The following photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. What story does it have to tell?
PHOTO PROMPT – © Jean L. Hays
Genre: Hysterical Fiction
Word Count: 100
GENERATIONS
“Summer of 1954. What a heatwave,” said Great-Gran. “We didn’t have air conditioning. My boyfriend and I went to the drive-in theater on Saturday nights. If we were lucky there’d be a decent breeze and a good flick like Roman Holiday or From Here to Eternity.”
“I saw them on Netflix.” Fourteen-year-old Megan loved old movies, the older the better. “Burt Lancaster was really hot in that sex scene on the beach.”
“I missed that part of the movie but I think the one in Bobby’s Bel-Air topped it.” Great-Gran’s eyes sparkled.
“Does Gramps know he’s a passion pit baby?”
.
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.
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.
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Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
I probably shouldn’t admit this…but I’ve never seen that “thank you” announcement in a drive-in movie. It is pretty sweet, and more than just a little ironic. ☺ Love your fiction piece.
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Dear Van,
True confessions. 😉 Those of us who remember the drive-ins probably missed a lot of what was on the screen, eh?
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It was what we did. And that’s ok. We survived it. ☺❤️
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OMG – was there something on the screen, too?
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Yep…lol, and I think it had something to do with the sound coming out of that little speaker that we left on the post…☺
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I wonder how many of those speakers were the casualties of love and war. 😉
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I think some of them ended up on e-bay as “memorabilia” ☺
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Oh, the wonderful days of drive in movie theatres. I miss those hot sticky summer evenings watching the movie (sometimes). Sadly, our last drive in movie theatre was bulldozed about 8 years ago to build a Walmart. I enjoyed your story and I’m sure there are many many passion pit babies.
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Dear Joy,
Our drive ins have either been bulldozed or are being used as flea markets. The one I had in mind was bulldozed to build a grocery store nearly thirty years ago and now that store’s closed. And time hurries on, and the leaves that are green turn to brown.
Thank you. And thank you for your nice review of PSKFM on Amazon. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My pleasure Rochelle. I enjoyed reading your book and when I started reading it I couldn’t put it down until I was finished.
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I’ve never been to a drive in movie theatre, I must confess. Had some fun on the beach though! 🙂 I loved the phrase ‘passion pit baby’. So evocative. Nice one Rochelle, and just right for the hot steamy weather we both seem to be enjoying. Well done, and a great choice of prompt.
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Dear Sandra,
Personally, I’d prefer fun on the beach but that wasn’t an option in our landlocked area.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh this sounds like a wonderful thing.. Drive in Movie theaters have never existed in Sweden.. there is too little darkness in summer.. But the tale was a wonderful beautiful one..
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Dear Björn,
Drive ins were fun. My family would make an evening of it when I was a child. We’d get to play on the playground while it was still light wearing our pajamas. Mom would pack a picnic lunch. I never made it past the first movie and then Mom would tuck me in when we got home.
Of course as I became dating age, it was a whole different experience. 😉
Thank you for such a nice comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’ve never been to a drive-in cinema – the idea intrigues me. Our local still has the organist rising from the floor at intermission which, I believe, even predates drive-in.
Good piece Rochelle.
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Dear Mick,
It seems the drive-in theater is as American as apple pie. (Oh wait I did the cliché fest last week 😉 )
An organist at intermission. Classy and I believe it does predate the drive in.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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If you’re passing:
http://www.thekinemainthewoods.co.uk/
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Alas, I won’t be in the neighborhood anytime soon.
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Hi Rochelle,
Are you able to tell Nandini her blog won’t let me comment? I don’t want her to feel neglected!
Thanks
Mick.
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Bajoobies are so much more fascinating than movies are. It’s just not a contest.
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Dear Dave,
For the most part I’m leaving that alone. 😉 I’ll simply say, ‘thank you.’
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Clever, funny and even a little risqué !
Top story from my favourite writer.
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Dear C.E.
Great-Gran was no shrinking Violet. I suspect she’s still a vibrant woman and a great source of stories.
You’re very kind in your comments. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love your story Rochelle! I’ve never been to drive in movie and always used to wish i lived in America so I could. 🙂
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Dear Heidi,
It was good cheap entertainment. Alas the age of VHS and DVD has pretty much done away with it.
Thank you for your lovely comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh I love this one, Rochelle! “Passion pit baby”, indeed!
My first job was in a drive-in! Worked there for 5 summer – fabulous memories! And! It’s still there ajd functioning! We used to also go when we were younger and visited my aunt (they had a park and everything).
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Dear Dale,
I used to love the playground at the drive in we went to when I was little. The only ones I know of still standing in our area have been turned into flea markets.
Glad you enjoyed my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s funny how so many grt turned into flea markets…there is a mega (5-screens) that is now a, yes, mega flea market!
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Not gonna happen in a Geo Metro!
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Dear J Hardy,
And not with bucket seats. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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They showed movies at the Drive In…? 😉
Wonderful piece Rochelle. I bet if more generations shared a little bit more like this (age appropriately of course) there’d be much less of that proverbial “gap”.
