Drive-In Speakers

[Frank Z]

These are the Drive-in speakers that my wife had polished for me as a Christmas present. Whatchathink?

[dorokusai]

Neato Torpedo! :D

[nadams]

I bet the sound rivals that of your Polks. Dipole design, eh?

Bet they're becoming more collectable as drive-ins keep closing, or at least switching over to FM-based sound systems...

[gidrah]

Looks real nice. It adds a touch of class.

[Frank Z]

Thanks Guy's!

[RuSsMaN]

What size drivers are in them? Do they work?

[Frank Z]

The drivers are about 3" and they don't work right now. The transformer was in real bad shape and the markings that identified the primary and secondary voltages just weren't there anymore.

[rskarvan]

You should rebuild those things with some really good components and set them up as surround speakers in a small home theatre. That would be really cool.

[dorokusai]

Hook up a subwoofer to them :D

[mantis]

Dude there effin killer man.I love em.I would love to have a pair myself for the theater.Where did the wife pick em up at?There so what movies are all about......

Dan

[madmax]

I would really like to see a bigger better pic!
madmax

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

Originally posted by madmax
I would really like to see a bigger better pic!
madmax

no crap man...ZOOM!

[Frank Z]

How's this?

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

front shot?

[Frank Z]

...or this?

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

not to sound totally ignorant..but what was that used for?

[michael_w]

Did your wife get them by "borrowing" them from an old drive in or did she find them somewhere else cause im curious too as to where she got them.

[Frank Z]

Sid,
Back when drive-in's were still popular you'd drive your car next to one of these posts, take a speaker and hang it on the window of your car. That' how you heard the movie. Later the technology changed and you could hear the movie thru your car radio. There would be a message on the screen that would tell you what channel to set your radio on and you were set.

It's sad in a way that you have to ask this question. Drive-in movies were a huge part of growing up in America. I can remember sneaking a few extra people into the movie by having them hide in the trunk. You always knew who was doing it because their rear bumpers would almost drag as they drove in. Foggy windows and missed movies were also very common.:D I remember seeing whole families show up and set up lawn chairs on warm summer nights and listing to these little speakers. It wasn't about DTS, Dolby Digital, or even stereo. It was about being part of a "happening' on a warm summers night. I hope that someday you and your friends are able to experience it for yourselves, because there really aren't words to describe it.

[Frank Z]

I found them on Ebay for about $50. They're on there all the time, but you need to make sure that they include the top (for hanging the speakers).

There's an old Drive-in in my wifes home town that still has a bunch of them. I'd love to get my hands on about 20-30 of them, polish them up, and sell them. I really like the looks and I think that they'd sell! I saw a set at a local Nostalgia shop for $295!

[danger boy]

very nice Frank... you're wife is awesome!!

they look great too.. nice unique addition to your already great set up.

[Frank Z]

Thanks DB!

[mantis]

I just want a pair..Ebay here I come......

[dan t]

[dave shepard]

Those are very nice and your wife did a really good job. Those sure take ya backwhen times were much different just looking at them. Boy how things change, makes ya wonder if it really is for the better. Still remanessing, thanks for the memories.

Dave

[Frank Z]

Another time altogether. Ya gotta wonder if we really are better off in some respects. I feel sorry for kids that won't have the chance to experience a drive-in.

[madmax]

Sid,
If you never experience a drive-in you are really missing something. You drive to the drive-in, pull in a spot, open the window and grab one of these speakers and hang it on your window. You sit there and watch the movie in your car. It is on a HUGE screen! Obviously you kinda "hang out" with everyone around you. You go and get food at the main court and eat it in your car as you watch the movie. The screen might be 30' high by 50' wide! People with pickup's back in with matresses and chairs in the bed. There is always guys in the trunk of the cars because they charge you per person. If your lucky you never get the speaker from the stand because your windows are too steamed up to see the movie anyway (if you know what I mean). For less than $10 you could enjoy the hell out of your car, the movie, your friends and your girl all at the same time. There is nothing like it!!! Just in case you are wondering, they also had XXX movies in certain places. Talk about a legal make-out location! Truely a sad loss to american society...

madmax

[wodom1]

I've never been to a drive-in, but there is one in the city that I live in that's open in the Summer. I'd like to go there with my girlfriend when it opens for the season. It's actually less than five minutes from her apartment.

