Hey LA! How About a Blast from the Past? Go to the Drive-in Movies This Weekend!

Last summer, I read the book "The Cider House Rules," and there are a few scenes where the main character goes to the drive-in movies. It reminded me so much of when I was a kid, going to the drive-in movies in the summer, and I was struck with the incredible urge to go to the drive-in.

Seeing as how every drive-in movie theater that I knew of in my area had closed at least ten years ago, this prompted me to wonder, "Is it even possible to go to a drive-in movie anymore?" So I began a search and I found a drive-in within about an hour driving distance of my house, the Mission Tiki Drive-In Theatre in Montclair. My husband and I decided it would be worth the trip, just for a fun one-time adventure, if nothing else, and so we planned to go that weekend.

After our first trip, the Mission Tiki Drive-In quickly became one of our favorite weekend activities. It is by far the best value out there for seeing new releases, and besides that, is an extremely fun experience. At Mission Tiki, you pay just $5 per person (about half the price of a regular movie ticket), but you get TWO movies. Yes, that's right, every screen shows a double feature. So you are getting two movies for about half the price of one movie in a regular theatre.

In addition to being a great value, the quality is great as well. Mission Tiki put in a new projection system a few years back, so the image on the screen is perfect. Now, when you go to the drive-in, you don't have to deal with those heavy metal speakers either. When you pay for your movies, the attendant tells you which radio station to tune to, and the sound comes through over your car stereo. There are four screens to choose from at the Mission Tiki, which means that eight movies show every weekend. They usually do a pretty good job of pairing them up too, so kids movies go with kids movies, and so on.

Our favorite part about going to the drive-in is how absolutely comfortable and convenient it is. You can bring pillows and blankets to cuddle up and watch the movie from the comfort of your own car. Some people really take the comfort thing to a new level. Last time we were there, we saw a truck pull up with a couch and a recliner in the backseat. The parked and unpacked the furniture in the space next to them. It was like a living room in the middle of a parking lot.

You can also bring all your own snacks and drinks. My husband and I usually stop at the In-N-Out right off the freeway on our way down there, which is great, since they pack your food in those nifty little boxes for eating in the car. We get there early enough that we have some time to hang out and eat our double-doubles before the movie starts. Even if you don't bring your own snacks, the prices at the snack bar are nothing like what you would pay at a regular movie theatre, and the selection is great! They have all the traditional popcorn, candy, and soda, but they also have hot dogs, hamburgers, and a wide selection of Mexican food. You can get a small popcorn, a small drink, and a hot dog for less than $5! That might not even buy the popcorn at a regular theatre!

If you are not from the 909, Montclair might seem really far away, but it's totally worth the drive. Even with the price of gas, you will still be saving money. For more information on movies and showtimes, go to www.missiontiki.com