Pennsylvania Is Home To America’s Oldest Drive-In Theater
Hold on to your popcorn, folks, because we’re about to take a nostalgic cruise down memory lane! Nestled in the charming land of Pennsylvania, a state boasting 29 drive-in theaters, lies the oldest gem of them all: Shankweiler’s Drive-In, an iconic piece of Americana situated in Lehigh County. Few know that this vintage marvel is not only a source of local pride but a national treasure, dating all the way back to the 1930s.
Shankweiler’s Drive-In originally flickered to life in the quaint town of Orefield, a delightful community with just over 8,000 residents. This throwback theater made its glamorous debut in April 1934, rapidly erected just a year after New Jersey’s first drive-in staked its claim to fame. According to the all-knowing Guinness Book of Records, Shankweiler’s holds the distinguished title of America’s oldest drive-in.
Now, let’s shift into gear and appreciate the fascinating evolution of this automotive cinema wonder. Initially equipped with primitive speaker poles and those charmingly clunky car speakers back in 1948, Shankweiler’s was always a step ahead. By the time the 1980s rolled around, the audio experience was elevated with AM radio micro-vicinity broadcasting, later upgraded to the FM variety.
One giant leap for drive-in kind was Shankweiler’s trailblazing move to FM broadcast stereo audio, a sonic revolution that would eventually become standard. The theater didn’t just stop there. With Red LED Spectral recorded analog soundtrack readers, a state-of-the-art cinema sound processor, and the leap to a digital projector, Shankweiler’s ensured its visitors were always bathing in top-tier auditory and visual splendor.
Fast forward to 2022, and the venerable drive-in received a fresh shot of adrenaline when new owners, Lauren McChesney and Matthew McClanahan, took over the reins from Paul and Susan Geissinger. The now dynamic duo, with a background running The Moving Picture Cinema, seamlessly embodied the drive-in spirit. Lauren
sensed the serendipitous timing to acquire the theater, remarking that it was the perfect moment as the place had lingered on the market for years and was becoming more ‘gas station chic’ than vintage cinema haven.
During the pandemic lockdown, McChesney and McClanahan’s pop-up movie venture found its groove by orchestrating outdoor movie events, rescuing cinema experiences when indoor theaters went dark. As Matthew explained to USA Today, they pridefully took on the mission of bringing movies into the great outdoors, extending a lifeline to cinema-goers who craved the silver screen’s magic amidst unprecedented times.
In conclusion, Shankweiler’s Drive-In is more than just an antique reminder of a bygone era. It’s a constantly evolving, year-round symbol of innovation, nostalgia, and the undying allure of cinema under the stars. So, next time you yearn for a trip down memory lane with a twist of modern comfort, rev up your engines and head to where it all began – because history this enchanting deserves to be revisited again and again!
