VOA标准英语2011--America's Drive-In Movie Theater Turns 7
时间：2019-01-14 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2011年(六月)
America's Drive-In Movie Theater Turns 78
This coming Monday marks a nostalgic anniversary in American culture. On June 6, 1933, the world's first drive-in movie theater opened in Camden, New Jersey 1.
By 1950, there were 4,000 of these "movies under the stars" across the country. Almost 80 years later, only a couple hundred survive.
At the drive-in - or what some of us called "the drive-in picture show" to distinguish it from drive-in restaurants - instead of wedging yourself into a theater seat next to talkative strangers, crying babies and large people blocking your view, you watched a movie on a huge screen from the comfort of your car, side by side with dozens of other autos in a sprawling 2 parking lot.
You could bring your cranky baby along without disrupting anyone. Teenagers adored the romantic privacy of a dark automobile 3, to the point that some media referred to drive-ins as "passion pits."
The movies themselves mostly ranged from family fare to second-rate monster, science-fiction, and action thrillers 4. The sound that squawked out of the little speaker that you attached to your car window was tinny at best.
But the concession 5 stand at the "Starlite" or "Hi-Way" or "Sunset" Drive-In did offer a full and fattening 6 menu of fried food, popcorn 7 and sodas 8. A lot of people smuggled 9 in stronger drinks as well, and it wasn't unheard of to sneak 10 in a person or two in the trunk, to avoid paying for more tickets.
The spread of daylight saving time cut into drive-in attendance, since dusk came late on balmy summer nights and the movie couldn't start until 9 p.m. or later. The advent 11 of color television and video rentals 12 kept people home as well.
When some drive-in owners sought to boost revenue by showing risqué movies, neighbors, parents and police drove them out of business. Other owners sold out to housing and shopping-center developers.
Many U.S. cities have tried to recapture the nostalgic feeling of outdoor movies by showing films in parks and pedestrian malls. But patrons sit on blankets, not in their '54 Chevys.
And no one's writing tunes like the Beach Boys' "Drive-In" song, which goes, in part:
Every time I have a date there's only one place to go
That's to the drive in
It's such a groovy place to talk and maybe watch a show
- He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
- They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。
- He was sprawling in an armchair in front of the TV. 他伸开手脚坐在电视机前的一张扶手椅上。
- a modern sprawling town 一座杂乱无序拓展的现代城镇
- He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
- The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。
- He has written seven thrillers, and clearly enjoys intellectual pursuits. 他已经写了7本惊悚小说，显然很喜欢这样的智力活动。 来自辞典例句
- Most Americans prefer to read fast-moving adventure stories that we call "thrillers". 大部分美国人喜欢看我们称之为"惊险小说"的情节多变的冒险故事。 来自辞典例句
- We can not make heavy concession to the matter.我们在这个问题上不能过于让步。
- That is a great concession.这是很大的让步。
- The doctor has advised him to keep off fattening food. 医生已建议他不要吃致肥食物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- We substitute margarine for cream because cream is fattening. 我们用人造黄油代替奶油，因为奶油会使人发胖。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- I like to eat popcorn when I am watching TV play at home.当我在家观看电视剧时，喜欢吃爆米花。
- He still stood behind his cash register stuffing his mouth with popcorn.他仍站在收银机后，嘴里塞满了爆米花。
- There are plenty of sodas in the refrigerator. 冰箱里有很多碳酸饮料。 来自辞典例句
- Two whisky and sodas, please. 请来两杯威士忌苏打。 来自辞典例句
- The customs officer confiscated the smuggled goods. 海关官员没收了走私品。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- Those smuggled goods have been detained by the port office. 那些走私货物被港务局扣押了。 来自互联网
- He raised his spear and sneak forward.他提起长矛悄悄地前进。
- I saw him sneak away from us.我看见他悄悄地从我们身边走开。
- Swallows come by groups at the advent of spring. 春天来临时燕子成群飞来。
- The advent of the Euro will redefine Europe.欧元的出现将重新定义欧洲。