May 16 1933. R. M. HOLLINGSHEAD JR
DRIVE-IN THEATER
Filed Aug. 6 1932
3 Sheets-Sheet 2

May 16 1933. R. M. HOLLINGSHEAD. JR
DRIVE-IN THEATER
Filed Aug. 6 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3

Patented May 16 1933
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
RICHARD HOLLIN08HEAD. TB. OF - RIVER N NEW TM=
DRIVE-IN THEATER
Application Sled August 6 1939. Serial No. 647 704.
My invention relates to a new and useful matic sectional view of the projection guard outdoor theater and it. relates more particu- and guarding means employed. lady to a novel construction in outdoor thea- Figure 6 represents a diagrammatic. seeters whereby the transportation facilities to
5 and from the theater are made to constitute an element of the seating facilities of the theater.
My invention relates more particularly to a novel construction in outdoor theaters `5 wherein the performance such as a motion picture show or the like may be seen and heard from a series of automobiles so arranged in relation to the stage or screen that the successive ears behind each other will
"º not obstruct the view.
My invention further relates to other novel features of construction all as will appear more fully from the following detailed de-e scription.
For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results although it is to be under-stood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement ment and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.
Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts:
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of an outdoor theater embodying our invention.
Figure 2 represents a top plan view of the same. -
lo Figure 3 represents a section on line 3—3 of Figure 2.
Figure 4 represents a view similar to that shown in Figure 3 on a somewhat larger scale and with the angular relationship of elements somewhat exaggerated in order to
45 bring more clearly to view these angular. relationships which otherwise would not be clearly visible on such reduced scale as this drawing . because the angles in actual prac-
so tice are comparatively small.
Figure 5 represents a somewhat diagram-tional view of it modified embodiment of my invention.
Figure 7 represents a diagrammatic sectional view of a still further modified embodiment of my invention.
Figure 8 represents a further modified embodiment of my invention.
According to my invention T provide a suitable plot of ground as shown in Fi
1 and 2 preferably having one boundary such as the boundary 6 bordering upon the s highway or street.
At a point near the boundary 6 I provide a screen house 7 of any suitable frame construction sufficient to resist wind and other weather conditions and including top 8 back wall 9 and side walls 10 and 11 and having Y8 a screen 12 facing the field 13 and set into the screen house a suitable distance so that ` it might be shielded to some extent from foreign sources of light.
The surface of the field 10 in front of the Screen 12 is graded with a slight generally down grade towards the screen as shown particularly in Figures 3 and 4 and alternate arcuate stall-ways and drive-ways 14 .. and 15 are arranged generally about the 59 screen as the center of the arcs. The stall-ways 14 are each inclined upwardly bt a slight angle as seen particularly in Figures
2 and 3 while the drive-ways 15 may be generally horizontal and the rear bound- 55 aries of the drive-ways 15 are at a level be-low the front boundaries of the next. suer ceeding stall-way.
The automobiles enter through a gateway . 16 which is formed in the fence or other suit- 00 able enclosure 17 surroundingthe field and after paying the admission fee the car 18 is driven by its occupant into any one of the driveways 15 and then into the first stall 19 which may be open or unoccupied in the 85 stall-way 14 directly in front of the drive-way into which the car has been driven;-so that the automobile will face the screen.
The individual "stalls" or individual automobile-receiving spaces of the stallways 100
1 909 637
are preferably marked off by any suitable able distance from the screen 12 below the markings or lines of division either on the angle of vision. From this projection booth ground or surface of the stall-ways or the motion pictures are projected onto the slightly above the ground or surface of the screen 12 and the sound of talking motion
5 stall-ways; though obviously it is not nee- pictures may be reproduced through any 70 essary or essential to the practice of the pres- suitable electrical sound reproducers or ament invention to "mark off" individual auto- plifiers directly in the vicinity of the screen mobile-receiving spaces or individual 12 or the sound may be reproduced through "stalls". Thus it is not necessary for the electrical sound reproducers or amplifiers dis-
le practice of the present invention to in any tributed at suitable points in the field. The f way either mark off or to separate adjacent motion picture projection apparatus and the automobile-receiving spaces or "stalls" from sound reproducing apparatus are not shown each other within the respective "stall- in the drawings as any conventional sound ways";—though some such marking may be reproducing and motion picture projecting @®
15 desirable to facilitate the convenient spacing means may be employed.
