Poughkeepsie Overlook Drive-In: One of New York's Last Drive-Ins

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For generations of Hudson Valley families, summer has never officially begun until they’ve spent an evening at the Overlook Drive-In in Poughkeepsie. One of the last surviving family-owned drive-in movie theaters in New York, the Overlook continues to offer a nostalgic movie-going experience while preserving a tradition that has nearly disappeared across America.

Photo: By Michele Hassinger, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

For many residents of Dutchess and Putnam Counties, summer isn’t officially summer until they’ve had a night out at the Overlook Drive-In, located at 126 Degarmo Road between Routes 44 and 55 in Poughkeepsie. Its huge screen, 110 feet wide and six stories tall, is the largest drive-in movie screen in the entire tri-state area. The theater’s location on 12 rural acres makes it the perfect place to relive old memories of going to the drive-in movie theater while making new ones. For three years in a row, the Overlook has been voted “Best in the Hudson Valley,” and the legacy of this family business has been featured in news articles and documentary films.

I had the pleasure of speaking on the phone with Charles Smith, who works as the Overlook’s manager, about some of those memories. He wears many hats at both the Overlook Drive-In and its sister theater in Hyde Park. Mr. Smith’s voice was friendly and charming, a real radio voice. That talent comes in handy, as he also makes announcements over the loudspeakers at both theaters and helps with promotions alongside the company’s marketing coordinator, Dawn Markling. Charles Smith is a close, longtime friend of the Cohen family, the owners. He grew up with movie-theater life, as his family also owned and operated theaters in nearby Ulster County.

Mr. Smith spoke with great warmth and enthusiasm about the Overlook and, of course, the Hyde Park Drive-In. He really could not talk about one without mentioning the other. The pride he takes in being part of both theaters is evident.

The Cohen Family Legacy

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The story begins and remains about the Cohen family. In 1949, Sid and Ida Cohen, independent theater owners, expanded their family business by opening the Hyde Park Drive-In Theatre. Then, in 1955, they added Poughkeepsie’s Overlook Drive-In Theater. As the theaters were family-owned and operated, Fred and Barbara Cohen took over the Overlook’s management. They entered the drive-in market at the height of its popularity, and the Overlook joined the Hyde Park Drive-In in providing the latest films in a relaxed and comfortable setting.

A Classic Drive-In Experience

Going to the Overlook Drive-In is like taking a trip back in time. Don’t try to pull out your Visa card at the ticket booth, as it’s cash only. You can, however, use Visa or Mastercard at the snack bar. And what a snack bar it is, with tons of popcorn, plus old-time favorites like funnel cake, Angus beef burgers, pizza, fries, and a great selection of soft drinks, including ice-cold Yoo-hoo.

For those who don’t remember Yoo-hoo, it’s a smooth chocolate drink that is the perfect compromise between an egg cream and a milkshake. Baseball legend Yogi Berra was the popular Yoo-hoo spokesman during the 1940s and 1950s.

You can bring your own food to the Overlook Drive-In, but with the great selection at the snack bar, why would you want to? All the food is high-quality and reasonably priced. Speakers are set up at the snack stand so that if your family sends you off with a big order, you won’t miss any of the movie.

The parking area accommodates up to 760 cars. Long gone are the individual hook-on speakers, which became outdated with advances in technology. Like many drive-ins today, the Overlook broadcasts movie audio over an FM radio frequency. Just tune your radio to 87.9 FM, relax, and enjoy the show. If you don’t have a working radio or worry about draining your car battery, no problem. Portable radios are available to rent from the projection booth with a refundable deposit.

The Overlook’s FAQ page even states that if your battery dies during the movie, they’ll help get you going again. That’s a wonderful old-fashioned, neighborly touch. In many ways, time seems to stand still at the Overlook Drive-In, where a family-run business has earned the affection and respect of its customers in addition to their admission dollars.

Adapting To The Digital Age

One of the biggest challenges the Overlook Drive-In faced was the movie industry’s conversion from film to digital projection. A touching 2012 documentary that aired on PBS Channel 13 highlighted the struggles the Overlook faced in preserving the traditional drive-in experience in an increasingly digital world.

The theater invested in a computerized projection system but lost its longtime projectionist, Helge Bernhardt, who had spent years running film projectors at both indoor theaters and the Overlook Drive-In. Fred Cohen appears prominently throughout the documentary, speaking proudly about the family business. Shortly after filming concluded, Fred Cohen passed away. Today, Barbara Cohen, Barry Horowitz, and Carol Horowitz continue the family tradition, supported by longtime employees like Charles Smith.

Charles played an important role in helping usher the Cohen family’s theaters into the digital age. The decision was difficult, but it was either modernize or close. Like many family-owned businesses, the Overlook faced enormous challenges but never lost sight of its commitment to customers.

Mr. Smith is also well versed in operating the old-style movie projectors. He explained that each reel of film stretched nearly a mile in length. Children loved touring the projection booth and watching the staff thread the film through the projector. To many of them, it seemed like magic. Those days of feeding film through rollers and splicing damaged reels together are now part of movie history.

Keeping A Tradition Alive

The fact that the Overlook Drive-In, along with the Hyde Park Drive-In, has remained open all these years is remarkable. During the 1950s, there were more than 4,000 drive-in theaters operating throughout the United States. Today, only a small fraction remains.

Mr. Smith has countless stories about serving generations of moviegoers. One of his favorites took place during the 1980s after VCRs became popular. Customers who arrived late would ask if he could simply rewind the movie so they could watch what they had missed.

The Cohen family also rents the property for special events such as weddings. One year, Charles organized a pet adoption event before a screening of The Secret Life of Pets. Three animals found new homes that evening, making it an event everyone involved still remembers fondly.

Back in the 1950s, family station wagons were low and sleek. Today’s SUVs and hatchbacks require a little more courtesy. The Overlook asks visitors to back into parking spaces only if open hatchbacks won’t block anyone else’s view. Families often picnic beside their vehicles, and picnic tables are available near the snack bar. Dogs are welcome as long as they remain leashed and well-behaved. Open flames are prohibited, although mosquito coils are sold during buggy evenings. The theater even accommodates RVs and large trailers with designated parking.

Mention the Overlook Drive-In to almost anyone in the Hudson Valley, and you’re likely to hear stories from decades past. An old family friend remembers seeing The Godfather there in 1972. My in-laws spent family evenings there long before I knew them. My cousin Donna still remembers watching movies through the rear window of her parents’ station wagon as a little girl. Friends from Carmel High School continue sharing their favorite memories every spring as another drive-in season approaches. There is something wonderfully timeless about reliving decades-old memories while still making new ones in exactly the same place.

The Overlook charges admission per person rather than per car, so teenagers can forget about trying to hide friends in the trunk. Even so, the prices remain remarkably affordable. Guests enjoy a double feature, making it one of the best entertainment values anywhere in the Hudson Valley.

The Overlook season depends on the weather, generally opening in early April and continuing through October. Every spring, loyal customers begin driving past the giant marquee or checking the theater’s website and Facebook page, eagerly waiting for the announcement that another season is about to begin. For many families, that announcement marks the true beginning of spring.