There is something magical about a night at the drive-in. Can’t you just imagine it; sitting out under the stars, watching the latest Hollywood blockbuster, and enjoying tasty snacks from the concession stand? It is our opinion that there is no finer way to enjoy a movie.
The modern drive-in was actually patented in the 1930’s by a Camden, New Jersey man named Richard M. Hollingshead Jr. While the idea didn’t make him a millionaire, the trend caught like wildfire, nationwide. The drive-in was cemented into American history in the 1950’s and continued in popularity through the 1970’s.
Unfortunately, drive-in theaters have become something like an ancient artifact of by-gone years. Due to some unfortunate press and the fact that drive-ins are only operable after dark, most drive-in theaters were forced to close. There were once over 120 drive-in theaters in the state of Georgia. Most have become abandoned fields with long-forgotten blank screens. One of these theaters is The Hub of Covington, Georgia.
Though we can’t pinpoint its opening date, it’s safe to say that The Hub was in operation from somewhere around 1952 through the 1980’s. The massive field contained one screen and could park over 325 cars. During that time, the theater became a local hot-spot for young lovers and families alike. One of the greatest attributes of the drive-in was that families can take their infants to the movies. No matter how fussy the child may get, they wouldn’t disturb other patrons. Patrons also enjoyed a snack bar and the building can still be seen today. The head chef was a Mr. Roy Varner, whom Lake Varner is named after. The Hub would also host weekly bingo nights. The top prize? A set of “plastic picnic plates”.
It is a shame that the Hub wasn’t able to stay in business. As far as anyone can tell, the Hub was shuttered over 30 years ago and was just abandoned. The huge screen and marquee have now rotted away. All that remains is the small concession stand, with “The Hub” still faintly painted on its bricks. Perhaps, one day, someone will resurrected this treasured memory. Until then, The Hub Drive-In Movie Theater remains the lost sight of happier days.
