Drive-in Films Has Now Closed After 14 years of Serving the Drive-in theater Community
For a number of years Drive-infilm.com provided the means to purchase great films from the haydays of the Drive-in theaters.
In 20006 this notice appeared on the home page:
Due to recent family death, personal health problems, and lab delays, we are suspending all 35mm sales temporarily. Those who have orders pending will get their orders shipped as soon as possible. We thank all of our customers past and present and hope to supply these films and more in the near future so keep checking back with us.
and then this notice appeared:
After 14 years of serving the Drive-in theater community, we are retiring from the 35mm film business. Thanks to all who have supported this business.
It has been a labor of love for the Drive-in for us and a pleasure dealing with all in the past.
If interested in any of our many thousands of feet of 16mm and 35mm film negatives for sale, please contact us.
Content is from the site's 2002 -2007 archived pages offering a glimpse of what was available for sale.
We offer brand new restored prints from the best available original films from the 30's-60's. Many have not been seen in decades.
They are printed on Unbreakable Estar polyester film stock and Low fade color for many years of use and at the cheapest prices for everyone's budget. Order your Intermission films today and put that classic drive-in intermission back on the BIG screen and get more snack bar sales than you ever imagined.....Don't let that screen go dark for one more show!!
Circa 2001
35mm DRIVE-IN & Theatre INTERMISSION FILMS, Daters, and Tags... PLUS DVD's too!!
Yes, now you can own these great films from the heydays of the Drive-in. Have all your favorite Drive-in Intermission films available in 16mm and now in 35mm for your own theatre. I remember these as well as the features they accompanied - I was introduced to Batman in a drive-in and was motivated as an adult to seek out Batman paraphernalia and collectibles. I found a site that has a lot of interesting but little known trivia about Batman. For example, did you know that Andy Warhol was a Batman maven? If you're as old as me, you also probably remember these classic short interstitials and promos. Also check out the newly restored classic 35mm clocks for the DRIVE-IN theatre still in business. Have that classic Intermission back on the screen like in the good ol' days but on the new unbreakable film stock and low fade color. Don't forget the links to other great film sites too.
Thanks for checking out my site. Come back often.
Welcome to Drive-infilm.com
Take a look at the 35mm & 16mm pages and see our great selection of restored Drive-in and Theatre Intermission films from the 30's, 40's, 50's, and 60's.
We are the ONLY company who can offer this HUGE selection of vintage Intermission films at top quality for the LOWEST prices in the business.
NEWS FLASH....
You can now view our on-line Video Catalog by clicking on the picture of the item you want to see on the 35mm page....
New Drive-in DVD's now Available
See the DVD Store
NEW 35mm items
Available for the first time in decades....see 35mm pages for details
We have just added much more newly restored vintage films to our 35mm line And Many new Links to our LINKS page so take a look!!!!
We now ship exclusivly with DHL. We can also ship Express and Overnight if arrangements are made. Extra costs will be calculated at that time.
Due to the nature and rarety of these items, please don't expect shipments to be made the same day your order is placed unless arrangments are made in advance and Rush shipping is paid for.
35mm Drive-in "REFRESHMENT TIME" clocks
Well, the time has come to restock drive-ins with some old time Intermission films from the past at a reasonable price. I have just made up a 5 minute classic Drive-in intermission film and it is now for sale to everybody once again on brand new low fade color Estar stock. It's "REFRESHMENT TIME" intermission and is now available in 10 minute, 5 minute, and 3 minute versions. You can also now buy the cartoons and clock shell seperately. This is a very entertaining clock and at the same time getting more business at the concession stand which is the whole idea. It is being sold complete with heads and tail. Just splice it onto your feature head of the second film, the tail of the first feature,or run it on it's own. Here is a great classic clock for a reasonable price that any drive-in can afford and run for many years to come so order your clock today and put that classic drive-in intermission back on that screen. These prints are made special order so please allow 2 to 3 weeks for delivery. E-mail me for stills of these films or I can show them LIVE over the web.
ALL NEW
And in stock Now!
562- "Take 5 with a Coke" Take 5 minutes and enjoy a Coke....Narration... :10....$7.
563- "GOODNIGHT" and now it's time to say GOODNIGHT.....B&W with fanfare music... :10...$7.