of adjacent automobiles within each "stall- In order to eliminate all insects from the way". Hence the term "stall-way" is in- path of the light from the motion picture tended to mean and should be understood to projector to the screen particularly in prom-mean the areas adapted to receive the auto- imity to the motion picture projector I pro-
20 mobiles in adjacent relation to each other vide a funnel-shaped guard member 28 di- 05
f acing the stage or screen. rectly ahead of the motion picture projector
The front boundaries of the stall-ways 14 29 outside of the wall 30 of the projection may be retained by suitable bracings or house; said funnel-like member having plankings 20 which bracings or plankings an angle sufficient to afford suitable passage
E5 20 may project slightly above the front of for the light without any obstruction. The 90
the stall-way 14 so as to form an upwardly funnel-like member is of any suitable length
projecting abutment 21 for limiting the for- as for instance three to six feet and from a
. ward movement or the position of the auto- suitable fan or blower (not shown) clean
mobile in its stall or filtered air is blown into the small end of
30 As will be observed from the drawings the the funnel 28 through suitable nozzles 31 so 96
stall-ways 14 are each inclined upwardly at that a clean stream of air passes through the
a slight angle in a forward direction so that guard funnel 28 and out through its large
the automobile will be tilted upwardly to an end. This stream of air tends to prevent in-
extent sufficient to bring the angle of vision sects from gathering in the funnel or ap-
35 22 between the car and the screen 12 clear of preaching the lens of the projector. At a tom
the top of the car ahead of it; each stall- distance equal to the length of the guard or
way however being slightly below the stall- at a greater distance an insect in the path
way behind it so that the angle of vision of the light will not be as conspicuous as
from each car to the screen will clear not only would be the same insect in the path of the
40 the car directly ahead of it but all cars ahead light in close proximity to the lens of the pro- 105
of it. By this means also each automobile jeetor. In this manner the projection of the
may be backed into its drive-way 15 without motion picture may be rendered more free of
starting the engine and the same may coast undesirable obstructions through insects
backward. passing through the beam of light in prox-
45 The stall-ways are made approximately 15 imity to the lens. tin
or 16 feet wide while the driveways are made It is contemplated through my invention
approximately thirty-five feet wide. to provide means whereby an audience par-
If desired rows of seats 23. may also be ticularly in rural sections may view a motion provided in. front of the first row of automo- picture without the necessity of alighting
50 bites and to accommodate the occupants of from the automobile and as a matter of fact A15 the seats 23 I may also provide parking the automobile serves as an element of the spaces 24 for automobiles outside of the zone seating facilities.
of visibility of the screen 12. If desired also the entire field may be in-
As the. automobiles 18 drive in through clined to a suitable extent towards one or the
E5 the drive-way 16 they pass through any other side or towards both sides from the 120
suitable collection booth 25 and are then center so that the automobiles may not only
driven through one of the drive-ways 15 into be backed into the drive-ways but may be
an empty stall. Due to the arcuate arrange- coasted along the driveways until they entire-
ment of the stall-ways 14 each space or stall ly clear the drive-way so that interference
50 19 is of generally tapered form wider at its due to sound of the engine may be minimized. 725 entrance end or its end joining the drive- If desired the inclination of the stall-way way 15. This facilitates the movement of portion may continue through the cone-the automobiles into and from the stall or sponding drive-way portion as indicated
space. particularly in Figure 6. Thus the drive-
05 A projection booth 26 is provided at a suit- way may be rearwardly inclined to the same 130
1 609 537 .3
extent as the stall-way so as to lower the In order to simplify the definition of the car more clearly below the lowest line of present invention the term "stage" is em-vision of the cars in the next succeeding ployed to designate a motion picture screen
stall-way or other zone or field of action and when.
