There have been various posts on the forum showing drive-in movie theaters using either dvd players or digital photo frames for the theater screens.
My question is if a digital photo frame that could show film clips was used, then what have you found is the best size frame that most closely approximates in scale size the typical drive-in theater screen?
Also, if you have or have had a drive-in on y7our layout, what was used for the carside speaker stand and speakers?
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Well the problem with DVD players is they are 16x9. A huge mistake when engineers designed the TV widescreen system and not film makers. Most movies are shot in 2:35 to one. This is for every foot or inch in height they are 2:35 feet or inches wide. Cinemascope. If you crop a DVD player it will work with letterbox films. Don
depends on the size drive in you want. the largest in the US is 54' x 120'
There have been various posts on the forum showing drive-in movie theaters using either dvd players or digital photo frames for the theater screens.
My question is if a digital photo frame that could show film clips was used, then what have you found is the best size frame that most closely approximates in scale size the typical drive-in theater screen?
Also, if you have or have had a drive-in on y7our layout, what was used for the carside speaker stand and speakers?
I don't think Stands are practical in O Gauge. Even if you did have them and working, you will find yourself with sound that chases each other from many different sources close together.
As far as screen size, You probably dealt with something that is around 50 scale feet wide by 30 high roughly. A friend of mine used a DVD player with a built in 5 inch screen for this type of scene that worked out really well.
I made my stands from various Plastruct tubing and channeling. A "pearl" bead on top represents a marker light (the bottom half is hidden). They took less time than I thought they would.
Screen size depended on the drive-in. The smallest held 50 cars, the largest 1,000 or more. 7"-9" personal DVD players are fine.
Not all drive-ins offered heaters.
The last drive in near me closed about ten yeas ago. They converted to AM or FM radio to broadcast the sound. No more outside speakers.
How big is a tree??? Point being that there is not a single size. The one near me that operates when they want to is small. Maybe 25 x 40. But in Charleston near my daughters house there is a closed screen that is huge! Not even sure how big but looks 4-5 stories tall.
Add to the mix is a model screen should be somewhat scaled down too. It has to fit in the space you have and not look out of place.
According to Wilipedia, screens were typically 40-50 feet tall. Assuming 45' as a median, in 1:48 scale that would make it 11 1/4".
Gilly
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You can probably download intermission films like "Lets all go to the lobby" in You Tube and create a DVD with a double feature. You will need to get a video grabber program for that.
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