Drive-in Movie Theaters See Surge in Popularity.
VAUSE: This pandemic has breathed new life into what was an American institution long on life support. A night at the drive-in is back. Family fun, high school high jinx, and a late night double feature -- all while you shelter in place in your car.</s>JAMES KOPP, DRIVE IN MOVIE OPERATOR: Right now, it is not looking so good. And I hate it when it looks like this. Small business is a fun one, if it wasn't for my retirement account, we would not be able to put the show on.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's the first name?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right-hand lane.</s>KOPP: People are seeing it as a safe endowment, a safe way to come out to see the movies.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Which movie?</s>KOPP: To me, it is like, yes, oh my goodness. It's like we are back here, we're bringing the community back together. Yes.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Invisible Man. You got online tickets from --</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Which movie?</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am here with my kids.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Which movie?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Trolls.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They followed me when they go in.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We drove from Washington, D.C. maybe about an hour to get here.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just go straight ahead past the guardrail.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the first time out of the house in a couple of weeks.</s>KOPP: We are seeing a lot of new folks that are coming through those gates.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This sort of feels like normalcy, if you will.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It definitely worked out in this pandemic time.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are at least six feet away and, you know, we can stay in our cars if we need to.</s>KOPP: And to me, it is great, because the drive-in is an experience. We wanted to do a celebration of appreciation to all of the essential workers out there and give these fine folks the biggest round of horns they have ever heard. We will see concession foods going. Folks are buying popcorn and drinks. You must provide space between that --</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel like it gives you a distraction, to some degree.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everyone needs a distraction right now, for sure.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: By watching the movie under the stars, it just gives you that break for an hour and a half, two hours to relax, to kind of go, take a deep breath.</s>KOPP: Probably the next 12 months, 18 months is going to be all drive- ins.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It helps to make things seem not as bad in the world. Things will get better; it is just going to take time to get there.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The American drive in theater rides again, and that's exactly how it is.</s>VAUSE: That's my weekend coming up in my plans. Thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm John Vause. Please stay with us. Anna Coren will have a lot more news a very short break.