Ticket 2 Ride

Saturday night at the movies, drive-in style.

A big treat was going to the drive-in theatre to see a new movie. If we complained enough, my parents relented and we’d pile in the car and drive the three blocks to the drive-in. Not all the drive-in movie viewing was with the family, a few times my pals and I went to the all night movie marathon.

Sadly, drive-in theatres are mostly a thing of pop culture history, although there is one not far from where we live. Honestly, it’s a challenge to stay awake for the second feature now. How times have changed.

Why do I remember these? Who knows. There were many others, but time has pushed those brain cells into deep storage. Most people under the age of 40 do not have the drive-in experience.

Flight of the Phoenix – In the 1960s, James Stewart was still a solid box office star, though he needed a good cast, and one with an international flavor was essential on this adventure film. A plane goes down in the African desert and the survivors must find a way to fashion their own rescue. A great film about ingenuity and perseverance.

Hold On / I’ve Got You Babe – I have included these two 1960s rock and roll films because they were on the same bill. My older sister really wanted to see Hold On, the only film to feature Herman’s Hermits. I’ve Got You Babe was Sonny and Cher in some cooked-up story. What’s interesting is my mother drove us to the drive-in, in a car with a manual transmission, something she was not very experienced driving.

The Great Escape – Not all films about World War II were acceptable viewing. This film had an all star cast and great action. Back in those days, the big, international cast was a hook to get ticket buyers. Steve McQueen’s rebellious nature and his motorcycle scenes were attractions for me. The movie was long and we might not have stayed for the second feature.

The War Wagon – John Wayne films were popular with boys of my age. It might have been my idea to see this film. A stage robbery, a Gatling gun and a big bar fight. Yes, please. The film did not disappoint.

The Shakiest Gun in the West – I saw this film with a cousin in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was quite enjoyable, but not the film I was originally hoping to see. Don Knotts left The Andy Griffith Show for a multi-film contract with Universal. This film had all the classic Knotts gags and cowardly character attributes of his best roles.

Cisco Pike – The first time I’d seen Kris Kristofferson in a film. I’d heard about him, but who was this guy? I didn’t pick this film out to see, it was part of a triple bill. It was 30 years since this film popped up on my viewing radar again.

Deliverance – I saw this film in college with friends. I knew what to expect, but it was still jarring.

Hatari – Another John Wayne film, this time capturing wild African animals to send to zoos. Not something I would see today, but the action was exciting despite the love story.

The Absent-Minded Professor – The movies Fred MacMurray was making in the 1960s (aside from The Apartment) aligned with his My Three Sons persona. The special effects were really cool for the time, and the story was genuinely funny.

Blackbeard’s Ghost – Another Disney film, and one of my favorites. A lot of laughs.