Why did drive-in theater attendance begin to decline in the 1960s?
There are a few reasons, actually!
Several factors contributed to the gradual decline in drive-in movie attendance beginning in the 1960s. Improvements and changes to home entertainment—chiefly more color TV ownership and an increasing number of subscriptions to cable TV—triggered its decline.
So throughout the 1970s and 1980s, as most folks went from watching black-and-white TVs to color TVs (which had been invented in 1953), and the number of cable TV subscribers kept going up, the drive-in movie industry also had to contend with the invention of VCRs and video rentals, which really caught on during the early 1980s.
Additionally, the 1970s energy crisis led to the widespread adoption of daylight savings time—which caused drive-in movies to start an hour later—and lessened use of automobiles, making it harder for drive-ins to remain profitable. Thank goodness we still have some around to enjoy today!
Tom, your demographic is showing. I chose “Over 10”, and it is winning thus far. Putting “South" and "Drive In" together brought a fond childhood memory forward. Mom and dad, brother and sister and I, New Yorkers experiencing the nostalgic south. A respite from a time of great chaos in our lives, at the drive in watching “Tammy and The Bachelor”. I really can’t remember most of the movie (I was 9 at time), but I have carried the tune and the lyrics of “Tammy’s in Love" in my heart ever since.