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Drive-In No More

Date: Oct 17 2007

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Compared to a lot of other countries, land is pretty abundant in the United States. In the 1950s and ‘60s, land was inexpensive enough that drive-in theaters were profitable. These outdoor theaters had a huge screen that people would pay to park their cars in front of. The sound of the movie was broadcast over the radio to the car stereos or played on little speakers between the parking spaces like the one shown in the picture.

But, of course, to have a theater for cars required a lot of land, and as land got more expensive it became harder to have a drive-in that made any money. But that’s only one reason why these uniquely American landmarks began to disappear. Listen to Mason and Devan speculate about some other reasons for why almost all the drive-ins are gone.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Mason

Devan

Mason: Have you been to the drive-in? Like the one left in Oregon?

Devan: No.

Mason: Yeah, they do ‘em at sundown. It’s like a double feature, too.

Devan: I was just talking to someone the other day about why there isn’t drive-in theaters anymore and their reasoning, why they think they kind of went out, is because the drive-in was a place for kids to go to make out when, like, public displays of affection in young relationships was still taboo, but they said that that was like the place to go, but now that it’s more acceptable for kids…

Mason: Kids always need places to make out, though. I don’t accept that as valid reasoning. I’m thinking it’s more just the death, or downplaying of our car culture. You know?

Devan: You think so?

Mason: Cars are still a big deal and status icons, but not the way that they were when the drive-in was around.

Devan: I would love to go to a drive-in theater. I think that’d be really fun. I wish they still had them everywhere. I would totally go.

Mason: There’s the one. The one. It’s like our drive-in Mecca.

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Discussion

Mason asks Devan if she’s ever visited the only drive-in theater in Oregon. She hasn’t.

She and a friend of hers came up with the idea that drive-ins disappeared because teenagers used to use them as places to make out. When it became more acceptable for teens to kiss in public, they stopped going to the drive-in.

Mason doesn’t believe that had anything to do with the decline of drive-ins. He thinks that since what car you drive doesn’t carry as much social weight as it did in the 1950s, people stopped going to drive-ins to show off their nice cars.

Talking about drive-ins makes Devan want to go to one. Would you like to go to a drive-in? Have you ever been to one? Do they have them where you live?

Comments

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renato.moura.b

Brazil

Since I remember, I haven't seen any drive-ins in Brazil. I remember them from old american movies. By the way, I remember a TV show in Brazil where the wife calls for help to find out if her husband is cheating her. Then, the program pays a detective to follow and film the husband all the time. At the end, the cheating husband got into a drive-in and so they concluded that he was cheating her, she started to cry and so on.

That's why I think that drive-ins are used for sexual purposes in Brazil, such as our motels. People go to motels and pay for the hours spent on the room. Everybody knows a motel is ONLY used for having sex in a different place or secret sex. Drive-ins may be used like that too.

Fasten your seat belts and make your own movie in brazilian drive-ins… ROTFL

kiki2003

American Samoa

hiii i like to have a good afreind

kookoo

China

There are definetly some drive-ins in Nanjing, but I just can't fine them… anyway,I don't have a car…

Lusty

Russian Federation

It'd be great if we have drive-ins in Russia! I think watching movies, especially at sundown – it's fabulous

Evgeniya

Saint Kitts and Nevis

There were some drive-in theatres in Chelyabinsk 2 or 3 years ago, but they dissapeared. I never went there and I think there was no reason. Russiun teens are not afraid to show off in public. There is no reason to show off cars there.That's right that there are many good cinemas with sound around in Russia. I think it was very cold to sit in the car in winter,for example, But I admit it's very romantic.

ahh

Iraq

hi i want to bc me some friend to learn the english

thank u

Alexander02

Russian Federation

If i'm not mistaken there is no drive-in in Russia. I remember it only from american films like «back to the future». But i don't see the point to be eager to visit one. I mean we have a lot of cinemas with good sound and screens. There is only 2 reasons to go there as somebody said above — to show off yor car and make out with your girlfriend. Nowdays it is difficult to amaze somebody with your if you are not a billionaire of course

tear_drop

Poland

I've never been to the drive-in, but every time when I watch a move and I see outdoor theatre I dream about going there ;).

Unfortunately we don't have one in my country ( I wish we had ), and I haven't heard about any in England ( where I live ).

In my opinion 50ties, 60ties was amazing time, I love watching moves about those times.

bryanfoo

Malaysia

There is no drive-in in my country, I have only seen it in the American's movies. I wish there are some in my country so I can do some make out. Ha…Ha…

kathy Le

Viet Nam

The Drive-In theater is only feasible idea for spacious places. It is not suitable in my country where cities are densely populated & land is becoming crazy expensive day by day.