[Ron-P]

Very cool Frank, very cool! I need a set for my drive-in driftwood ;)


Peace Out~:D

[madmax]

Ron,
You could make yourself a "drive-in" right next to your theater. Pull the car in, grab the speaker and turn on the projector. You would have the option of going to the drive-in or the theater. :D
madmax

[hoosier21]

last Drive In movies I remember were Rocky and Jaws, not the same night, just that I remeber going to the Drive-In to see them, I was like 8 or so, I remember the whole Drive In lot cheering for Rocky, and then the whole lot screaming during Jaws, there was this sister and brother at Jaws walking past our car going the the snack bar, and the girl was freaking out! I grew up in Indiana, so no ocean for 100's miles but the movie scared so much she was afraid to walk across the lot, ah Good Times.

Times have changed, yes Sir, when I was even younger I would sleep in the rear deck of the car, that way I could lay down, see the movie and pass out, when the movie was over and parents are ready to leave, put me in a car seat (not even invented yet) nope, just leave me in the back window for the drive home, too funny.

[NTS]

Hi lads (and lasses)

First time here. Interesting forum. Very cool.

Drive-ins are still around...although not in their numbers of yester-year. From 4000 at their height in the USA, down to 700 now. You can find them...there's a few websites dedicated to them and show where the open ones are located and even pics and stories of the ones that have gone to the big lot in the sky.

Take a look on Google.com and search 'drive-in' and see what you get.

In Australia, there are even a few opening up from scratch and more re-opening. Some have simply added extra screens to compete with the Godzilla-plexes nearby.

Lots of good memories...but they're not dead yet. It's still warm there in the Northern Hemisphere, right? Look one up and go for a drive. You'll love it if it's your first time and also if you want to re-kindle some old memories of days gone by.

Hope to talk to you guys soon.

John

[hotwheelman]

Welcome to the club John, hope you enjoy it here.




Cheers,
Mike

[NTS]

Thanks Mike

[PolknPepsi]

Boy those are sure shiney!
The Drive Inn at Clermont Indiana used to show 1st run movies before they hit the Theatres.
...............Really juggles the memory.

Also nice gift!

:D

[Frank Z]

Aother "Golden Oldie" !!

Mike,
Welcome to the forum!

[hotwheelman]

Originally posted by Frank Z
Aother "Golden Oldie" !!

Mike,
Welcome to the forum!


You mean john....right?:D

[Frank Z]

Obviously Jonesing for more coffee!!

[hotwheelman]

Originally posted by Frank Z
Obviously Jonesing for more coffee!!

Been there...done that.;)

[Airplay355]

www.driveinmovie.com

check out the local drive in's and what they are playing. they are still around and this site proves it. try not to steal too many of those speakers haahaa.

[PolkThug]

Originally posted by Frank Z
It's sad in a way that you have to ask this question. Drive-in movies were a huge part of growing up in America. I can remember sneaking a few extra people into the movie by having them hide in the trunk. You always knew who was doing it because their rear bumpers would almost drag as they drove in. Foggy windows and missed movies were also very common.:D I remember seeing whole families show up and set up lawn chairs on warm summer nights and listing to these little speakers. It wasn't about DTS, Dolby Digital, or even stereo. It was about being part of a "happening' on a warm summers night. I hope that someday you and your friends are able to experience it for yourselves, because there really aren't words to describe it.

Damn near brought a tear to my eye. Lots of good memories. Nobody gave a shit about the depth and width of the soundstage, sub bass, and on and on. Life was good.

[reeltrouble1]

I remember first watching Alien in Long Beach Ca at the Drive-In, no surround, no sub, Christ damm monster still scared the bejuzzes out of everyone through that little speaker, maybe the Real Big Screen had a bit to do with it.:D

[wodom1]

There's actually a drive-in about 10 minutes from my apartment in Aurora, IL. My girlfriend and I saw Shrek 2 and Spiderman 2 there. They usually charge about $6/person. There are always two shows every night, so if there are two good movies on in a row, then you only have to pay one price to watch them both. Both times that I have been, the second movie has sucked, so we left right after the first. The way it works now is that you tune your car radio to a certain frequency and listen to it through your car stereo.

[PolkThug]

Originally posted by wodom1
The way it works now is that you tune your car radio to a certain frequency and listen to it through your car stereo.

That would be awesome in my car when the bass hit. If you went with a bunch of people that had subs, it could be fun.

[George Grand]

Drive-ins are the cats whiskers. Long ago when the earth was still cooling, my sister, my cousin Laura, and I went to see the "rat" movie (either Ben or Willard) at the 110 Drive-In on Route 110, Huntington, Long Island. The second feature was the original first run of "Night of the Living Dead". I'm not sure a single person at the show was ready for that type entertainment. I guess that was the very beginning of the gore and slash shit that thrills some folks to this very day. I will always wonder why.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)