5 I may also provide as shown in Figures 7 ever the word "stage" appears in the claims 70
and 8 front wheel lifts or risers at the front it is intended to mean and is intended to
end of each stall-way or space onto which include both a motion picture screen (that
the front wheels of the automobile are adapt- is the "stage" for motion picture projection)
ed to be driven to a varying extent in order as well as any other "stage" for visual enter-
19 not only to more sharply incline the front of tainment. So too the words "inclination" 75
the car upwardly but so as also to permit or "inclined" or "angle" appearing in the
each car to be inclined to a greater or lesser claims and referring to the stall-ways is in-
degree at the will of the driver or occupant. tended to refer to the effective inclination or
Thus the riser portion 33 is of a greater angularity of the stall-way. Thus as will
15 inclination than the portion onto which the be seen particularly from Figures 3 6 7 and 80
rear wheels of the car be placed and by driv- 8 the entire surface of the stall-way may be
ing the front wheels onto the riser portion uniformly "inclined" or may be at a uniform
33 to a greater or lesser extent the front end "angle" as particularly shown in Figures 3
of the car may be raised to varying degrees 4 and 6 or only a portion of the stall-way
20 and the car thereby inclined upwardly to that is the front portion may be "inclined" 85
varying degrees. or at an "angle" as shown in Figure 7 yet
This provision thus enables the occupants producing for the whole "stall-way" an effecof each car to adjust the inclination of their tive "inclination" or "angle" because the efcar to the particular relative height of seats fective inclination or angle of the stall-way
25 to windshield or to the particular height of is the inclination or angle between the front 00
the occupant in relation to the seats and and rear wheel-contact points or automobile-
windshield of the car. Thus while some supporting points or zones of the stall-way.
automobiles have relatively high seats and So too as seen in Figure 8 of the drawings
large windshields other automobiles have the angle or inclination of the stall way may
30 relatively low seats and windshields of rela- be different at the front than at the rear;— 95 tively small vertical dimension placed at va- again 5producing an effective "inclination" or rious heights. By this means the angle of "angle".
vision may be adjusted individually and se- I am aware that my invention may be em-
lectively for each individual occupant with- bodied in other specific forms without de-
35 out interference with any other automobile. parting from the spirit or essential attributes 100
I may also raise or elevate the entrance 16 thereof and I therefore desire the present and the side of the field on which said en- embodiment to be considered in all respects trance is located in relation to the exit 34 as illustrative and not restrictive reference and the side of the field on which said exit being had to the appended claims rather than
40 is located so that automobiles entering to the foregoing description to indicate the 105 through the entrance 16 may coast into any scope of the invention.
one of the drive-ways 15 without power and Having thus described my invention what also enter any of the stall-ways under the I hereby claim as new and desire to secure influence of momentum; When it is desired by Letters Patent is:
45 to leave the stall-way and drive-way the car L An outdoor theater comprising a stage 110
may be backed into the drive-way from the alternate rows of automobile drive-ways and
stall-way ahead of it by coasting at the same vertically inclined automobile stall-ways ar-
time by turning the rear end of the car to- ranged in front of the stage said stall-ways
wards the up incline of the drive-way. When being adapted to receive automobiles dis-
50 the automobile stops in its rearward motion posed adjacent to each other and facing the 115 due to the up incline of the drive-way the stage;—said automobile stall-ways being at car can be permitted to coast forwardly out a vertical angle with respect to the stage such through the drive-way on the down incline as will produce a clear angle of vision from thereof towards the side of the field on which the seat of the automobile through the wind-
55 the exit 34 is located and may be permitted shield thereof to the stage free of obstruc- 120 to coast right out through said exit gate 34. tion from the automobiles ahead of it. By this means with a reasonable amount of 2. An outdoor theater comprising a stage skill and care the automobiles may be placed alternate rows of curvilinear automobile into the stalls and removed from the stalls drive-ways and curvilinear and vertically in-
00 without the use of the engine or the use of dined automobile stall-ways arranged in 125
the engine may be minimized depending front of the stage said stall-ways being
upon the skill of the driver. In this manner adapted to receive automobiles disposed ad-
the disturbance due to the engine starting jacent to each other and facing the stage;—
and due to the racing of the engine may said automobile stall-ways being at a verti-
05 also be minimized if not entirely eliminated. cal angle with respect to the stage such as 130
20
4 1 909 587
will produce a clear angle of vision from the seat of the automobile through the wind-shield thereof to the stage free of obstruction from the automobiles ahead of it.
