<P> A drive - in theater or drive - in cinema is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor movie screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles . Within this enclosed area, customers can view movies from the privacy and comfort of their cars . Some drive - ins have small playgrounds for children and a few picnic tables or benches . </P> <P> The screen can be as simple as a wall that is painted white, or it can be a steel truss structure with a complex finish . Originally, the movie's sound was provided by speakers on the screen and later by individual speakers hung from the window of each car, which were attached by wire . These systems were superseded by the more economical and easier to maintain method of broadcasting the soundtrack at a low output power on AM or FM radio to be picked up by a car radio . This also allows the soundtrack to be picked up in stereo by the audience on an in - car stereo system which is typically higher quality and fidelity than the simple speakers used in the old systems . </P> <P> A partial drive - in theater--Theatre de Guadalupe--was opened in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on April 23, 1915: </P>

How do you hear the movie at a drive in theater