Ah, the drive-in movie theater. Let me tell you about Tompkins Countyâs drive-in history.
The Lakes Car Drive-In was located at 1645 Trumansburg Road. Originally called The Lakes Car Theatre, it opened on July 2, 1957 with âThat Certain Feeling,â starring Bob Hope, and Charlton Heston in âThree Violent People.â It began screening more adult movies on June 14, 1972, when it was renamed The Lakes Car Drive-In. I remember seeing family fare when I was a kid, particularly âWilly Wonka and the Chocolate Factory;â the nightmare boat sequence scared the dog out of me, sitting in the back seat of the family Rambler. I also recall the first time I heard cussing in a movie, when my dad took my brother Anthony and me to see âPattonâ at the drive-in when my mom was out of town. It closed in 1987 when the screen was struck by lightning.Â