with a cashier ,ticket seller , two car marshals and a manager projectionist. Car marshals would patrol the grounds like indoor ushers would. In the later days of the drive in , television had arrived , video rentals were available and the attendance rate fell . Costs had to be kept down , staff were cut back to just a ticket seller and manager projectionist.
The Kiosks were run separately from the drive in , usually leased out to individuals who ran them as a part time business.
The drive ins were operated 7 nights per week pre television and later dropped back to 5 nights per week.
Screening 2 films on Tuesday Wednesday (usually restricted )
2 films on Friday Saturday and Sunday (unrestricted)
or in some cases screening Tuesday Wednesday (restricted)
Thursday Friday Saturday (unrestricted)
and another change of program on the Sunday night usually a rerun of old Western or James Bond films.
During the final days screening were only held on Friday and Saturday nights. With the odd Sunday night for big films.
Screenings at the Civic Cinema took place over Friday Saturday and Sundays (only on Sundays for big films) 2 or 3 films would be screened over 3 or 4 sessions during the afternoons and evenings.