Jean Shepherd Visits an Abandoned Drive-In Movie Theatre - and ponders what people of the future will think it is

If you've seen the movie "A Christmas Story", you will recognize the wonderful voice of Jean Shepherd. He not only narrated the movie, but he wrote it too. Many people recognized Jean Shepherd's voice the first time they saw "A Christmas Story" because they listened to him for many years on his WOR radio show in New York City. Jean Shepherd knew how to tell a story. 

I didn't get to grow up with his radio show and his fantastic storytelling, but I discovered that some people have uploaded some of his great stories from his NYC radio show to YouTube. They're worth checking out. In fact, you can pretend that you are sitting by the radio listening, the same way Ralphie in "A Christmas Story" would sit by the radio to listen to "Little Orphan Annie." The video above is obviously not a radio show. I am not sure where BigPaulNY found it, but I thank him for uploading it to YouTube. 

I love the way Jean Shepherd talks about the history of Route 1 and the early American roads, then wonders what people in the future will think of these old roads. He ties this into something that he discovered along Route 1 in New Jersey - an abandoned drive-in movie theatre. First of all, I couldn't believe that two of my favorites were being tied together - Jean Shepherd and drive-in movies. Second, I appreciated that he wondered what people would think of these old, abandoned drive-ins in the future, which is something I have contemplated myself. I am not sure when this was recorded, but I am guessing the 1980's. Already, many more drive-in theatres have been abandoned since then. There are kids today, and even adults in their 20's and 30's, who have never been to see a movie at a drive-in theater, or who have never even driven past a drive-in theater. So, it is certainly possible that there will be a time when people wonder what those large structures are, standing in a field. I am guessing the screen itself will be long gone, with only metal still standing. 

When he talked about the initials on the screen, he made me laugh out loud. As we could see, the screen was already falling apart, and is most likely gone by today. But, the idea of people of the future contemplating what those initials and names meant was hilarious. 

Although Jean Shepherd is hilarious, there is also a sadness to the drive-in movie scenes. Clearly that was once a place where people were excited to go, where people would gather with their family or friends, or maybe even go on a first date with their future spouse. I am not sure what the name of this drive-in was. There was a drive-in on US 1 in Trenton, New Jersey, but I am not sure if this was the one. New Jersey was actually the first state in America to ever have a drive-in movie theater. I am not sure how many drive-ins in New Jersey have come and gone over the years, but I am guessing maybe 50. 

Today there is only ONE drive-in movie theatre left in New Jersey, the Delseas Drive-in Theatre: 

http://retropolis.com/entertainment/delsea-drive-theatre

Hopefully it will stay open forever so that it won't become a mysterious structure in the future some day. 

Don't forget to visit your nearest drive-in movie theatre to keep it open, or visit a drive-in when you go on a road trip this summer. To find the drive-ins in America, just click on TRAVEL at the top of this page, then click on the ENTERTAINMENT tab on that page when you do your search. 

While on your road trip, think of Jean Shepherd and his unique way of celebrating American life. Today is Jean Shepherd's birthday, by the way. He was born July 26, 1921, and he would be celebrating his 89th birthday this year. Jean Shepherd seems like someone who will always be with us, and will always be young. He stayed so very connected to his youth that he was always a child at heart. He's timeless. 

Today is also the day that New York became the 11th state of the United States of America, in 1788. Celebrating New York and Jean Shepherd on the same day feels right to me. What would America be without New York? And what would New York radio have been without Jean Shepherd?