5 3. An outdoor theater comprising a stage alternate rows of automobile drive-ways and vertically inclined automobile stall-ways arranged in front of the stage said stall-ways being adapted to receive automobiles &-
10 posed adjacent to each other and facing the stage;—said automobile stall-ways being at a vertical angle with respect to the stage such as will produce a clear angle of vision from the seat of the automobile through the wind-
15 shield thereof to the stage free of obstruction from the automobiles ahead of it and an abutment along the front boundary of each
of said stall-ways for limiting the forward
position of the automobiles therein.
4. An outdoor theater comprising a stage
alternate rows of curvilinear automobile
drive-ways and curvilinear and vertically in-
clined automobile stall-ways arranged in
front of the stage said stall-ways being
25 adapted to receive automobiles disposed ad-
jacent to each other and facing the stage;—said automobile stall-ways being at a vertical angle with respect to the stage such as will produce a clear angle of vision from the
30 seat of the automobile through the wind-shield thereof to the stage free of obstruction from the automobiles ahead of it and an abutment along the front boundary of each of said stall-ways for limiting the for-
35 ward position of the automobiles therein.
5. An outdoor theater comprising a screen alternate rows of automobile drive-ways and vertically inclined automobile stall-ways arranged in front of the screen said stall-ways
40 being adapted to receive automobiles disposed adjacent to each other and facing the
screen ;—said automobile stall-ways being at ways for raising the front end of an auto-an angle with respect to the screen such as mobile disposed therein in order to produce a will produce a clear angle of vision from the generally clear angle of vision from the seat
15 seat of the automobile through the wind- of the automobile through the windshield 110 shield thereof to the screen free of obstruc- thereof to the stage generally free of obtion from the automobiles ahead of it a mo- struction from the automobiles ahead of it. tion picture projection booth in operative 10. An outdoor theater comprising a
relation to said screen and electrical. sound stage alternate rows of automobile drive-
50 reproducing means in operative relation to ways and automobile stall-ways arranged in 115 said stallways. front of the stage said automobile stall-ways
6. An outdoor theater comprising a screen being adapted to receive automobiles disalternate rows of automobile drive-ways and posed in generally adjacent relation to each vertically inclined automobile stall-ways ar- other and facing the stage and means for
55 ranged in front of the screen said stall-ways longitudinally tilting the automobiles in said 120
being adapted to receive automobiles ells- stall-ways in order to produce a generally
posed adjacent to each other and facing the clear angle of vision from the seat of the
screen ;—said automobile stall-ways being at automobile through the windshield thereof
an angle with respect to the screen such as to the stage generally free of obstruction
60 will produce a clear angle of vision from the from the automobiles ahead of 125 it.

seat of the automobile through the wind- 11. An outdoor theater comprising a
shield thereof to the screen free of obstruc- stage alternate rows of automobile drive-
lion from the automobiles ahead of it an ways and automobile stall-ways arranged in
abutment along the front boundary of each front of the stage said automobile stall-ways
$5 of said stall-ways for limiting the forward being adapted to receive automobiles dis- 110
position of the automobiles therein and a motion picture projection booth in operative relation to said screen and electrical sound reproducing means in operative relation to said stall-ways.
t0
7. An outdoor theater comprising a stage alternate rows of automobile stall-ways and automobile drive-ways arranged in front of the stage said stall-ways being adapted to receive automobiles disposed adjacent to 75 each other and facing the stage—said auto-mobile stall-ways being at an effective angle with respect to the stage such as will pro-duce a clear angle of vision from the seat of the automobile through the windshield there- so of to the stage free of obstruction from the automobiles ahead of it and said driveways being inclined towards an outer end thereof thereby to permit the coasting of automobiles from said drive-ways. 85
8. An outdoor theater comprising a stage alternate rows of automobile stall-ways and automobile drive-ways arranged in front of the stage said stall-ways being adapted to receive automobiles disposed adjacent to each 90 other and facing the stage;—said automobile stall-ways being at an effective angle with respect to the stage such as will produce a clear angle of vision from the seat of the automobile through the windshield thereof to 55 the stage free of obstruction from the auto-mobiles ahead of it and means for permitting the egress of automobiles from the stall-ways and drive-ways without power.
