Pennsylvania boasts 29 drive-in theaters, with the oldest one in the country nestled in Lehigh County. You can also find four more in midstate regions like Dauphin County, York County, Juniata County, and Cumberland County.
The granddaddy of them all, Shankweiler’s Drive-In, started captivating audiences back in the early 1930s in Orefield, a quaint town home to a bit over 8,000 residents. The Guinness Book of Records notes that this classic theater, which opened its gates in April 1934, was built within a year after the very first drive-in in New Jersey.
Shankweiler’s Drive-In didn’t just stop at its origins; it continuously evolved over the decades.
Originally fitted with speaker poles and car speakers by 1948, the drive-in soon expanded to include a new CinemaScope Screen, a cozy snack bar, a projection room, and even a dedicated restroom building. By 1982, it embraced the innovation of AM radio micro-vicinity broadcasting. Merely four years later, FM radio micro-vicinity broadcasting came into the picture.
At the ripe old age of 89, Shankweiler’s Drive-In also led the charge in adopting FM broadcast stereo for audio. Essential upgrades like Red LED Spectral recorded analog soundtrack readers, a cutting-edge cinema sound processor, and a digital projector kept it ahead of the curve. In 2022, new owners took over, ensuring this historic gem operates all year round.
Let’s delve a bit deeper into Shankweiler’s fascinating journey.
The cherished drive-in recently welcomed new caretakers as Lauren McChesney and Matthew McClanahan took the reins from Paul and Susan Geissinger in November 2022. According to McChesney, it was perfect timing to step in, as the theater had been on the market for years and looked close to becoming a “gas station.”
The dynamic duo, known for running The Moving Picture Cinema—a pop-up movie company—sought to bring outdoor movie events to life during the pandemic lockdown. Matthew shared with USA Today their mission to support shuttered indoor theaters by hosting outdoor screenings during those challenging times.