564- "HUNGRY DWARF" 5 minute complete Intermission clock RARELY SEEN since the 50's....vintage music track with naration while the Dwarf eats all the goodies available at the snack bar..Available in GREEN, BLUE, SEPIA TINT, and B&W (please specify when ordering).. $185.
565- "RODEO" 50's classic Snack bar Intermission musical cartoon... :30...$30.
566- "AND NOW on with the show" B&W tag with drive-in background and music track... :15...$10.
567- "PREVUES OF COMING ATTRACTIONS" marquee tag with music track... :20...$20.
568- "OUR FEATURE PRESENTATION" marquee tag with music track... :20...$20.
569- "DOUBLE FEATURE" marquee tag with music track... :20...$20.
570- "STARTS FRIDAY" marquee tag with music track... :20...$20.
This is just a small sample of what was for sale.
16mm Film Rejuvination
Yes, very soon we will offer film rejuvination for 16mm film. What does it do? Well this machine runs your film through a cleaning process then applies chemicals to each side of the film. These chemicals rearrange the emulsion of the film to fill in the scratches that defract the light and make the film look like new again on the screen. After the chemicals are applied, the machine dries off the film and when it comes out the other end of the machine and back to a reel, it looks like new again. This works best on those black surface scratches that most prints get over time fro usage and does not work on heavy digs and emulsion scratches that are white or yellow or green in color. This is a very safe and proven way of making those old prints look like new again. It has been used in TV stations, Libraries, and private film collections and proven over time to be very gentle on film. If you would like more info on this, please call me evenings or e-mail me.
Join us for LIVE chat about Drive-in's and film collecting.
FILM TRAILERETTES-from the 50's in 16mm
What are TRAILERETTES? Well they are 10 second clips of black & white silent
film used back in the 50's to promote these films. They are also known as FILM
POSTETRS and HEADERS. They were used in the previews of coming attractions
in place of a full preview and looked very much like the lobby cards or posters with the
title of the film and the major stars names, most with pictures of them. Many of these
films are hard to find now. Here are the titles you get on these reels...
Reel #1 for...$18.
Arrowhead
Headline Hunters
The Last Command
The Green Buddha
Top Of The World
The Last Wagon
The Search For Bridey Murphy
Return To Treasure Island
I-The Jury
Timetable
The Houston Story
The Night Holds Terror
Teenage Crime Wave
Crime In The Streets
Loophole
The Scarlet Spear
Desert Sands
Treasure Of Ruby Hills
Duel On The Mssissippi
Tobor The Great
Killer's Kiss
Uranium Boom
Safari
Reel #2 for...$18.
On this reel you get these titles...
Strategic Air Command
Run For Cover
Conquest Of Space
Hot Blood
The Mummy's Curse
Black Friday
World Without End
Night People
Pardners
D-day The Sixth Of June
The Man From Laramie
Unidentified Flying Objects
Roadhouse
Bus Stop
The Tell-Tale Heart
Johnny Concho
The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing
To Hell and Back
Black Tuesday
A Kiss Before Dying
17 Big Cartoons w/Bugs
Earth vs. The Flying Saucers.
We have suspended all 35mm film sales and our vast collection of 16mm and 35mm negatives and equipment are up for sale.
FOR SALE!!!
16mm & 35mm negatives, 35mm splicers, 35mm editor/viewer with optical & magnetic soundhead.
Items sold separatly or as a whole.
Call our Toll free number for details 1-888-891-1139
SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY PLEASE !!
After 14 years of serving the Drive-in theater community, we are shutting down the 35mm film end of our business. The last day we are accepting orders is May 30th so if you see anything you want to order, NOW is the time to do it before it's gone for good. All orders placed by May 30th will be filled before we shut the film down so ORDER TODAY!!!
You can now view our on-line Video Catalog by clicking on the picture
of the item you want to see. Items with Video have a frame around the picture...
Call Us Toll Free: 1-888-891-1139
We accept these Methods of payment...
Cashier/Company checks, Money orders, Visa, Mastercars, Discover, American Express. If sending payment, please e-mail or call us for shipping charges and total. Credit cards only accepted through the site.
Due to rising shipping costs, we now ship USPS to keep costs down for our customers. We can also ship Express and Overnight if arrangements are made. Extra costs will be calculated at that time.
Please Allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery of special order films not in stock.
