Final night at the movies
In the coming weeks, Adelaide’s last drive-in cinema will forever fade to black after 66 years in operation.
Since 1955, generations have rolled up in carloads at the Wallis Mainline Gepps Cross to catch their favourite movies on the biggest screen in town, from Gone with the Wind to The Sound of Music, Jaws to Jurassic Park, Star Wars to Spider-Man and more.
Classic rom-com Roman Holiday starring Hollywood legends Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn was the first film to screen at the open-air venue, which was also a ‘walk-in’ seating 400 patrons.
Even before a reel of 35mm film could be fed into the projector, concerned local MPs debated the moral dangers posed by drive-ins on the floor of State Parliament. The newly elected Member for Norwood, Don Dustan, rose to loudly defend this brash entertainment imported from America. Dunstan was known for championing unfashionable causes throughout his political life and the drive-in at Gepps Cross was no different.
At its cultural peak, there were over 300 drive-ins nationwide, including 15 in metropolitan Adelaide and a further 22 across the state. Today, only 17 remain.
The drive-in survived the introduction of colour televisions and the home video boom but has struggled in the face of a changing movie industry, rampant film piracy, daylight saving and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The last public screening at Wallis Mainline will be in February with final details to be announced soon.
Now let the cameras roll on a trip down memory lane, with South Australians’ favourite tales of the local drive-in.
The good, the bad and the freebie
Did you pay by car or per person? Well, that probably depended on which drive-in you visited. Some used both methods, charging by the person most nights with a bargain flat rate once a week (something like cinema offers with cheap Tuesdays.) Enterprising cinephiles saved money by hiding in the boot. The designated driver paid for themselves, and maybe a passenger so they wouldn’t arouse suspicion from ticket sellers, before finding a spot on the lot. Playing it cool, they’d get out, walk to the back of the car and pop the boot. Their mates would then climb out and enjoy the movie for free.
Back in the day, we lived right behind the drive-in. We could see the movie screen clearly and picked up the sound on the radio. So, we’d grab some drinks and snacks, take a portable radio up on the roof and watch movies for free. That was until the trees grew too big and blocked our view.
BRIDGET, Hillbank.