Drive-in Boom.

Though they first appeared after World War I and in significant numbers in the first years after World War II, drive-in theaters boomed in popularity during the 1950s. In 1948 there were only 820 driveins operating in the United States. In 1952 this number had ballooned to over 3,000. The prosperity of postwar America was the source of this increase, as workers and farmers, newly flush with cash and driving new automobiles, sought recreation. The drive-ins catered to a new audience of moviegoers who did not frequent the traditional movie theater. In 1950 the Saturday Evening Post described the appeal of drive-ins to people with special needs:

Leading the list are moderate-income families who bring the kids to save on babysitters. Furthermore they don't have to dress up, find a parking place, walk a few blocks to a ticket booth and then stand in line. The drive-ins make...