Yesterday's Drive-ins Are Today's Movies in the Park

Do you remember drive-in movies?

“I remember the playground in front of the screen. As soon as the car was parked we were off to the playground while my parents cooked hot dogs on the portable grill," Chris Thomas said.

"We played until the ads for the concession stand started. Then we ran back to the car, ate a hot dog and bundled into blankets. Movies sound different outside. I remember looking up at the stars while King Kong rampaged on the screen. When I close my eyes, I can still feel the breeze on my face. It was great.”

Most of us who are older than 35 have memories like that. There was something terribly romantic about watching movies in our PJs outside after dark.

Sadly, drive-ins were a dying phenomenon even then. Drive-ins began to decline with the birth of television, although many factors contributed to its demise.

The decline of Car Culture, the birth of Multiplex cinemas and the real estate boom all contributed to the death of the drive-in. Once America boasted more than 3,500 drive-ins. Since the mid-1990s the number ins has hovered around 750.

Drive-in movies are a thing of the past. Our children will see the stranded at the drive-in scene from Grease as a incomprehensible situation. It will be as archaic to them as ''Surrey with the Fringe On Top'' from Oklahoma! is to us.

The charm of outdoor movies hasn't disappeared. It is alive and thriving in small towns and suburbs all across America. The drive-in movie has transformed into Movies in the Park. These are free outdoor events sponsored by local park districts.

are sponsored by the Cultural Arts Commission and take place every other Wednesday night at

Oswego began the summer movie tradition in 2004, and the popularity of the summer series has grown.

“The movies attract between 200 to 300 people.” said Michelle Bergeron, coordinator for Movies in the Park.

The movies are always family friendly films, rated either G or PG. Each film is screened by the committee before being selected.

“We've discovered that newer movies are more popular so this year nearly all the movies came out in 2010 except Beauty and The Beast, which is a classic. The summer movie series in one of the fun parts of my job.” Bergeron said. “It's great seeing the families come year after year. I've actually watched some of the kids grow up.”

Experienced Movies in the Park watchers agree on some essential tips. Bring mosquito repellent. Grassy parks have many more mosquitoes than any drive-in ever dreamed of having.

Go before you go especially if you are not comfortable using a portable toilet. Take a wagon or wheeled cooler to make hauling stuff from your car to the park easier. Bring chairs, blankets and cushions to sit on. Finally, come early to stake out a good spot.

“We set up about 7 p.m.." Bergeron warned, "and there are always families already there.”