After seeing this done in other scales quite some time back, and passing one in town every time I drive to the dog groomer's- I did some research online regarding the beginnings of the Drive-in movie theater.
I discovered that the first "Park-In" Theater was opened in Camden, NJ on June 6, 1933. The idea was the brain-child of Richard Hollingshead. Perfect for the Tinplate era! I already had a large size iPad that I now rarely use, that could work for a film 'screen'. I wanted something that would have a bit of art deco era styling.
I decided to revisit the same crown moulding from Home Depot I had previously used for my piers for the Hellgate Bridge. The vertical grooves on this particular crown moulding are different sizes on each side. The smaller grooved side worked nicely for this project. I picked up Rustoleum Chrome Metallic Paint for the main front areas, and Rustoleum 2X Gloss Black for the rest. I recycled some plywood I had previously test painted on, that was the right width I knew I wanted to go with.
Basically the wood structure is a open top footed "frame", so to speak for the iPad to sit 'in'. The finished height is 18 inches. I can remove the iPad easily to set up a movie still picture saved in iPhoto, or run an old movie on it via YouTube.
The "Roosevelt Park-In Theater" is now finished, and currently on my Foyer Std. Gauge & O Halloween Layout. I have five of my 1:24 diecast 1930s automobiles, (and their "parking lot") borrowed from my Upstairs Standard Gauge Layout parked in front of the Theater for viewing the evening's film. This temporary "seasonal/theme" layout is a petite 4ft x 6ft.
This was a very simple and inexpensive project, that really makes for a great and unique scene with any Standard Gauge tinplate.
