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.)
That's a great time capsule!
ReplyDeleteThere was a drive-in in MI (when I lived there, and I think still going) that looked exactly like that. Sure, the poles were gone and nobody plugged in an industrial and what looks like pretty dangerous heater -- but the sign on the back of the screen, the school cafeteria like concession stand -- all look identical. I really enjoyed going there.
Used to have a friend with a Tom Servo puppet and he always sat with us!
Not sure if I want a "Box O' Shrimp" at a drive-in, though!
I know this is because of styles and other things, but man, it still strikes me how much older kids looked in the 50s.
>Not sure if I want a "Box O' Shrimp" at a drive-in, though!
DeleteGot it almost every time, and it was amazing, --ya big food wuss!
Oh I love it when drive-in nostalgia pops up around here. Man what a bunch of great memories.* The satin varsity jackets are absolutely amazing, and I'm so sorry you didn't get one. That is definitely a holy grail. Looks like Ronnie's may have had one too? That dude running up the flag in the second image my just be wearing his own high school jacket.
ReplyDeleteRonnie's hot dog lady looks like my grandmother. I mean for real. That's what my grandmother looked like. I don't think it's her, though.
*But mostly fantasies: There was never a very close drive-in to me as a kid--we drove past one off the highway going to my grandmother's house (yeah, same grandmother!), but I never went to that theater. It's was a porno! It was possible to see the very edge of the screen through the rear window as the car cloverleafed around the exit ramp. But I was mostly too worried my parents would see me craning around to look, so I just dreamed.
I spent my childhood and teen years wishing I had a drive-in theater near enough visit regularly. The ones I did go to were in other towns, as much as an hour away, and the balance of my actual memories are from when I was old enough to drive myself. By that time, drive-ins were already nostalgic dinosaurs that, sticking around because they were hip or because they were serving some other purpose at the same time. Mostly what was on the marquee were midnight movies and trendy Hong Kong actioners. Real drive-ins, that fifties-through-seventies experience--watching American International or Corman double-bills through the windshield wipers with your best girl or whatever--that was mostly just a dream for me. Mostly for me, that crap happened at a mall. Something I imagine has now become some other generation's nostalgic dream.
More drive-in memories coming later this summer too. I love to hear 'em as much as you guys enjoy telling 'em!
DeleteLove the Drive-In! My wife and I are both retired and to keep busy we design the yearly carnival for a local elementary school. This year, the theme was "Year-Round Fun" so as part of a display we made a drive-in model. Had a snack bar, ticket window, and an marquee sign with a light up arrow. We called it the "Surf Drive-in". Even had a flashing "neon" sign of the name on the back of the screen tower. All 3D printed. I hid a pico projector in the snack bar and put together a loop of old drive-in interstitials. Lots of fun. Here's a pic: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Jvf3aji6nJ4LWkt37
ReplyDeleteAlso, that picture with the "In sight It Must Be Right" slogan. That's one of the marketing catch-phrases for Steak 'n Shake. Did you have an actual franchise location there? Pretty sweet!
That is super, Mike! Do you have a video of the interstitials playing?
DeleteHere's the link
Deletehttps://photos.app.goo.gl/ud4astCzXueiM9Db8
Might be a little disappointing, because it was designed as a walkthrough, so the video is only about 5 minutes long. Also contains clips from "Duck Dodgers in the 24th 1/2 Century" and "Star Wars". (Check the Marquee under the arrow. We all know why I chose that pairing.) And, fair warning, I used AI to create the first Welcome clip. If you want more of the interstitials, (Who doesn't?) there are tons of them on YouTube.
I am 100% saying yes to PROM! This is amazing! But man I’m going to be in mourning over that drive-in jacket for eternity :’-)
ReplyDeleteSames... wahhh! There's only one jacket in the world that could / should ever replace a black hoodie...
DeleteMy experience with the Drive-in was similar to Mr. Cavin's, they were too far away for me to visit, dad was a tight wad when it came to going to the movies, a theater or drive in, and by the time I finally had my own car the closest drive ins were closed down. I recall going to one drive in movie, me, my folks and siblings, but that was only a one time thing.
ReplyDeleteYou were fortunate to experience the heyday (or possibly the curtain call/final bow) for the drive ins, Karswell, and that Box O' Shrimp sounded delicious. To borrow the phrase from Flovo shrimp rolls featured in some drive in concession stands via Youtube posts, "It's shrimply delicious."
Fascinating stuff! As a fellow St. Louisan, I am legally bound to ask "Which high school did you go to?" :) Mine was Parkway Central, and my drive-in was the 44 in Fenton(?)
ReplyDeleteAlso, fantastic site. Just found it via your View-Masters from Hell. Love it!
ReplyDeleteI went to Oakville, Den! Glad ya stopped by! :)
ReplyDelete