Skyview Drive-In for Old Fashion Summertime Fun

Where can you see a summer blockbuster in your lawn chair while drinking an icy cold brew and munching on pizza, for ten dollars a ticket? No, we’re not talking about your backyard. We’re talking about the last drive-in theater in the St. Louis Metro area—the Skyview Drive-In in Belleville, IL.

The Skyview Theater is 32 miles, or 40 minutes, from Fenton. It is located at 5700 North Belt West in Belleville.

The Skyview opened its doors way back in the summer of 1949 when drive-ins were commonplace. The theater still has its original projection booth, and we suspect, the original bathrooms. The screen was replaced in 1981 after a windstorm knocked it down, and around that time the sound system was converted to play over your FM radio.

So why should you go see the latest summer hit at an old relic of a theater that doesn’t have IMAX quality images or thundering surround sound?

For starters, there’s the price. The Skyview only charges $10 per adult for a double feature—and each adult can get in two kids under 12 for free! That means a family of six (with kids under 12) can see two movies for $20. These aren’t second-run, already-on-DVD movies -- these are opening day releases and current summer hits. Occasionally the second movie of the night may be a few weeks stale, but the Skyview is an independent movie house and regrettably has to make strange deals on occasion. For instance, to keep their prices low, they can only show movies from the same studio on the same screen.

Next, there’s the food. The Skyview runs a typical concession stand if you’re looking for fresh popcorn, hamburgers or hotdogs. But they also allow customers to bring in their own food and drinks. The only limit is you can’t light a fire, so your tailgate picnic is going to be limited to pre-cooked food or cold cuts. And yes, you can bring in a cooler full of beer or have a wine and cheese party under the stars if you wish.

Third, there’s the seating arrangements. If anyone is kicking your seat at the Skyview, it’s probably your own kid, not a stranger you can’t scold. Also, not too many people watch the movies from inside their car like in the old days. Regular customers know to bring lawn chairs or even an air mattress tucked inside a pickup truck bed. SUV owners usually back into their spots and let their kids watch from the comfort of the rear hatch with pillows and blankets. If the kids nod off during the second feature, they can nap in comfort.

Fourth, and last, there’s the playground under the main screen. Modern moms with little kids might be horrified by the -- shall we say -- retro playground with its 80s metal slides, open-front toddler swings, teeter-totters and death defying merry-go-round. But kids love it. Big kids. Kids way older than you’ll ever see at your local park laughing and giggling like the children they still are, loaded onto the merry-go-around and enjoying a swing set tall enough for their long legs.

Parents should be warned the playground has a gravel surface and was designed for older children. There’s short slides and swings for little kids, but small children should be escorted, if anything to keep them safe from the antics of 10- and 12-year-olds who act like they’ve never seen a playground before.

If you go, remember that the movie starts at dark, which could be as late as 9 p.m. in the middle of the summer, while the box office opens at 7 p.m. on the weekends. This means you’ll have a two-hour wait if you want to get the best parking spot. The Skyview may be old-fashioned, but it’s also extremely popular, so don’t show up late and expect to find a place in the first row.

Pack a picnic dinner or get a sack of burgers from a drive-through on your way to eat after you park. You can spend your time waiting for the show by having dinner or even playing a board game. If you forgot anything, the Skyview is next door to a Schnuck’s that you can walk to for paper cups, chips or even a deli sandwich.

You’ll also need to bring a radio, especially if you plan to watch from a lawn chair outside your car. The Skyview broadcasts movie sound tracks on a localized FM radio signal. You’ll find the drive-in has an odd surround sound effect as hundreds of movie goers crank their car stereos and boom boxes. If you have a cell phone or mp3 player with an FM receiver, you could even wear headphones for top notch sound.