REMEMBER the times you were snugged up with your family in the back seat of your car, while you watched the latest Hollywood blockbuster?
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
For a lot of Dubbo residents, the time has long passed when a family outing would be to go to the old West-View drive-in theatre on Narromine Road.
The drive-in theatre, which is currently owned by Ken and Leonie Comerford, is "out the door" with all other drive-ins operational only in Blacktown, Randwick, Greta and Tibooburra in NSW, four of just 26 remaining in Australia.
Dubbo residents have been without a drive-in cinema for almost 30 years, yet the site still remains as it was when it closed in 1985.
Upon close inspection of the site, old film reels were found in the projection room, where the equipment still lay, untouched, for almost three decades.
Vintage chip packets and popcorn buckets were found in the kitchen, along with lolly containers.
Walking into the cafeteria, meanwhile, is like stepping back into another era. A mural of cinema greats like Jaws, a villain from the 007 movies, to Mel Gibson from his Lethal Weapon days can be seen upon entering the room. The mural was placed around the kiosk, where cinema patrons used to line up to get their various snacks to take with them to their vehicles.
There was even something for the kids, in the form of a Walt Disney-themed playground found outside of the kiosk.
But then you turn around and look at the great 9.8 hectare land and see the main attraction - the screen that captivated countless residents of Dubbo and surrounds with cinematic masterpieces like Crocodile Dundee.
The space is there, just as it was in its prime almost 30 years ago. But is it a viable business that can make it in modern-day Dubbo?
Andrew McDonald Commercial, which took over the sale of the vacant land in 2009, has had no expressions of interest in it becoming a drive-in cinema.
Mr McDonald said there had been a "myriad" of industrial users who have made inquiries either locally or internationally, but nothing had come into fruition.
"We've pursued those enquiries that have had substance but we've had nothing concrete," he said.
"I'd love to see it developed. It's a huge space and it's often bigger than what people realise. We've thought about sub-dividing it for a large end user in the logistics or transport industry.
"It's been on the market for a few years now but we've had no quality inquiries. This is not for a lack of trying," he said.
Mr Comerford, who took over the running of the business in 1985 and still owns it to this day, said the business was hard to manage, which played a part in his decision to close it down.
"For a few years the drive-in ran in conjunction with the Dubbo RSL Club, but closed when the Orana Cinema opened.
"I'm not sure that a drive-in cinema could work in Dubbo. I'm strictly neutral in that sense.
"I see it as a site for a big resort. It would make a fantastic venue for a grandstand with an oval, or even an industrial development. The sooner something is done, the better," he said.
Long time Dubbo projectionist John Herron said fast food and daylight savings would stop the drive-in cinema plans in its tracks.
"There's no money in it (drive-in) anymore," he said.
"Concession sales were also key factors in revenue, other than just the tickets bought at the gate."
Mr Herron has spent most of his life working behind the scenes at cinemas.
He worked at the Orana Cinema for many years before moving to Reading Cinemas in 1999.
The Daily Liberal took to social media to find out if a drive-in would appeal to the citizens of Dubbo, and got an overwhelming response with the vast majority saying they would love to see a drive-in cinema back in Dubbo.
"The Heddon Greta Drive-in at the Hunter opened back up in 1999 after being closed for many years and has become hugely popular since it reopened. I think it's a fantastic idea, it is an affordable outing for families," Kristin Bright said.
Donna Maree O'Neill said opening the drive-in would bring another tourist attraction to town and another reason to come to Dubbo.
Matthew Evans said the idea of a drive-in would not work.
"Good memories but people are not the same. The money is not there," he said.
There are currently five drive-in theatres in NSW, three in Victoria (one of which is the Lunar Drive-In at Dandenong, the oldest operational drive-in theatre in Australia), seven in Queensland, 10 in Western Australia and two in South Australia. All drive-in theatres in the ACT, Tasmania and Northern Territory are closed.
The West View Drive-In opened in 1970 and officially closed in 1985.