When I was a kid, on rare occasions my family would go to the drive-in movies in Auburn, NY to see a double-feature. The first film was generally a Disney film, and the second that came on, long after my sister and I were asleep in the back of our pink station wagon, was a film created for the grownups in the car.

I’m sure if my parents had known I was actually awake to see James Bond’s escapades with women, they’d have been horrified.

I loved  drive-in movies. Back then, the audio didn’t come over your car radio. You pulled an audio box into the car on the driver’s side, then rolled up the window to keep it in place  while trying to keep mosquitoes out.  Of course, the driver had quite an earful if it was an action flick!

Then there was the mandatory trip across the darkening, firefly-gilded parking lot to the concession stand, where the scent of popcorn laced the air at 100 or more yards.

I understand that, thanks to the coronavirus, drive-ins will be making a comeback this summer. A young man I know is ecstatic! He posted on facebook, “This has been a personal dream of mine. I am so happy.”

I keep wondering if these time-honored attractions will feel the same…drawing reminiscence of family outings and teenage make out sessions. I hope so, but I suspect the very cause of why they’re making a comeback may undermine the magic a bit. Or not.

I understand one of their proposed uses will be for televised political rallies. I think I’ll pass on those. I’ll be waiting for a good ole double feature where I’d enjoy both the films.

Wouldn’t it just be appropriate if the one local drive-in I know of in Avon, NY, (the Vintage Drive-in) opened with Back to the Future?

Published as the editorial in the May 14 Edition of Beyond the Nest’s free weekly newsletter.