There
were eleven Drive In's in the greater New Orleans area
(only 1 in New Orleans proper). I remember as a child going to
the movies in "the car" on Friday nights with my parents.
Dressed in my PJ's I was awestruck when the big screen lit up.
Of course Daddy had to go get the hot dogs and cokes and he
always came back grumbling about something, then he would
light up the pic (misquito repellent coil to all you
neophytes) and the show began. Later in life, as a teenager I
remember taking my girlfriend to see what ever was
playing or at least see enough so we could talk intelligently
about it when grilled by her Father at the end of our date. My
fondest memories are of the Do Drive
In.
Commonly known as "The
passion pit" by mothers around town the Do was a
large two screen theatre. One Screen was on
the north end and the other on the south end. The concession stand and rest
rooms were in a building in the middle. You entered
from Metairie Road and exited on Focis. You could not back up once
you exited nor could you enter the exit because of
the "treadles" which would rip your tires (unless you were a bunch of guys with no
money and a VW Beetle to pick up and walk over the
treadles. Sure do miss what we
lost.
The Do closed in 1980 and is now a
shopping mall and condos called DeLimon
place"
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