Friday, May 15, 2009

My Younger Adventures At The Drive In Movies - Part Deux: Cruisin' The Drive-In Restaurant

In the era of Drive-ins, both movies and restaurants were quite the norm and it was typically the way for me to socialize. Virtually everyone, especially teenagers and young adults, went to the drive-in restaurants. It was the destination of choice after the drive-in movies, dances, football games or any other weekend event.

My local drive-in restaurant was called Pizza Palace. Typically located on the main drag in town, the parking lot would accommodate about 50 cars comfortably. It was on a corner, so it had three or four entrances, but the main entrance was used most often. This allowed you and your car to be seen by everyone and you would slowly parade your car around the parking lot.

We would enter, turn off our lights, turn on the parking lights and idle around the lot. Ostensibly, you were looking for a place to park, but the real reason was looking to see who was there and hopefully get an open space near or beside a carfull of girls. Alternatively, we were also looking for other cars to possibly arrange a drag race later in the night.


What you ordered depended on how much money you had left. If I was on a date, I always had enough money squirreled away for a hamburger and a coke. On solo runs or with my buddies, we seldom had two nickels to rub together, but you had to order something in order to park and coffee was often all we could afford.

The drive-in restaurant was a rendezvous for amorous teenagers and young adults and it was a crucial part of everyone's particular agenda. It also served as a place where you could show off your car and there were usually a good number of souped up cars to look at.

When I went with a bunch of my buddies, we were always looking for girls and the carhops were usually a pretty hot bunch of lovelies themselves. Attempting to flirt with the carhops was almost like romance 101. Many of us quickly learned what to say and what not to say. A few of us got lucky and then, again, quite a few of us didn't, but the schooling and lessons learned were an integral part of growing up.

I still can remember that era very well. It was a time of innocence, fun and the good times of a young man coming of age.

This Date In History: 1567; Mary, Queen of Scots, marries her third husband, James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, who was acquitted of complicity in her former husband's murder. 1940; Nylon stockings go on sale for the first time in the United States.

1957; Great Britain drops a hydrogen bomb on Christmas Island in the Pacific, becoming the third nation, after the United States and the Soviet Union, with thermonuclear capabilities. 1988; The Soviet Union begins withdrawing its forces from Afghanistan nearly a decade after invading the country.

Picture Of The Day: Mel's Drive-In was featured the classic movie "American Graffiti" and although the movie might have painted a more melodramatic picture of the actualities of the day, it invoked a memorable reminder of days gone by.

The movie also boosted the career of Suzanne Sommers who was the beautiful blonde featured throughout the movie behind the wheel of a 1955 Ford Thunderbird.

Birthdays: L. Frank Baum, American writer and author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz 1856, Pierre Curie, physicist 1859, Joseph Cotten, actor 1905, Richard Avedon, photographer 1923, Jasper Johns American painter, sculptor, and print maker 1930, Madeleine Albright, US diplomat and secretary of state 1937.

Printable Things I Never Told You: 1) I think that age is a very high price to pay for maturity. 2) The transition from junior high school to high school presented a miriad of problems for me initially. It was probably the first time I realized the we were not rich and the adjustments I had to make included a part-time job. It was then I decided that, one day, I would have my own business. 3) Getting older means you don't care where your wife goes, just as long as you don't have to go along. 4) My first dog was a female named Jippy. I say it was my first dog but I was only around two years old. My mom told me she would put Jippy beside me and we would sit outside under a tree. Mom said Jippy wouldn't allow anyone near me except mom. 5) I once thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.

The Hits Just Keep On Coming: Three doctors were driving together to the hospital when they had an accident and all three died. They found themselves in front of the Pearly Gates and St. Peter said, "Gentlemen, I'm afraid Heaven is full. We just don't have room for you here."

The first doctor said, "But, St. Peter, surely you recognise me! I developed the DNA theory, and have helped improve millions of lives through my work." St. Peter shook his head, thinking, and finally said, "You're right, we just have to let you in. Come on, we'll make room somehow."

The second doctor said, "I know you recognise me, St. Peter. I developed the MRI, and because of my machine, millions of people with medical problems are helped." Again St. Peter is moved and says, "Yes, come on in. Surely you deserve to be here, too."

Finally, the last doctor pipes in, "St. Peter, You must also know me, I'm the doctor who developed HMOs." To this St. Peter only hesitates a moment, and then replies, "Yes, you, too, have a place in Heaven, but you can only stay three days."

