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A
night at the Drive-In
By Rebecca Aistrup Gerber
Glen and Roma Cooper built the Drive-in in 1947 and it has been a family business ever since with second- and third-generation family members providing an entertainment venue for moviegoers today. "It has been a family affair," said Ron Cooper, operator of the South Drive-in and the son of Glen and Roma Cooper. Ron said it all started when his family operated Cooper Hatchery on South Second Avenue near where Glen's Barber Shop is today. He said at the time they delivered goods all over the United States including California. It was in California where he saw the invention of the drive-in movie theaters and brought the idea home to the rest of the family. "When he returned from California he suggested the idea and everyone thought he was crazy," Ron said adding that shortly after his dad suggested the idea in 1946 the family bought the land on McArtor Road where the drive-in sets today.
For a few years ramp boys or pop boys were individuals who would get food and drinks for the moviegoers so they didn't have to leave their vehicle. "People would flash their lights or their park lights which meant they wanted to order something so the ramp boy would go out and take their order and then deliver it to them," Ron said. By the time Ron was old enough to help, the theater no longer had ramp boys so he spent many nights in the snack bar with his mom. "My favorite memories are with mom and dad and everyone having a good time," Ron said. Some of the things he remembers most about growing up at the drive-in where helping his mom cook in the snack bar to his father teaching him how to drive a car on the theater lot.
"We like it," Ron said of the family operating the drive-in. "You have just got to have it in your blood to want to do this type of work. And I like to do things the old fashion way and have a good time." Even with modern technology a good movie will still draw a good crowd at the drive-in. Ron said when they have a good movie showing it is nothing to see car loads of moviegoers drive in to the theater to watch a show under the stars. "It has come down to a hard core base of people that come out to the theater," Ron said. "The drive-in is as popular as the movie. If we have a good movie than we will have a good crowd." Ron said the movies they show all depend on what the company gives them on a weekly basis, but adds that he prefers family oriented movies such as G rated and PG rated. "We take what we can get but we prefer to run the family stuff as much as possible," Ron said. Since the Cooper's have operated the drive-in they have watched kids grow-up right before their eyes and watch those same people bring their own children to the drive-in. "People always talk about how much fun they have at the drive-in, but for me I feel like I am on a nostalgia trip," Ron said. As for the future of the drive-in, Ron said as long as he and Pam (his wife) are able to operate it they will continue to do so. "I have over 50 years in it," Ron said. "We will keep going as long as we can. I know we are the last of the dinosaurs." The Coopers open the theater, weather permitting, sometime around April 15 of each year and run until about Oct. 15. Moviegoers can either listen to the sound from the speakers provided at the theater or they can tune their car stereos in to 530 A.M. or 88.1 F.M. to hear the sound of the movie. The Coopers still honor $10 car loads or $4.50 for one person which is good for two movies, sometimes three movies for long holiday weekends such as Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend. |
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Movie House History - Classic
Theaters Of Kansas © 2007
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The
old drive-in movie theaters are becoming a rare sight all
across the United States. In fact, in Kansas there are less
than 10 still operating, including the South Drive-In on
McArtor Road in Dodge City. 
When
the theater opened in 1947 Ron was only one-year-old but he
remembers stories his father told him about the ramp boys.
Today,
modern technology has put a dent into profits at a drive-in
theater. Ron said it is the true ma and pop theaters which
are the ones still open.