Hop on in your new vehicle from Classic Auto Group and take your popcorn party on the road, because we’re going to the Drive-In Theater!  We love movies at home as much as the next person, but there is a special kind of unparalleled joy that can only come from a flick on the big screen from your car.  Since today is Drive-In Movie Day, we thought it would be only fitting we explore the origins of one of our favourite theater experiences!

Drive-In movie theaters were spotted as early as the 1910s, but they rose in popularity after 1933, when Richard Hollingshead of New Jersey patented the first official drive-in theater.  After creating a mini drive-in for his mother, Hollingshead scaled things up and opened it to the public. He created a solution for folks who did not fit comfortably into small movie theater seats, and also a great option for families with children, stating “The whole family is welcome, regardless of how noisy the children are.”  It was a big hit with families, and things continued their upward momentum.

By the 1950s and 1960s, there were upwards of 4,000 drive-in movie theaters in the US thanks to their affordability and accessibility.  The only initial drawback of these outdoor cinemas were weather related restrictions; certain areas could only show movies during specific seasons when weather conditions were mild.  In the 1970s, the oil crisis led to rising prices in gasoline, and many people traded in their cars for more compact models, making them less comfortable for kids and families to spend long hours in while watching movies. Drive-Ins shifted their content to survive with the times, opting instead to show cult favorites, exploitation cinema, adult films, and horror movies.  By the 80s and 90s, home video had taken over the market with VCRs , and by the early 2000s, DVD players had all but obliterated the competition.  Drive-In theater numbers have dwindled since, with just over 300 drive-ins running in the US by 2019.

In late 2020, however, outdoor movie experiences and drive-ins began to see a rise in popularity once again thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic. With intermittent lockdowns, social distancing parameters, and multiple restrictions on social gatherings and public events, people began looking for new ways to get out of the house and socialize. Drive-In movie theaters began to soar in popularity once more, and were responsible for generating 85% of box office revenue for the film industry.  Thankfully, the resurgence of Drive-Ins is gaining momentum and we’re excited to see so many new theaters opening as people enjoy this taste of nostalgia and one-of-a-kind cinematic experience.

Looking to join the fun of the resurgence of Drive-In Cinema? We’ve rounded up our picks for great nearby drive-ins! Check them out here:

• The Milky Way Drive-In in Franklin, WI
• McHenry Outdoor Theatre in McHenry, IL
• Midway Drive-In in Sterling, IL
• Chitown Futbol and Movies in Chicago, IL
• Blue Moonlight Drive-in Theater in Galesburg, IL
• Route 34 Drive In Theatre in Earlville, IL
• MOO-V-Night in Westmont, IL
• Chicago Drive In in Bridgeview, IL

You can also create your own drive-in at home, queue up a movie on a streaming service, or head on an adventure to a local drive-in!  

Need a great jumping off point to building your own 5-star experience at home? Check out this great video from YouTube:

Check out this great documentary on Drive-In Movie Theater history:

How many of these Top 10 Drive-In movie Theaters have you been to in the US?  Let’s take a road trip and check them out:

Go on a Road Trip to an Abandoned Drive-In Theater in Massachusetts and learn a little about the origins of drive-ins:

Here’s some fun YouTube videos all about Drive-In movie experiences!

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Today is National Veggier Burger day, and we’re glad it’s arrived just in time for the start of summer barbecue and camping trip season!  We’re going to help you find some great options in the local area for vegetarian and vegan food, as well as some perfect meals for grilling out.  We’ll help you find the best recipe and suggestions to pop into your cooler so you can feed everyone in your party at the beach, the campsite, or even in your own backyard.  Check out our latest Local Eats Guide today!

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June is National Dairy Month, and today is National Cheese Day!! We’d be remiss if we didn’t use today as a springboard to take a little trip over the state border into our neighbouring state of Wisconsin.

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Today is National Donut Day, and we’re very excited to celebrate with one of our favourite snacks!  Whether you love them glazed, dipped, filled, or plain, there’s no wrong way to enjoy this sweet treat.  Today we’ll be listing some of our favourite local places to snag some donuts. Once you’ve picked out your box of sweet treats, you can head on home to watch some of these incredible videos of YouTubers having the time of their lives doing donuts in their cars!  And of course, don’t forget to subscribe to one of our favourite YouTube channels of all, Donut Media!

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Hello there Lake County Illinois!  We’re back with another fun-filled Classic Auto Group Community Calendar.  There’s so much to see and do this summer, we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you.  You’ll find family friendly festivals, Pride Parades, concerts, and so much more.  Check it out and get ready to fill your calendar jam-packed with exciting adventures and joyful memories.

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Today is June 1st, and it’s the start of LGBTQ+ Pride Month!  We thought it would be fun to celebrate by kicking things off with a fun car post dedicated to rainbow car accessories and aesthetics.  You’ll find lots of fun things on our list, and if you happen to purchase any you can share them in the comments on our social media!  We’d love to see your new Classic Auto Group car decked out in cheerful, colourful accessories.

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Today is National Creativity Day, and we’re here to celebrate with a list of things that can help promote creative thinking, innovation, and imagination!  Being creative can help us build a better tomorrow by opening doors to new ideas for feats of engineering, environmental conservation efforts, new inventions, and so much more. It doesn’t matter what your creative pursuit is, whether it’s music or photography or filmmaking or cooking or even blogging, there’s something for everyone. The possibilities are endless!

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School is rounding out to a close and Summer is just about to begin!  For parents and caregivers it can be a little overwhelming to try and find ways to keep your kiddos occupied for weeks on end, especially if you’re working on a tight budget.  That’s why today’s post is all about great excursions and day trips that you can take with the kids that won’t break the bank.  Keep things fresh and fun all summer long with these budget-friendly ideas.  And of course, feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments on our social media. We’d love to include your ideas in a future update!

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Welcome to another edition of Classic Auto Group’s Local Eats Guide!  We love sharing suggestions for local eateries, breweries, and shops.  Plus, with Summer just around the corner, you’ll need to know the best options for road-trip stops, great lunch spots with friends, and the perfect spot to “treat yourself” during any staycations.

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From the thrill of the hunt, the fun of thinking creatively and outside the box, and the ultimate satisfaction of finally getting the treasure, scavenger hunts have always been a delightful part of childhood memories!  Maybe you’ve even gone on a corporate team building scavenger hunt in adulthood.  Well, we’re really excited to tell you that you can enjoy the real deal treasure hunt right in your own backyard no matter how old you are!  That’s right, folks, thanks to an amazing hobby called Geocaching, you and your loved ones can go hunting for mystery trinkets and treasures without having to sail the high seas.

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