ABSTRACT. At their peak in the 1950s, there were around 4,500 drive-in movie theaters accounting for 25% of box office revenues. Today, fewer than 350 drive-ins remain in the United States. This research examines the economic, social and technological forces that have contributed to the decline of this once popular form of entertainment. The decline of drive-ins can be attributed to changing cost structures within the industry, demographic patterns, changes in viewing preferences, and to changes in Americans relationship to their automobiles. pp. 43–56
JEL codes: L10; L25; L82

Keywords: industry analysis; entertainment; drive-in theaters

How to cite: Fox, Mark A. (2015), “The Economics of Drive-in Theatres: From Mainstream Entertainment to Nostalgia on the Margins,” Economics, Management, and Financial Markets 10(3): 43–56.

Received 28 January 2015 • Received in revised form 27 July 2015
Accepted 27 July 2015 • Available online 1 August 2015