The song Video Killed The Radio Star rings true for drive-in cinemas as well, and as today is National Drive-in Movie day, let’s take a look back at the old Canberra’s Starlight Drive-in, which used to operate at Watson from 1957 to 1993.

I have fond memories of going to The Starlight in my pyjamas as a seven-year-old. The whole family piled into our beat-up, red Kombie van to watch the original Star Wars movie in 1977. I spent most of the time mucking around in the playground and then falling asleep in the popcorn-covered backseat, but I do recall the iconic era of drive-ins.

Chilly Canberra was one of only a couple of places in Australia where drive-ins provided portable heaters to fix to your wound-down window (I believe the other drive-in with heaters was in Orange, NSW).

The Starlight Drive-in operated in an era when drive-ins were popular, appealing to post-Second World War youth and car culture – until colour TV and video rental came along. It had a screen that was claimed to be the biggest in Australia at the time.

The Starlight’s striking neon signage still stands and is believed to be the only original drive-in theatre sign in the country still in its original location. The restored sign is now listed on the ACT Heritage register, despite the sign not meeting Heritage Council criteria for design or aesthetic qualities, nor creative flair. It was, however, listed for its importance as evidence of a distinctive function that is no longer practised.

It’s a shame the Starlight Drive-in is no longer practised; it was a thrill to reverse your car (if you had a Kingswood station wagon or similar) up the slight gradient and chuck a mattress and pillows in the back. Or hiding your mate in the car boot to sneak an extra person in for free. And whatever you do, don’t forget to replace the speaker on the stand before driving away.

Share your drive-in theatre memories in the comments below.