9. An outdoor theater comprising a stage l50 alternate rows of automobile drive-ways and automobile stall-ways arranged in front of the stage said stall-ways being adapted to receive automobiles disposed in generally adjacent relation to each other and facing the 105 stage and means associated with said stall-
1 009 537 8
posed generally adjacent to each other and facing the stage said automobile stall-ways being so disposed with respect to the stage that the vertical included angle between the stage and the effective automobile-supporting surface of the stall-ways is more than 90º.
12. An outdoor theater comprising a stage alternate rows of automobile drive-
11e ways and automobile stall-ways arranged in front of the stage said automobile stall-ways being adapted to receive automobiles disposed generally adjacent to each other said automobile stall-ways being vertically in-
15 dined with respect to the horizontal.
13. An outdoor theater comprising a stage alternate rows of automobile drive-ways and automobile stall-ways arranged in front of the stage said automobile stall-ways
20 being adapted to receive automobiles disposed generally adjacent to each other said automobile stall-ways being vertically inclined with respect to the horizontal and successive stallways removed from the stage
25 being at successively lesser angles with respect to the horizontal.
14. An outdoor theater comprising a stage alternate rows of autr-nobile drive-ways and automobile stall-ways arranged in
30 front of the stage said automobile stall-ways beingg adapted to receive automobiles disposed generally adjacent to each other said automobile stall-ways being vertically inclined with respect to the horizontal and
35 successive stallways removed from the stage being successively higher.
15. An outdoor theater comprising a stage alternate rows of automobile drive-ways and automobile stall-ways arranged in
40 front of the stage said automobile stall-ways being adapted to receive automobiles disposed generally adjacent to each other said
automobile stall-ways being vertically in- ing means and space for spectators in front dined with respect to the horizontal and thereof means for supporting automobiles in
45 successive stall-ways removed from the such space in rows further and further from 110
stage being successively higher and sue- said exhibiting means the supporting means
cessive stall-ways removed from the stage in the rows being inclined vertically to an ex-
being at successively lesser angles_ with re- tent as will produce a clear line of vision from
spect to the horizontal. the seat of an automobile in a row through
s0 16. An outdoor theater comprising exhib- a windshield thereof to the exhibiting means 115 iting means and space for spectators in front free of obstruction from the automobile ahead thereof inclined means for supporting auto- of it and an automobile drive-way at the mobiles in such space in rows further and front and an automobile drive-way at the back further from said exhibiting means the sup- of the automobile supporting means.
55 porting means in the rows further and fur- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 120 ther away from the exhibiting means being my hand.
higher and less inclined successively to an RICHARD M. HOLLINGSHEAD Jn. extent as will produce a dear line of vision
from the seat of an automobile in a row
00 through a windshield thereof to the exhibit-
ing means free of obstruction from the auto-
mobile ahead of it and an automobile drive-
way leading to and from said supporting
means of a row.
95 17. An outdoor theater comprising exhibit-
ing means and space for spectators in front thereof means for supporting automobiles in such space in rows further and further from said exhibiting means the supporting means
in the rows being inclined vertically to an ex- 70 tent as will produce a clear line of vision from the seat of an automobile in a row through a windshield thereof to the exhibiting means free of obstruction from the automobile ahead of it and an automobile driveway lead- 78 ing to and from said supporting means of a row.
18. An outdoor theater comprising exhibiting means and space for spectators in front thereof vertically inclined means for sup- S0 porting automobiles in such space in rows further and further from said exhibiting means the supporting means in the rows further and further away from the exhibiting means being higher successively to an extent as will 85 produce a clear line of vision from the seat of an automobile in a row through a windshield thereof to the exhibiting means free of obstruction from the automobile ahead of it and an automobile driveway leading to and from 00 said supporting means of a row.
19. An outdoor theater comprising exhibiting means and space for spectators in front thereof inclined means for supporting auto-mobiles in such space in rows further and 95 further from said exhibiting means the sup-porting means in the rows further and further away from the exhibiting means being higher and less inclined successively to an ex-tent as will produce a clear line of vision from 100 the seat of an automobile in a row through a windshield thereof to the exhibiting means free of obstruction from the automobile ahead of it and an automobile driveway at the front and ah automobile drive-way at the 106 back of the automobile supporting means.
20. Anoutdoor theater comprising exhibit-
125
130