Chakeres Theatres - Melody 49 Drive-In — Local services in Clayton

A little bit of a drive, but worth the trek. Shows and times are posted on the sign at the entrance and on the website. You drive up to three lines of cars to the ticket booths--the reddish-pink "Welcome" signs on each greeting you with a warm, nostalgia. Price is more than reasonable ($25/car for two films). Tune in your radio to the correct frequency and choose your spot in the viewing lot. There are two screens from which to choose (four films shown each night).

A central concessions building serves all the basics at prices a bit cheaper than the cinemas. Restroom facilities are usually decent, but could use some TLC. Lines at both concessions and restrooms can be long if you don't time things right.

While you wait for the show to start, the radio pipes out classics from the 50's and 60's. Feel free to set out your lawn chairs and enjoy the night air. Show starts when it's dark enough. Be patient if it doesn't start on schedule. It's a good time to talk while you dip into whatever snacks you brought along. You can also answer movie trivia which flashes on the screen.

When the film starts, turn up your radio. Using ear buds in a cellphone's FM radio app comes across a little quiet when film conversation is normal, so I recommend having either your car radio cranked up or bringing a portable radio.

After the film, you can stay for the second show or head out. Exiting after the first show can take some time (up to 10 minutes if you parked close to the screen). Have a safe trip home while all the armchair movie critics in your car share their thoughts. You've just helped create a...

June/July 2024 update!

Wow they now tell you to move to fit two vehicles in one designated space! They don't care about jacked up trucks parking in every single row front and back! Blocking everyone's view. Cramping as many cars into a space because of greed! I understand business but man you can tell how horrible it is ran! Put some restrictions in place and actually follow them! They seem to like to change the rules as they go on a per showing basis. So remember if you have a big truck you can do what you want here! If you have anything smaller you don't matter as a customer! Unreal!

Update! how about playing current movies? Classics are fine but every weekend and full price? Maybe do classic Saturday night on one screen and maybe $5 a person? Last year they only played comic book movies! Totally went down hill!

No longer playing a variety of movies! Its same movies everyweek to milk what is popular! They should just turn it into a comic book shop and run only comic book movies! Like they do now! Believe it or not they still make movies that are not comic book related! I think they could be more fair and they opened for the season way later than most others! Ill go back when they actually play something that is not a comic book movie on...

We love to go here even though it's 45 mins away... love the cheap prices and friendly staff :-)... tonight 5/30/14 was a nightmare suvs/minivans/trucks are supposed to be in the back 2 rows for each screen and there are cars everywhere in our spots with lawn chairs taking up rows and rows where our cars are supposed to go.... my mom hit a pole with her car because they forced her to move because the car pulled in sideways and couldn't see even though she was there first! !! Not sure I will be coming back after the nastiness of people in their cars thinking they own the place 5/2/15... We went to see the new Avengers movie and I jumped out of the car to use the ATM( because last year they did not take credit or debit cards) was accused of trying to sneak onto the property. I explained to the manager what was going on and he got rude and nasty with me so I started to walk away and he threatened my 14yo son. I called the police and was trespassed off the property for calling the police myself. I have been coming here since I was 8yo, but I will never come back! And not just because I am not allowed to! A small town business should not threaten teens of families who make this a summer thing. I will never come back and do not recommend anyone to come here unless you want to be treated...