The voices in the theater faded as the lights dimmed, and the warm scent of freshly buttered popcorn filled the air. Recliners settled after a final squeak, and the soft buzz of the projector illuminated the screen.
There is nothing quite like the experience of watching a movie in theaters. Or is there?
Drive-in movie theaters have been around since the 1930s, offering a unique experience that allows guests to view films from the comfort of their vehicles. Near Greenwood, three notable drive-in movie theaters remain in operation: CenterBrook, The Skyline, and Tibbs.
CenterBrook Drive-In is located in Martinsville and has been in business for 75 years. The drive-in offers current Hollywood releases on Fridays and Saturdays, charging $10 for adults, $5 for ages 6-12, and nothing for children under 5. Currently, the theater is running scary movies for the fall season.
The Skyline Drive-In, located in Shelbyville, has also been in business for 75 years. The Skyline offers retro Hollywood classics from Wednesday to Sunday, charging the same prices as CenterBrook but charging $30 for a carload. Unlike the other theaters, The Skyline does not permit outside food and beverages, as it relies on concession sales to remain profitable.
Tibbs Drive-In is located in Indianapolis and is the most popular of the three with more than 3,000 reviews and a 4.6-star rating on Google reviews. Tibbs has been in business for 50 years and offers current Hollywood releases as well as the occasional classic from Friday to Sunday. Ticket prices are $6 for children under 12 and $12 for those 13 and older. Tibbs houses four screens, allowing it to show movies of different genres throughout the night.
For all the drive-ins, customers are asked to park in designated spots in front of a large, outdoor screen and to tune their car radios to a specific FM station to hear the movie’s audio. It is also recommended to arrive earlier than the showtime, as there are often no ads that play before the film. Some friends and I took the opportunity to go on a drive-in movie experience at Tibbs where we viewed The Conjuring.
The drive to Tibbs was not particularly challenging. Traffic was minimal, which was surprising considering the amount of construction taking place, and it took approximately 30 minutes. The only issue we encountered was a significant line leading out of the property, which took about 20 minutes to clear and reach a parking spot.
Once we parked, we continued to the concession stand, where we found that the line was beginning to extend past the door. Luckily, since we arrived at Tibbs a little earlier, we were able to get in line before it grew any longer. We were pleasantly surprised at the options, ranging from traditional movie theater food items to soft serve, caramel apple slices, hot dogs, burgers, and more. The pricing of the items was affordable, with everything less than $7. Although we managed to beat the majority of people to the concessions, it took another 10 to 15 minutes to get through the line and back to the car. Anyone planning to visit the concession stand, should arrive at the drive-in at least 30 minutes before showtime.
When we all got back to the car, we tuned the radio to the right station, gathered our chairs, blankets, and snacks, and settled in to watch the movie. Unfortunately, we were next to a group of children who were on the noisier side, and multiple cars were running late to showings, so we were often blinded by headlights.
However, these negative experiences did not counteract our positive ones. I recommend the drive-in to anyone seeking a more affordable and unique alternative to a traditional movie showing. Additionally, for anyone who dislikes scary movies, this experience made them more tolerable, as talking to friends for comfort is less frowned upon at this kind of theater.
Overall, my experience with Tibbs Drive-In theater was excellent. Although the theater is close to Indianapolis, I felt safe and comfortable and appreciated the laid-back atmosphere. I definitely recommend going, and I would love to return for another movie…even a scary one.
