A nostalgic look back at how we fell in love with watching films outdoors

The Open-Air Cinema Movement of the 1920s

Outdoor movies first took off in the early 1920s, during the heyday of silent films. At this time, home theaters did not exist - movies were a theatrical experience enjoyed in grand movie palaces in bustling downtowns.

But in the summer, innovative theater owners started screening silent films outdoors to bring the glitz and glamour of the cinema to local communities:

• They constructed makeshift screens on building walls, erected temporary structures, and showed silent films after sundown.
• These "open-air cinemas" allowed people to experience the magic of the movies under the starry sky.
• Outdoor theaters began spreading across the country to overwhelming enthusiasm.
• One of the first opened at the iconic Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in 1922. Here, swashbuckling or comedic silent films were accompanied by live orchestral music to heighten the drama onscreen.
• Other early outdoor cinemas popped up in Chicago, New York, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and more.
• Legendary actors like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Clara Bow flickered across outdoor screens, thrilling crowds with their hijinks and larger-than-life expressions.

Local communities loved the outdoor cinema experience. Families would arrive early with picnic baskets in tow, children would run around playing before showtime, and audiences would gasp, laugh, and applaud together under the night sky.

Outdoor movies brought people together and became a weekly social highlight.

The Arrival of the Drive-In Theater

In the following decades, neighborhood outdoor cinemas continued entertaining loyal audiences who arrived with food to enjoy movies in the evenings.

Then, in 1933, the first drive-in theater opened in Camden, New Jersey, taking outdoor cinema to the next level.

At drive-ins, moviegoers could remain in their cars to watch films on a giant screen, which created a comfortable, private viewing experience.

Drive-ins became a sensation and allowed outdoor movies to thrive despite the rise of home TVs in the 1950s.

Backyard Home Theaters Emerge

In the 1950s and 60s, backyard movie nights emerged as a quintessential suburban pastime:

• Family-friendly Disney or comedy reels were projected onto makeshift screens as neighborhoods gathered for outdoor potluck dinners and movie nights.
• The home video revolution of the 1970s/80s further fueled backyard projections, as movies became readily available to buy or rent for home viewing.
• Still, poor image quality and complicated setups meant that outdoor home movie nights remained an occasional novelty.

The Backyard Movie Boom

By the late 1990s, projection and audio technology had improved enough to make outdoor movie equipment accessible and easy to use:

• Companies started manufacturing plug-and-play backyard theater kits that included an inflatable screen, a projector, and speakers, simplifying outdoor movie nights.
• These kits, combined with the rise of streaming platforms like Netflix, ushered in the contemporary backyard movie boom.
• Setting up an outdoor theater was now cheaper and easier than ever before. Both new releases and nostalgic classics could now be streamed at home and projected in backyards for an authentic outdoor viewing experience.

Today...

• Backyard movie nights have become a beloved fixture of summer, with many families and neighborhoods hosting weekly outdoor film screenings.
• Parks, communities, and recreation centers also sponsor outdoor movie events, reviving the old tradition of gathering around the screen under the night sky.
• For many, outdoor movie nights evoke fond memories of drive-ins and old-fashioned neighborhood fun.

The Allure of Outdoor Festivals

Outdoor cinema events have evolved from the occasional novelty screening to full-fledged movie festivals spanning days or even weeks.

These festivals act as a social glue, providing an exciting platform for communities to come together:

• Outdoor cinema festivals often partner with local businesses, charities, councils and arts organizations. This provides a chance for community engagement and fundraising, giving the events added social value.
• For communities, these festivals are the movies made magical.

A key part of the outdoor movie magic comes from the imaginative choice of venues:

• Stunning natural locations like vineyards, farms, and parks allow attendees to watch films nestled in nature.
• City rooftops and landmark historical sites provide picturesque backdrops that amplify the movie experience.
• Even car parks, stadiums, and public pools get transformed by the projection screen and sound system.
• Pop-up outdoor festivals also activate abandoned lots, vacant malls, and derelict warehouses, briefly turning them into lively hubs.

Temporary cinema seating, string lights, and snacks give new life to these neglected urban spaces. The location possibilities are endless, with each space adding its own flavor.

Year-Round Outdoor Movie Magic

A wonderful advantage of outdoor cinema is its ability to adapt across seasons:

• While summer nights may be the most obvious fit, creative screening set-ups mean films can be enjoyed year-round.
• In spring and autumn, comfy bean bags, heaters, and blankets allow for cozy movie nights as the weather transitions.
• Wintertime events embrace the cold surroundings, providing warm drinks, heated seats, and fairy-lit snowy settings.

As outdoor cinema has increased in popularity as an event, so too has home outdoor movie gear become more accessible:

• Portable projectors and weatherproof screens now make outdoor home theaters achievable in your own backyard.
• String lights, candles, and backyard furniture set the scene for cozy garden screenings.
• For avid outdoor movie fans, installing a fixed projector and screen can transform the backyard into a personal alfresco cinema.

The Enduring Allure of Outdoor Movies

The home outdoor movie trend echoes the wider success of pop-up cinema events. After all, what better activity to bring people together than enjoying films under the open sky?

In many ways, the return to outdoor movie events offers an antidote to modern digital life. Where smartphones and streaming often provide isolated viewing experiences, outdoor cinema returns filmgoing to a meaningful collective activity.

By blending film, community, nature, and escapism, outdoor movies satisfy something profoundly human. Under the boundless skies, with only our imagination limited, we flock to share in the collective wonder, laughter, and meaning that cinema provides.

Outdoor film festivals capture the quintessential magic of movies - transporting us together to new worlds under the stars. With bountiful creativity, they will continue to thrive as a beloved cultural phenomenon