The teacher asked Catherine, "If you were President what would be the first thing you would do?" Catherine replied, "I would give houses to all the people who are homeless or receive welfare." The teacher said, "You'd be a perfect candidate for the democratic party."

The teacher continued, ''What a worthy goal you have there, Catherine, but you don't have to wait until you're President. You can start now by coming over to my house and cleaning up all the dog poop in my back yard and I will pay you five dollars. Then, we can go over to the grocery store where the homeless guy on welfare hangs out and you can give him the five dollars."

Catherine thought that over for a second and replied, "Why doesn't the homeless guy just come over and clean up the dog poop and you can pay him the five dollars?" The teacher said, "Ah, Welcome to the Republican Party."

Adam was walking around the Garden of Eden feeling very lonely, so God asked Adam, "What is wrong with you?" Adam said he didn't have anyone to talk to. God said he was going to give him a companion and she would be called woman.

God told Adam that this person will cook for you and wash your clothes, she will always agree with every decision you make. She will bear your children and never ask you to get up in the middle of the night to take care of them.

She will not nag you, and will always be the first to admit she was wrong when you've had a disagreement. She will never have a headache, and will freely give "love" and compassion whenever needed."

Adam asked God, "What will this woman cost?" God said, "An arm and a leg." Adam said, "What can I get for just a rib?" The rest is history.......

That's it for today my little rock and rollers. It's Friday and I'm going to AREA 51 and see what trouble I can stay out of. Have a great weekend and more on Monday.

Stay Tuned !

14 comments:

garnett109 said...

Jimmy enjoy yourself pal and remember........
Laissez les bon temps rouler!
And as always, thanks for listening!

Rose said...

Love the Adam & Eve story!

Oh my....more thoughts entering my mind of the Drive In Movies! LOL

Have a great weekend my friend.

I'm traveling to the Blue Martini that just opened up in Boca! Happy Hours are in my age group...after 8:00 PM the super young kids are out....then it's time for me to leave.........LOL I'm not a Cougar! LOL

Hugs, Rose

Paula said...

Did you ever go to a drive-in where the waitresses wore skates? Our favorite drive-ins were A&W Rootbeer Stand and Pig Stand in San Antonio.

Missie said...

We have a Sonic drive in and the waiters and waitresses wear skates. It's the closest I'll ever get to experience the fun old days. LOL

Have a good weekend.

Julie said...

I love these old trips down memory lane. I sure miss the drive in's. Steamed up a few windows in my day also, grin.

Linda's World said...

Very good entry, Jimmy. Bob & I were just talking the other day about all the different drive in hamburger joints we had to cruise thru when we were teenagers. There was minimum of 6 of them. Also 4 drive in movies. There's still a drive in theater just a few blocks from my house that is now being used as a swap meet. The good thing is, the big screen is still standing...so maybe some day they'll show movies there again. Washington Linda presently in Pasadena, CA

Martha said...

Have a fun weekend Jimmy! :-)

Pamela said...

You are making me miss my teenage years. We too had drive ins and drive in eateries. Maybe that's why I still love classic cars? I'd buy one in a heartbeat. Enjoyed this entry. Thanks.
xoxox

Unknown said...

What great memories you are sharing! I wish they had places like that around still. I hope you have a great weekend at area 51!

Nancy said...

Yup...it worked. Thanks.

And I spent a couple of summers working at a Drive-In Movie Theater. Lots of fun!

Nance

Joann said...

We had a 'Mel's Diner' here in town when I was a teen... it was called In-N-Out... LOL!! It was exactly as you described it!! Not the skating waitresses, but the cars cruising through the parking lot, and instead of drag racing, they 'hopped' (with custom built in hydraulic lifts) for competition. I had a boyfriend at the time for quite a few years who won a few of those competitions. = ) Those were the days!!

Lori J said...

Hi Jimmy, What a trip down memory lane.
We are heading for a show and shine this upcoming weekend and I think I will break out the poodle skirt, crinoline and all that. Need more hair though for the pony tail.

Blessings,

ALBERTA Lori

Heli gunner Tom said...

OK, Adam... LOL!
Mom cooking was very good-- but who could top the greasy burgers and ice cold root beer 3 1/2 miles away from our farm in WI?
Your Blog posts ALWAYS cheer me up!

Tom S
tschuckman@aol.com

natalie said...

wow cool entry! I loved all of those cars! Jimmy I know some one who made a bet on Mine the Bird and won!
woohoo!
Then someone else made money on that horse who recently defeated him!
crazy times
love,natalie