Bengies Drive-In Theatre Explained
Bengies Drive-In is a drive-in theater in Middle River, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore, with the largest movie screen remaining in the United States.
History
Bengies was opened on June 6, 1956[1] [2] by Frog Mortar Corporation.[3] It was designed by Jack K. Vogel as one of three drive-ins in the Vogel Theatre chain,[1] and is still owned by the Vogel family,[4] [5] and showed entirely double features,[6] with triple features on weekends .[7]
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, it was one of many drive-ins in the US used for socially distanced movie viewing and other events, and kept open after the summer ended; the theater rented in-car heaters to patrons.[5]
Screen
Its screen is the largest remaining in the United States,[1] [3] [5] measuring 52feet high and 120feet wide.[6] [7]
Further reading
- Book: Loy, Randy and Debrean . Moonlight Magic: Celebrating 40 Years of Motion Picture Enchantment at Baltimore's Bengies Drive-In Theater . Rockville, Maryland . Rockville Printing and Graphics .
Notes and References
- Web site: D. Edward . Vogal . Bengies Drive-In . Cinema Treasures . November 2, 2020 .
- Book: Segrave, Kerry . Drive-In Theaters: A History From Their Inception in 1933 . McFarland . Jefferson, North Carolina. 2006 . 0786426306 . 160 .
- Book: Headley, Robert . Motion Picture Exhibition in Baltimore: An Illustrated History and Directory of Theaters, 1895–2004 . McFarland . Jefferson, North Carolina. 2006 . 9780786422906 . 215, 482 .
- Web site: Bengies Drive-In awarded $838,000 in suit against Royal Farms. Chris. Kaltenbach. Baltimore Sun . June 29, 2012 . November 2, 2020 .
- News: Jake . Coyle . Sunset falls on a historic season for the drive-in. Associated Press . November 2, 2020 .
- Web site: Drive-in theater a throwback to the '50s . Bethany . Swain. CNN . October 7, 2009.
- Web site: The Last of American Drive-In Theaters. June 6, 2014. Peter Greenberg.com . November 2, 2020 .
