A vanishing item from the landscape are Drive-In Movie Theaters. In scanning items from the Barker – Henry architecture and engineering collection, I recently came across drawings for a drive-in movie theater screen. I thought I’d share these drawings.
Drive-in movie theater screen. Barker Henry Collection. 59-08.
The typical outdoor screen was over 3,600 square feet and rose 64 feet from ground level. Knowing how big these screens are I began to wonder how they could withstand high winds generated by our summer thunderstorms.
The profile of the screen shows the necessary metal bracing to protect the screen from blowing over during high winds. Note too how the screen leans forward 3 feet 8 inches from vertical to adjust for the viewing angle of people sitting in their cars.
Of course all that wood and steel used to construct the screen required a large number of concrete footings to support and stabilize the screen.
To support the angle of the screen a unique pattern of bracing was necessary. Below are detail drawings of the necessary steel bracing angles.
edited by Tom Lynch, Collections Manager
contact: [email protected]
Source: Barker Henry Collection #29
Warren County NY Historical Society, 50 Gurney Lane, Queensbury, NY 12804
Phone: 518-743-0734