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Dear Karin,
The drive in theatre was a huge parking lot with speakers on stands for the cars. Not like a drive in restaurant. Although there was a concession stand where you could buy snacks and soda.
The older generation has many stories to tell. 😉
Thank you for your lovely comments. .
Shalom,
Rochelle
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If i had a quarter for every movie I saw less than a quarter of… 😉 Thanks for the flash-backs.
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Dear Kimberly,
I’ll bet there’d be a lot of quarters. 😉 Flashbacks no charge.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I enjoyed ‘listening’ to ‘I Shot The Sheriff’… and a lot of other movies. Loved your story, Rochelle… took walk down memory lane.
And a nice take on a very interesting photo. I think I have seen it before all the graffiti.
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Dear Ted,
There are a few flicks I vaguely remember. 😉
The cars are in Amarillo, TX along Route 66. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’d seen them, you gadabout.
Glad you took the time to read and comment. Nice to see you here.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, hysterical fiction, well, it’s just the best genre ever! Can you imagine a parent including THAT bit of information when having “the talk” with their child? “Oh, well, you see, little Johnny…” Always a pleasure to read. See you again soon.
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Dear Stephonie,
I wondered if anyone would notice my genre. Glad you came by to read and comment. I wonder if Great-Gran ever told her son. His granddaughter certainly was able to do the math. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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There are still one or two drive-ins, although I don’t remember where I’ve seen them. An entirely different movie experience than in a theater! 🙂
janet
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Dear Janet,
There are still a couple in the KC Metro area. I haven’t been to one in years, but I have some fond memories.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’ve never been in one of these either, but seen them in the movies, LOL. Great story, hysterical indeed. I love that feisty great-grandma.
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Dear GAH,
I always wonder who actually pays attention to the “genre.”
Thank you for such nice comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Perhaps Great-gran better keep some of her memories to herself before it causes a problem for Grandma and Grandpa who, it seems, have kept that possibility to themselves or didn’t know. The grandkids will now be spreading the word on the internet. Well done again Rochelle. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
All great points to ponder.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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LIke Richie Cunningham ,they found a thrill on Blueberry Hill/Inspiration Point
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Dear Larry,
Those were the daaaaaaays.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Twas a fine time
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Might have been a fun experience watching movies that way. So much and so many practices have changed over the past 50 odd years. Love the story with a glimpse of past. 🙂
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Dear Norma,
Although it was often hot and sticky on those summer nights, you definitely got more bang for your buck. There were usually three movies for the price of one at an indoor theater and kids under twelve got in free.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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‘Passion pit’ is a new one to me, but then I’m British. We called them simply the back seats. There were some cinemas that made their back seats doubles, which was asking for trouble!
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Dear Liz,
We had back seats, too. 😉 Kids can always find ways to get in trouble if they want to.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Haha! Good for Great-Gran. She knew how to have fun in her day. A great and fun story, Rochelle! 🙂
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Dear Eric,
I’m sure Great -Gran was the life of the party and has many more stories to tell Megan.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Cool great-gran! I wish mine was like that. Funny story!
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Thank you, Ansumani. It was a fun story to write.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle. Lovely writing style. It’s new type of genre, new story for me. What is ‘ passion pit baby’.
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Dear Indira,
The genre really isn’t a genre 😉 just a play on words.
Because the drive ins became a place where young couples could make love in the privacy of their cars, the theaters were dubbed “passion pits”, hence the little ones conceived their might have been called passion pit babies.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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PS Just another chapter in your American education. 😉
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A Big thanks with 🙂 for enlightening me dear. Shalom.
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I vaguely remember going to the drive-in movie theater with my high school BF, but we couldn’t see much of the movie from our vantage point….
Loved your interpretation of the prompt! Also enjoyed the story being completely written in dialogue. Well done!
Also, thanks for including the beach scene video of Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr. I didn’t remember her comment about the adding machine–very funny, and for a beauty like her (and even ordinary beauties like us), there is more than a ring of truth!
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Dear Jan,
One of my most memorable drive-in movie nights was going with a neighbor to see Hard Day’s Night. My eleven year old heart reveled in Paul McCartney on widescreen. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks for the memories!
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You’re welcome, Alicia. No admission charge. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Drive-ins were rare here, even years back. There was one near my home, but my parents, who strictly advocated a no drinking policy, never went there because it had a bar. And now, that one’s not around either.
Quite a different story 🙂 Liked the style.
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Dear Vinay,
I don’t recall any drive in theaters with bars. Where is your here?
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My family went to the drive in regularly, and for a while we enjoyed them in Washington State, with our young ones, before they were torn down to build housing developments. Still a few around, but very few. Lovely memories, and a great story. I think many a child was conceived at the drive-in. Love the prompt!
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Dear Yolanda Renee,
The drive in that my family went to most often was torn down about thirty years ago after sitting vacant for nearly a decade. A grocery store was built in its place and it now sits vacant.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hummm . . This brings back some GOOD memories.
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Dear Mike,
If you’re from the area we might have memories of some of the same drive ins. 😉 Glad you enjoyed my story and took the time to say so.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That Great Gran – she was hot!
