Drive-in Movie Theater on Cape Cod
December 4th, 2009 by Dan F
Drive-in movie theaters are places to watch movies on the big screen while sitting in your car. They started in the 1930s and reached peak popularity in the 50s and 60s. Today, they are rare. There’s a drive-in theater in the town of Wellfleet, which is near the tip of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. It was built in 1957 and still operates today.
Theater layout
The Wellfleet Drive-in is essentially a very large parking lot with a gigantic projection screen at the far end. Cars park between the yellow lines with their windshields facing the screen. Movie-goers purchase tickets at the entrance to the parking lot. A concession stand is located in a small building on the right-hand side of the lot.
Movies shown
The Wellfleet Drive-in shows recently released films. However, based on experience, if a film has just been released, there’s a good chance it won’t be playing here yet. (A better bet for newly released flicks is the indoor movie theater, located nearby.) The Drive-in shows a double feature: two films back to back, with a short intermission in between. The first movie is geared more towards children.
Getting there
The drive-in is right off Route 6 in Wellfleet, in between Eastham and South Wellfleet. If you’re coming from the south it will be on your left. Bring cash, because they don’t accept credit or debit cards. The box office opens at 6:30 pm. It’s closed from mid-September to late April.
Rules
A ticket must be purchased at the entrance for each person, like at a regular movie theater. Using car horns is prohibited, as is barbecuing on the lot. Oversize vehicles such as minivans and SUVs must park in a designated area during the summer– ask the box office for specifics.
Hearing the movie
After parking, turn your key to the accessory position. Keep your headlights off when your car is stationary to avoid disturbing other movie-goers. To hear the sound of the movie, you have two options: For the best quality sound, tune your car radio to the local broadcast station, FM 89.3. (You may want to adjust the bass and treble knobs for best results.) There are also portable speakers hanging on posts next to every parking spot that you can pull into your car through an open car window. These mono speakers are very old and have a tinny sound.
Alternative seating option
On a warm night, it can be nice to get out of your car and watch the movie under the starry sky. Kids especially tend to enjoy the novelty of this experience. If you’re planning to do this, bring along beach chairs in your trunk. Bug spray might also be a good idea.
