America’s oldest drive-in movie theater operates year-round – and offers $12 tickets for double features

A POPULAR 1930s drive-in movie theater offers film buffs year-round showings and cheap double features.

Shankweiler's Drive-In Theatre in Orefield, Pennsylvania — about 20 minutes northwest of Allentown — opened on April 15, 1934.

It was opened by Wilson Shankweiler, a hotel owner and movie-lover, and originally named Shankweiler’s Park-In Theatre, according to its website.

Shankweiler's was the second drive-in to open in the United States after the opening of the first drive-in theater in New Jersey in 1933.

The Moving Picture Cinema, a mobile movie theater, bought the drive-in in 2022 aiming to preserve its historical significance.

In the same year, the company announced the theater would now be open year-round, offering movies every day.

"It's a huge honor to be the next stewards of this piece of American cinematic history," Matt McClanahan, co-owner of Shankweiler's, told The U.S. Sun.

"Lauren [co-owner of Shankweiler's] and I aim to continue Shankweiler's long tradition of innovation through evolving and growing our business in a way that resonates with modern moviegoers and our community at large.

"One thing is for sure, the drive-in experience is timeless!"

HISTORY

In the last 90 years, the theater has gone through many changes as technology advances.

In 1948 — 14 years after the drive-in opened — speaker poles and car speakers were installed at the theater.

However, in 1955, most of the theater including the projection booth and shadow box screen were leveled by Hurricane Diane.

The theater rebuilt what was destroyed and added a snack bar and bathroom to the space.

As radios advanced in the 1980s, the theater updated its broadcasting for movie soundtracks.

In 1986, FM radio micro-vicinity broadcasting was implemented at Shankweiler's and it became the first drive-in to have an FM stereo option.

Another major advancement included the installation of Red LED Spectral recorded analog soundtrack readers, a cinema sound processor, and a newer FM stereo transmitter in 2022.

Also, the theater put in a state-of-the-art digital Barco Alchemy Cinema projector in 2013, making watching movies at the drive-in an original experience.

Current deals at Shankweiler's Drive-In Theatre

Shankweiler's Drive-In Theatre in Orefield, Pennsylvania is the second oldest drive-in in America.

It is currently, showing Despicable Me 4 at around 9 pm and the 1993 classic Jurassic Park at 10:45 pm.

A ticket for one car and one person is $12 not including $1.60 fees.

An adult ticket is also $12 with a $1.60 fee and children under 12 can get tickets for $8 with a $1.40 fee.

On Friday, July 12, Inside Out 2 will replace Jurassic Park as the newest movie offered.

On Sunday, July 14, both movies will have open captions.

DIFFERENT OWNERSHIP

As the theater updated its technology, it also changed ownership a handful of times over the years.

In 1959, Bob Malkemis bought the drive-in from Shankweiler.

Malkemis was the owner until Paul Ceissineger, an electrical contractor, and his wife, Susan, purchased it.

They owned it for 38 years before it was bought by The Moving Picture Company.

TICKET AND MOVIES

The theater has showings every day beginning at 7 pm.

Currently, the first feature playing is the new Despicable Me 4 movie which starts around 9 pm.

The second showing is the 1993 classic Jurassic Park, beginning at 10:45 pm.

A ticket for one car and one person is $12 not including $1.60 fees.

An adult ticket is also $12 with a $1.60 fee and children under 12 can get tickets for $8 with a $1.40 fee.

On Friday, July 12, Inside Out 2 replaced Jurassic Park as the newest movie offered.

On Sunday, July 14, both movies will have open captions.