We had drive-ins in South Africa back then – Whites only, if you can believe that!
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Dear Patrick,
Absolutely. Great-Gran knew how to have a good time.
Whites only? In South Africa? How times have changed…for the better.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear TomTom,
We are fortunate enough to still have a drive-in in our area. The bad news is all Connie wants to do these days is watch the movie. My sex appeal must have sunk to the same level as Perry Block’s. Why does that Lancaster fellow have all the fun?
– Gidget’s younger brother
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Dear GYB,
I’ll bet Mr. Lancaster came away with wet sand in his shorts. As for Connie…well, why waste the money you pay for the movie when…do I really need to ask the question?
Shalom,
TomTom
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Hi Rochelle,
I remember going to drive theaters. We’d have picnics on the little hill in front of the car. The only movie I remember is The Fly. I’ve never seen the movie since.
Blessings,
Phyllis
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Dear Phyllis,
We saw a lot of movies there. I remember seeing The Birds and being scared out of my wits.
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I don’t think we ever had drive-in cinemas in the UK. Probably because of all the rain! I’m sure the young-uns found somewhere to go, though – it was never really about the film, right? 😉
I love the film “Roman Holiday” 🙂
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Dear Ali,
I think young lovers everywhere can find the time and place. 😉
Thank you for dropping by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ah . . . now I know the real reason Mom and Dad wouldn’t let me go to the drive-in when I was young. 😉 Good story. I like Megan, but I hope real life doesn’t disappoint her too much. Doing those sorts of things on the beach is always a lot messier than it looks in the movies.
Peace,
Marie Gail
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Dear Marie Gail,
My parents wouldn’t let me go to drive ins on dates either. Although I remember going on a few of them anyway. 😉
About making love on the beach…uh…yeah.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely slice of life and I liked Great-Gran’s frankness with Megan. Although I must admit I sort of want Great Gran to say “Oh, that one came out before I met Great-Grandpa” 😉
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Dear Jenn,
I suppose things could’ve turned out differently…;)
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great dialogue!
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Thank you, Dawn. 😀
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Dear Rochelle,
We had drive-ins in Australia also. I saw some great movies when I was a kid but then…. not quite as passion struck as your great Grandma.
Great memories.
Cheers Irene
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Dear Irene,
My best drive in movie memories were before I came of age. 😉 I saw a lot of great movies then.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love that Megan can connect with her Great-Gran like this. Wonderful dialogue.
It’s been years since I went to a drive-in movie, and I was a child, so I think I was pretty focused on the screen…and feeling special because I got to sit on the hood of the car with a blanket. Good times. 🙂
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Dear Tiffany,
I remember sitting on the hood of the car, too. Great times. 😀
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Definitely made me smile. My gran showed us photos of her skinny dipping once at the lake. She just turned 101.
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Dear Hobbyist,
Your gran sounds like quite a person. Happy to make you smile. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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LOL!
My dd is too much of a prude for a conversation like this.
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Dear Alice,
I never had much of a relationship with my grandparents and certainly never knew a greatgrand. But wouldn’t it be fun if…
Shalom,
Rochelle
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good one. just made me smile. 🙂
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Dear Plaridel,
I’m happy to make you smile. That makes me smile. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wonderful job capturing a nostalgic time and place. I had trouble wrapping my head around the idea that a great gran was fooling around at drive in in ’54… it seems so recent! A clear sign that I am indeed ready to be a gran! 😉 Love the Passion Pit Baby!
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Dear Dawn,
I had to wrap my head around it the great gran thing, too. And the circles they go round and round…
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I used to love our old drive-in theater. There’s a big AutoZone-esque store there now. 😦
Did you know Burt Lancaster died October 20, 1994 (aged 80.) I just learned that on Wikipedia, piqued by this blog post of yours.
Jannie
(a friend of Alice Audrey’s)
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Dear Jannie,
Drive ins lost favor with the advent of VHS and DVD. There’s a now closed grocery store where my favorite theater used to be.
I did know about Burt Lancaster.
Thank you for taking the time to read and leave a nice comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, the passion of the kiss on the beach. Loved the videos. And, your story is hysterical. A passion pit! Whoo wee, Great-Gran! I took my kids to the drive-in and they didn’t like it. Generations, indeed.
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Dear Amy,
Drive ins just aren’t the draw or the fun they used to be, are they? Simpler and, supposedly, more innocent times those.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Grans’s creeping me out a little now! Well written
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Dear Weltchy,
Great Gran now, teenager with raging hormones then. Hope it didn’t creep you out too badly.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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But who watched the movies? Too much information from Great-Grandma 😉
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Dear Subroto,
I think Megan has a special relationship with her great grandmother. Movies? There were movies?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A most enjoyable story, Rochelle. I have drive-in memories too, but they’re of myself and my brother in our pyjamas playing on the play equipment and tucking into ice creams during the intermission, and fighting over having to share the back seat when we fell asleep during the film.
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Dear Margaret,
We share similar memories, you and I. Glad you enjoyed my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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