Comments on: Drive-In Church,Daytona Beach, Florida, 1956

By: Terry the Carver

Terry the Carver — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:03:54 +0000

I was searching thorugh pix of Daytona Beach. I saw this in almost disbelief. The little boy in the back seat of the 55 Ford is me. We attended the drive in church during the time my father was in construction working on building the Thunderbird Motel at that time. We lived in Johnson’s Trailer Park next to Gill’s Bar-B- Que in Holly Hill. In later years he bacame a mininster himself in Fort Myers, FL. Wow; who would have ever thought in 1956 that you, some fifty odd years later, would see yourself in a picture on a system of computers attached to each other avalable for the whole world to see. Makes one want to behave themselves. You never know were you will pop up these days.
Thanks for the memories.

By: David

David — Tue, 22 May 2007 01:46:35 +0000

well, there really is a drive in church. I dont know if it is still there but remember it as a kid and drove by it hundreds of times along A1A while going to Ponce Inlet. This photo doesnt look like it but I dont know if the on im talking about is still there. been about 5 years since i drove down there. sad. i only live about an hour away now. always made me wodner who went to churches like this?

is this the “fast food” of church? i go to a baptist church.

wish i woulda took more photos of me in my 66 stang when i was in my 20′s all around daytona. its ALL different now. The dollar won over historical factor.

By: Sue

Sue — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 02:16:50 +0000

Thanks so much, Charles. This photo and your description really did bring me back to a different time. I did go online to the site
and, although I am not a Christian, I loved the music and the spirit
behind it. It really was a wonderful adventure.

By: Mike from cleveland,Ohio

Mike from cleveland,Ohio — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 07:39:26 +0000

Well,You do have to admire the “Creative approach” the Good Reverend took to bring in followers.At least you can yell at the kids,listen to a game,or maybe even catch some shuteye before hearing about your final damnation.I wonder if he was interupted by that universal mono-tone guy that says,”Attention folks,The snack bar will be closing in five minutes”.I also wonder if you ride in inside the trunk,do you still have to give to the collection plate?

By: Sassy Lu

Sassy Lu — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 10:23:18 +0000

Gee, I thought Reverend Schuller was the first one with the idea for drive-in church!

By: Kristen

Kristen — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 17:04:12 +0000

Charles, your wit and insight continue to amaze me. “Pray for burning trailers”. You slay me.

By: Pasquale

Pasquale — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 16:48:18 +0000

While the subject is Drive-Ins:

The Prelinger Archive has some wonderful vintage intermission ads that can be viewed with a few short clicks…

http://www.archive.org/details/DriveInMovieAds

“Collection of super short advertisements used during intermission at drive-in movie theaters during the 1950′s and early 1960′s to get people to consume junk food from the concession stand.”

By: missy kelliot

missy kelliot — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 23:48:53 +0000

i bet curbing the urge to make out was a real test of one’s commitment to the lord!

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 22:20:49 +0000

I would be thanking God, too, if I had one of those cars. I’ve been praying for one for years, but so far, no such luck. Tried to win one in a contest at the Albertson’s–took every card they had. Got writer’s cramp filling them all out. No luck. I guess I just haven’t gone to church enough. I guess the church of rock and roll doesn’t count. Sigh…

By: Miss Sharon

Miss Sharon — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 18:39:48 +0000

Charles, you devil, you!

Although I worship at the altar of Emily Post, housewives-in-doubt might want to turn to _God in my Kitchen: fifty two thoughts for homemakers_ by Dorothy C. Haskin (1958). Mrs. Haskin’s chapters are commonly stories about how Christian it is to save money or not complain about the neighbor’s barking beast of a dog, but my favorite is the one titled, “Dishwashing Devotions” which endeavors to help a woman walk in the Lord’s light while “rising above the monotony of housework [...] Beds have to be made. Dishes have to be washed. There is no way to avoid housework; while putting your hands to automatic tasks, your thoughts can be on God and your life be filled with joy.”

Pray while scrubbing the grease off the dinner pans, ladies! It will help you pass the time!

However, as we are in the sin-den of a drive-in today, I thought I would concentrate on a little pamphlet titled _What Every Christian Girl Should Know_ by William W. Orr (no publication date, I’m guessing it’s from the late 40s – early 50s). As Mr. Orr looks down on most modern attractions and fun in general (he only likes “travel pictures, educational school films, [and] home movies”), I’m guessing he wouldn’t cotton to a driving into a passion pit in order to worship the Lord. However, he can help us at the beach. Summer days are upon us, and we might think about asking the Lord for some bathing suit guidance. I turn now to a little chapter called, “Sports and Swim Suits”:

“One of life’s most enjoyable sports is swimming. Today, almost everybody swims, from Grandma to the hound pup. That’s super, for swimming is just about the perfect exercise. [...] But I’m not so sure that the modern swim suit is pleasing to God. I fear that the modern style in bathing suits (both girls and boys) is not only conducive to the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh but it’s also a brazen, defiant flaunting of one of God’s basic principles.[ ...] What shall a Christian girl do? Perhaps the key is to dress as conservatively as possible. Choose for a suit one that covers well and yet doesn’t point you out as a fuddy-duddy. Ask the Lord for special guidance here.”

Ask and ye shall receive fashion advice. What bathing suit would Jesus wear? Lord, does this one piece, skirted suit make my thighs look thinner?

xoxo!
Miss Sharon