The Experience: While their were not as many Mustangs and blue denim as I expected at the Drive-In I certainly found a place booming with life and youth that I did not expect. Instead of finding an artifact, a relic of a time that had passed, I was faced with a bustling community of people. Some were groups of family members chatting amongst themselves while their kids played around, while others were groups of teenagers sitting out on lawn chairs eating. Mostly there seemed to be a very friendly atmosphere, which extended to the owner of the business, Dr.John DeLeonardis; which most people just call Doc. On the seventy fifth anniversary of the first drive in movie theater Doc has a more economic view of the drive in, rather than a sentimental one. Doc had to say that the bottom line was the math of visiting the drive-in, “It’s the best deal in town. Its a good family outing, the prices are great if your looking to count your pennies.” Doc continued to tell me the interesting history of the drive in, its construction in 1949, its closure in 1987, and its reopening in 2004 after he bought the property. He had originally bought the land for a skate park but when he discovered that the screen was still in good shape he contacted the U.D.I.T.O.A, or the United Drive-In Theater Owners Association(There truly is an organization for everything), which advised him to reopen. His reopening of the theater now stands as the only drive-in movie theater in the state of New Jersey since the last one closed in 1991 in Hazlet. While most lived around the area, others such as Keith Palek traveled all the way from Cape May to visit the Drive-In. “It’s our first time here. The prices are right, it’s the right atmosphere. Its been over twenty years since I’ve been to one.”

The Upsides: New movies. Double feature. The prices. The people.

The Downsides: A little run down. Seven dollars for a food permitt to bring in outside food.

The Verdict: Ultimately a good trip for any student at Rowan and I would recommend everyone make the trip over at least once.