PROM at the Drive-In

PROM Magazine was a somewhat slick fanzine style local publication, existing from March 1947 until July 1973, and was created exclusively for the youth (and old grads even) of St. Louis, MO. Representing all of the public and private schools in the city / county areas, and filled to the brim with interviews and articles on upcoming trends, proms, dances, parties, sports, fashion etc. If you subscribed to PROM, you were absolutely that much hipper on all current news and assorted teen social event info-- including the latest and greatest in song and silver screen releases too! Of course, I wasn't even around in the 50's (born in 1968, fyi) but I was very much a fan of movies and drive-ins during my tiny tot life of the 70's and 80's, and the two articles below, via a pair of 1954 PROM issues, provide a fascinating glimpse into the early days of the two drive-ins that my family frequented the most: South Twin Drive-In Theatre on Lemay Ferry Rd, and Ronnie's Drive-In Theatre on South Lindbergh Blvd. This is where I saw everything from cute Disney classics, to massive Spielberg summer blockbusters, and not to mention even a few trashy grind house style T&A flicks and gorefests (Flesh Gordan, anyone?) during my hellraisin' high school days. Both articles also contain great photos of those big, beautiful neon marquee signs that added so much color and memories to my formative early years. And just as important as seeing a dynamite double feature, head on over for some unforgettable, tempt-taste tantalizin' interior sights 'n smells and menus of the amazing concession stands! Nothing in the world tastes better than a box of shrimp and an ice cold Dr. Pepper in a wax cup from the 'ol drive-in. (NOTE: some banana pudding I had recently was def better, but still-- *wink!) Other interesting article details mention the then "new" in-car heaters, defunct soft drinks, as well as a glorious glimpse at an employee jacket that I would freakin' kill to have if only my mother hadn't finally thrown it out literally just a few years ago --yep, my stepdad apparently worked at South Twin and had one--arghh! RIP South Twin (1954 - 1983) & Ronnie's Drive-In (1948 - 1983.)