Due to the nature and rarety of these items, please don't expect shipments to be made the same day your order is placed unless arrangments are made in advance.
550-"OPTIGAN COLOR ORGAN CLOCK" 10 minute clock from the early 1970's restored from the original negative and not available for over 35 years. Now see and hear this GROOVY Intermission as it was originally seen with color organ music and flashing lights with plenty of food clips to make your patrons hungry....$299.
551-"Cartoon musical CLOCK" 10 minute clock chocked full with classic 1950's musical Intermission cartoons and 10 little Indians clockshell to count you down to showtime and make your patrons hungry for more snack foods. Included cartoons are "RODEO INTERMISSION", "BUTTERCUP POPCORN", "COPS & ROBBERS", "JOIN THE BAND", "INTERMISSION QUARTET", "CANDY FACTORY", VISIT THE PLANETS", "CIRCUS INTERMISSION", and so much more. Very entertaining and effective.....a must have for all Drive-in's. $399.
More Background On Drive-InFilm.com
Drive-InFilm.com was a niche but beloved online destination dedicated to preserving and distributing the classic cinematic materials that defined mid-century American drive-in culture. For 14 years, the site served as a cornerstone for drive-in theater owners, film collectors, archivists, researchers, and nostalgia enthusiasts who wished to experience or recreate the iconic intermission reels, snack-bar ads, countdown clocks, and theatrical tags that once illuminated outdoor screens across the United States. Although the website ultimately closed, its legacy remains strong among collectors and historians who recognize it as one of the few resources that made these fragile pieces of Americana accessible in restored, projection-ready form.
Drive-InFilm.com was not a corporate distributor. It was a labor of love—an intensely personal, boutique-style operation built around passion, expertise, and the desire to sustain a piece of American cinema history that was rapidly vanishing. Long before digital remasters, uploaded countdown clocks, or nostalgia-based Blu-ray anthologies, this website was restoring original negatives, producing new 16mm and 35mm prints, and shipping them to theaters still committed to the authentic drive-in experience. This article explores the site’s offerings, cultural role, history, inventory, and lasting impact.
Origins and Founding Purpose
The exact identity of the founder was never heavily advertised, consistent with the ethos of many analog film archivists who work quietly behind the scenes. What is clear is that the project was personal, small-scale, and driven by genuine affection for the drive-in tradition. The site’s tone was informal but committed—a mix of a collector’s enthusiasm and a preservationist’s dedication.
The early 2000s marked a transitional moment for film exhibition. Digital projection had not yet fully overtaken traditional film platforms, but analog prints were becoming harder to source. Drive-in theaters, in particular, faced shortages of classic intermission reels and snack-bar countdowns. Many of these materials had been discarded, decayed over time, or remained trapped in private archives.
Drive-InFilm.com emerged as an answer to that scarcity. Its mission was simple: Gather the best surviving original elements, restore them, and make new projection-quality prints available at reasonable prices so drive-ins—old and new—could recreate the classic experience.
This mission resonated with a community deeply invested in keeping 20th-century film heritage alive.
Products, Inventory, and Offerings
The site’s catalog was broad and unusually specialized. Much of the material dated back to the 1930s–1960s, the golden era of drive-ins and suburban filmgoing. Drive-InFilm.com offered restored prints on modern polyester stock, which made them extremely durable compared to older acetate prints prone to vinegar syndrome and brittleness.
35mm Intermission Films and Countdown Clocks
Among the most recognizable offerings were the restored intermission clocks. These reels featured animated food characters, dancing snacks, cheerful jingles, and countdown numbers urging patrons to visit the concession stand. These segments were iconic parts of the drive-in experience.
The site offered multiple versions of the classic “Refreshment Time” intermission clock in lengths of 3, 5, and 10 minutes. The prints were newly struck, came with heads and tails for easy splicing, and used modern low-fade color stock. They could be run on their own or inserted before a feature. For many drive-in operators, these clocks were not just nostalgic—they were profitable. Concession sales were the lifeblood of drive-ins, and intermission reels served as direct marketing tools.
The site also sold unique pieces such as the “Hungry Dwarf,” a five-minute intermission segment from the 1950s that had rarely been seen since its original release. Offered in multiple color tints and black-and-white versions, it was one of the more unusual items in the catalog.
