If you are reading the book The Outsiders and have seen a reference to the nightly double, you may be wondering what this means.
The nightly double has been referenced many times throughout history, especially when talking about theaters, movies, and shows.
If you are interested in exactly what a nightly double is and whether or not it is something that you would be interested in, let’s take a deeper look into this.
What Is A Nightly Double?
A nightly double is a hang-out spot, specifically the drive-in movie theater that was referred to in the book The Outsiders.
The nightly double was essentially a spot where you could spend time with friends and like-minded people.
At the nightly double, the movie would play and there would be areas where you could buy concessions as well.
In the time the book was set, there was not all that much for young people to do, and the nightly double provided some interest and attention.
A nightly double is not something that you will find today, but drive-in movie theaters are really starting to make a comeback.
If you are seeing drive-in movie theaters pop up in your neighborhood and you wonder what it is that makes these so appealing, we have all the answers you need.
Each drive-in movie theater is a bit different, but some of the same benefits will apply from one theater to the next.
What Are Some Of The Benefits Of A Drive-In Movie Theater?
The Covid pandemic brought on a rise in the number of drive-in movie theaters across America.
The fact that people could still get out and do something while still maintaining social distance made it a popular event to enjoy.
Here are some of the reasons people like to go to a drive-in movie theater.
1. Privacy
With a drive-in movie theater, you are going to be in your own car with the people you know.
If you want to wear more comfortable clothes or start up a conversation or make a comment about a part of the movie, that is entirely acceptable.
When you are in a movie theater, it is generally frowned upon to talk to other people.
You can avoid this completely by choosing to go to a drive-in movie theater instead.
2. Large Screen
When you go to a drive-in movie, you will be able to see the screen without much issue.
The screen at a drive-in movie theater is going to be even larger than the one that you would find inside the movie theater.
Having a large screen makes it much more enjoyable, and you feel as though you are part of all of the action.
For those who have vision problems or struggle to see in a regular movie theater, going to the drive-in can be a great solution.
3. Bring Your Own Snacks
Many drive-in movie theaters allow you to bring your own snacks.
Although some drive-in movie theaters discourage this, it’s pretty difficult to tell people that they can’t have food in their own cars.
This means that you will save quite a bit of money on the extras you might have purchased when you get to the movie theaters.
As you probably already know, the pricing of the snacks inside a movie theater is considerably higher than it needs to be.
When you go to the grocery store, you will spend a fraction of the price you will pay for the snacks inside the movie theaters.
Some people will try and sneak their own snacks into the movies, but this is typically not a good idea.
Therefore, if you are a person who is always trying to sneak your snacks in, you will enjoy the benefits of having your snacks in your car.
4. Great For Social Distancing
The reason that the drive-in movie theaters gained so much attention in 2020 was the pandemic and the need for social distancing.
If you are still a little nervous about sitting next to other people in a movie theater, the drive-in is a much better choice.
You will be able to keep your distance from other people, and in addition, you won’t even have to wear a mask.
Being able to keep your mask off during the two hours that the movie is playing is going to make the overall experience a much better one.
You will enjoy the time that you can spend, and you can be free and much less worried about germs.
For those who are not worried about the social distancing, then it is fine to go to the usual movie theater.
However, as we move into the future, there will still be many people who would rather not sit with so many other people inside a crowded theater.
This is why we will probably see more and more drive-ins popping up.
5. Easy To Leave If You Need To
If you need to leave the movies, you can simply move your car and take off down the road.
Of course, you may end up missing part of the movie, and you will probably be disappointed, but at least you have the ability to leave.
When you watch a movie in a movie theater, it can be tricky to find your way out in the middle of the dark movie theater.
In addition, when the movie is over, you can start up your car and pull right out.
When you are at a movie theater indoors, you will have to stand in the line to get ushered out of the theater, make your way to your car, and then wait in line for the cars to leave the parking lot.
This process takes a while, and it can be a bit annoying to deal with.
If you need to leave in a hurry, the drive-in is the better option to consider.
What Are Some Of The Negatives Of A Drive-In Movie Theater?
The negatives of a drive-in movie theater are just as important to consider as the positives.
Understanding the issues that you may run into when you head to a drive-in movie theater can help you make the decision of whether or not you should attend all that much easier.
1. Hard To Watch With A Bunch Of People
Cars can fit a lot of people, but that does not mean that you are going to want to go to a movie theater with all of these people in the car.
A drive-in movie is much more comfortable when you only have two people in a car as opposed to six.
You will have room to move around, and you can make sure that you can see and enjoy the movie to the fullest.
Think about taking a road trip of two hours and how squished you can feel if you pile a bunch of people in the car.
This is the same feeling that you are going to get when you go to a drive-in movie with a bunch of people.
The time that you spend trying to get comfortable and stretch to see what you are looking at is going to make the entire experience a bit less enjoyable.
2. Car Can Get Dirty With Snacks
If you are someone who is particular about how your car is kept, you will want to ensure that you don’t go to a drive-in movie.
The movie is going to mean that people will be eating snacks in your car.
There are going to be crumbs, and you will likely need to clean your car afterward.
If you are not interested in spending time cleaning your car, you may want to skip the snacks or go to a traditional movie theater where you don’t have to clean up the mess.
Most adults will be relatively aware of the mess they are making in the car, but this becomes a problem with kids.
If you are a family with a bunch of young kids, the movie theater will likely be a better choice than the drive-in.
By the time you get the car seats and the floor mats all cleaned up, you will likely realize that the entire movie experience may not have been all that worth it.
3. First Come First Serve
When you go to a drive-in movie theater, the seating is first come, first serve.
This means that if you head to the drive-in movie theater just before the movie starts, you will probably have a pretty terrible view.
It is much better to get to the movie early and ensure that you are getting a good spot.
Of course, the issue with this is that you will be sitting in your car for quite a while before the movie starts, then you will continue to sit in it for another two hours.
If you are somebody who gets anxious sitting and waiting in the car, the drive-in is probably not going to be the most enjoyable situation for you.
When you live close to a drive-in movie theater, try to keep an eye on the times that people show up and how early you need to get there.
Sometimes the drive-in theater will fill up thirty minutes prior to the movie starting, and sometimes, it will just be five minutes early.
Try to scope this out prior to going to your first drive-in movie so that you get to enjoy it to the fullest.
4. Bathrooms Are Not Great
The bathrooms are not the best when you go to a drive-in movie.
Most of the time, you are going to be going to a portable toilet that is located in a parking lot.
These bathrooms are typically not cleaned regularly, and they are not as nice as a bathroom inside a movie theater.
If you think you will be heading to the bathroom during your time at the movies, you may want to choose to see a movie indoors.
Bathroom situations are certainly something to consider if you are headed to the movie with kids as well.
Typically speaking, a portable bathroom is not the best place when you have to take kids to the bathroom.
The best-case scenario here is to just take care of that before you head to the movies.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you feel as though you now know what a nightly double is.
Although these drive-in movie theaters and hangout spots are not quite as common as they once were, for a long period of history, this was the thing to do.
The drive-in movie theater is becoming more and more popular and will likely be something to consider for years to come.
Drive-in movies offer a unique experience, and if you have never done it in your life, you should probably consider taking part in it.
In the end, you will be able to check another box off the list of experiences accomplished.
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