Keystone Stories: Drive-Ins
Pennsylvania is host to America’s second drive-in theatre, Shankweiler’s Drive-in which opened in 1934. In the late 1950s, at the height of the drive-in’s popularity, Pennsylvania had more than 180 in operation. This number has dropped significantly; 85% have closed. However, today Pennsylvania has nearly 30 drive-in theaters in operation, and this is second in the nation, only behind New York. The recent need for social distancing has provided drive-ins with several new income streams, and has boosted what some feel is a dying business.
More Episodes
Railroads
Season 2 Episode 1 | 27 min
Why is Altoona known as “Railroad City”? The answer can be found at the Railroaders Memorial Museum, located in Altoona. This home for railfans is where a new project is underway to bring back a legendary locomotive…the K4.
The Forest
Season 1 Episode 1 | 27 min
In the early days of the Commonwealth, nearly 29 million acres of Pennsylvania were covered in forest. By 1895, this number dropped to 9 million acres. While Pennsylvania provided lumber to build a nation, this invaluable natural resource was almost lost.
Old Spaces, New Places
Season 2 Episode 3 | 27 min
Adaptive reuse is the term given to the repurposing of old buildings, and many of the buildings we use today are serving a very different purpose than originally intended. But repurposing a structure is not always easy.