Theatrical Tags and Marquee Announcements
Another category included extremely short but historically significant tags used during drive-in programs, such as:
“Our Feature Presentation”
“Previews of Coming Attractions”
“Starts Friday”
“Double Feature”
“Goodnight”
These were typically 10–20 second clips with music cues and marquee graphics. While seemingly simple, authentic tags from the mid-century era are rare, and Drive-InFilm.com succeeded in preserving many of them.
Vintage “Trailerettes”
One of the site’s most distinctive offerings was the set of 1950s “Trailerettes”—ten-second silent black-and-white promotional snippets that functioned like motion-picture lobby cards in film form. These were widely used before full trailers became standard. The lists available included an impressive range of titles, from sci-fi and westerns to war films and noir features.
Each reel included over twenty titles such as:
Earth vs. the Flying Saucers
The Mummy’s Curse
Teenage Crime Wave
Headline Hunters
Return to Treasure Island
To Hell and Back
The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing
For collectors, these reels represented a window into the advertising strategies of 1950s theaters, where quick identification of stars and genre tropes helped audiences decide which features to watch during upcoming weeks.
Newly Restored Classic Clocks from the 1970s
Drive-InFilm.com also restored more modern items, such as the 1970s “Optigan Color Organ Clock,” a 10-minute intermission film with psychedelic lights, a color organ visualizer, and snack-bar imagery. This reel had not been available for over 35 years prior to the website’s restoration.
The site provided high-end, fully restored versions of these rare films at prices that, by industry standards, were remarkably reasonable given the difficulty of producing small-batch 35mm prints.
Film Restoration and Rejuvenation Services
In addition to selling restored movies and intermission reels, Drive-InFilm.com offered rejuvenation for existing 16mm film. The process involved a specialized machine that cleaned the film and applied chemicals to fill in surface scratches, making worn prints look almost new. This service was particularly useful for private collectors and libraries.
While this rejuvenation machine could not fix deep emulsion gouges or colored scratches, it was capable of significantly improving black surface marks common in older prints.
Given the rarity of film rejuvenation services outside major archives or television studios, this feature made Drive-InFilm.com even more notable.
Audience and Community
The site appealed to a very specific but passionate group:
1. Operating Drive-In Theaters
During the early 2000s, the number of drive-in theaters had stabilized and even begun to grow slightly as nostalgia surged. These theaters depended on materials like intermission films for programming authenticity.
2. Home Collectors and Film Historians
16mm and 35mm hobbyists represented a devoted community that valued original film prints as cultural artifacts. Drive-InFilm.com was one of the few places where collectors could obtain new, restored prints rather than decayed originals.
3. Archivists and Academic Researchers
Because the site distributed material from the 1930s through the 1970s—much of which was absent from mainstream archives—it became a reference point for those researching American moviegoing habits, advertising practices, and theater ephemera.
4. Projectionists and Technicians
Specialized items such as splicers, editors, and professional-grade equipment made the site valuable to projectionists maintaining analog setups during the transitional period to digital cinema.
The site also encouraged community engagement through live chats discussing drive-in history and film collecting, indicating an intent to cultivate a preservation-oriented network of enthusiasts.
Legacy
Although Drive-InFilm.com eventually closed, its impact continues in several ways:
The restored prints distributed through the site remain in private collections, archival institutions, and operating drive-ins.
Digital recreations and modern anthologies often rely on rare originals that were preserved and circulated by collectors who sourced from sites like this one.
Film historians and nostalgia communities frequently reference the site as one of the most important specialized sellers of drive-in ephemera during the early internet era.
In many ways, Drive-InFilm.com occupies a unique place at the intersection of analog preservation and online niche commerce. It stands as a testament to how small, passionate communities can rescue culturally significant artifacts that larger institutions overlook.
Drive-InFilm.com was far more than a commercial website. It was a preservation project, a community hub, and a cultural archive built from dedication rather than corporate ambition. For 14 years, it supplied the rare film materials that helped sustain the authenticity and charm of the American drive-in experience. In doing so, it left a lasting mark on collectors, historians, and theater operators nationwide.
The website may no longer be active, but its legacy persists in the reels still projected at drive-ins, the collections it helped build, and the memories it helped preserve. In the long history of American film culture, Drive-InFilm.com occupies a distinctive and cherished place.