There is no better way to get a genuine feeling of nostalgia than by visiting one of these historic drive-in theatres in Canada. These theatres have been showing your favourite movies beneath the stars for decades.
Drive-in theatres were extremely popular throughout the 1950s, but they started to go out of business in the 1970s. There are fewer than forty that are still active in Canada at present.
Drive-in theatres reached their apex of popularity during the 1940s and 1950s, but since then, they have been steadily losing ground to indoor movie theatres due to technological advancements. Despite this, it may still find drive-in theatres in many parts of Canada, and many people find that going to one brings back fond memories of their youth.
It can find two drive-in movie theatres in the province that is the least populated Canada. One of these is the Brackley Drive-in Theater, which may be located near Brackley Beach, Prince Edward Island.
Muskoka Drive-In, Gravenhurst, Ontario
The Muskoka Drive-In Theater is unique in that it is the only movie theatre in all of Canada with a cement screen balanced precariously on top of a large rock. An engraved granite piece from the Canadian Shield is a component of the theatre’s motto, “Meet you at the Rock.” When the present proprietor, William Alexander, bought the theatre for the first time, he considered removing the granite. Still, he was cautioned not to do so due to the theatre’s historical importance.
Port Hope Drive-In, Port Hope, Ontario
The Port Hope Drive-In is one of Canada’s oldest continuously running theatres, built-in 1948. Robert Holdsworth, the theatre’s current operator, has managed to keep the theatre’s vintage aesthetic and original screen structure for 29 years. Holdsworth typically screens recent films, although he has recently added a few of his personal favourites, such as Ghostbusters and Men in Black, to the lineup. Holdsworth claims that “the movie is clear and the sound is good.” “And for that reason, people return.”
Big Island Drive-In, Flin Flon, Manitoba
The Big Island Drive-In holds the distinction of being the drive-in theatre that is located the farthest north in all of Canada. It opens its doors for business every April, no matter the temperature or the weather, even if it snows. Customers buy pickles and house-pickled eggs by the jar at the on-site restaurant, which is famous for its vast pickles and house-pickled eggs. If you go to the restaurant just for the food, it will be worth wiping the frost off your windshield even though it is open all year round. Arrive in time for the movies, but don’t leave before you’ve eaten!
Starlight Drive-In, Enderby, British Columbia
The Starlight Drive-In may be a recent addition to the roster of drive-ins in Canada, having opened in 1996, but it more than makes up for what it lacks in history in terms of scale. The drive-in screen of the Starlight is the largest in all of North America, measuring 15 metres in height and 36 metres in width. Terry Jones, the company’s founder, believed that drive-in theatres were on the cusp of a resurgence at the time, and he approached the construction of this theatre as a labour of love.
Stardust Drive-In, Newmarket, Ontario
A little more than an hour’s journey north of Toronto is where you’ll find one of Canada’s most well-known and venerable drive-in theatres. The Stardust Drive-In was established in 1952 and maintained its outward appearance and atmosphere. It has welcomed generations of movie fans from Canada and celebrities from the film industry, such as John Candy and Jim Carrey.
At one point, the actor who played Ace Ventura lived around the block from the theatre and was notorious for sneaking into the theatre with his pals on the weekends. He had no idea he would one day appear on the silver screen himself!