Franklin Drive-In is a Nostalgic Experience

Ever since I found out there was a drive in theater in Franklin, Kentucky a few years ago I've been wanting to go. Last night I got that chance.

My wife and I drove to the Exit 2 of Interstate 65 not far from the Tennessee border and found one of the 20 drive-in theaters still operating in Kentucky.

If you're over 40 chance are you remember going to the drive in sometime, if not many times, while you were growing up. Historically Drive Ins were places where families go for an inexpensive and unique movie experience. For teenagers it was a place to take your special someone to watch a movie and, hopefully, enjoy a little private romance.

In this day and age the Franklin Drive In is a very good bargain. It's about a 30 mile drive from where we live but with the admission price only $9 a car load. You can see a double feature for the price of one at an indoor theater; and that includes the cost of gas to get there and back.

Of course there are plenty of snacks to be purchased at the concession stand. But there's nothing to stop you from taking your own cooler and snacks to save money. I must say though that the prices at the Franklin Drive In are probably a little lower than a regular theater.

Although the 21st century drive in experience is very nostalgic there is some modern day technology that comes into play. Long gone are the metal tethered speakers that you hang on the edge of a partially rolled down window so you can hear sound. Now all you have to do is put your car's ignition system on the auxiliary setting and tune your FM radio to a specific frequency. Then you'll have in car sound with all the fidelity and volume of your own car stereo.

We saw two movies: "Hancock" starring Will Smith and "Wanted" starring Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman. I had already seen "Hancock" but enjoyed being with my wife while she watched if for the first time. It was a superhero type movie; just the kind she likes. "Wanted" was an action packed thriller with a pretty weak plot and lots of special effects and chase scenes. The presence of Jolie and Freeman along with a unique CG train wreck made the movie rather entertaining.

An added element to our evening at the outdoor theater was the ever present lightening from a cluster of thunderstorms which were passing just to our north. We didn't get any rain or hear any thunder but the sky put on a light show for us during the entire second feature.

As we exited the lot back onto Rt 31W Paula and I talked about how we hadn't been to the drive-in for a long time. It was a lot of fun and we plan on going back again later in the summer. So a return trip is definitely in our future for more than one reason. On our way back to I-65 we passed a building that advertised another American institution we've been wanting to revisit: a BINGO hall. I have a feeling we will be spending a few more evenings in Franklin, Kentucky