Lakeland, Florida: Outdoor Movies Still Popular at Silver Moon Drive-In

The Silver Moon Drive-In in Lakeland, Florida -- one of the handful of classic drive-ins still operating in the United States in 2008 -- ran two screens and charged $6 per person for a double feature. Unlike most surviving drive-ins, the Silver Moon had never closed; it had operated continuously since 1948. At its peak in 1958, there were 4,063 drive-in theaters in the United States. By 2008, fewer than 400 remained.

“People think it's a nostalgic thing, but our customers are mostly families with young kids,” said manager Gary Smith. “You get twice the movies for the price, you can bring your own food, the kids can run around, and if someone cries or needs to leave, it doesn't ruin it for everyone else.”