Skyline snack bar

A mobile snack bar for the atomic age. Skyline Drive-in theatres popped up all over the suburbs of Sydney in the 1950s and '60s. This image was taken at the Frenchs Forest theatre which opened in 1956 and operated until 1984. In its heyday it even provided horse rides for kids! The photo reflects how cinemagoing has changed over the decades, but also suggests that many of the rituals have stayed the same – including buying snacks and drinks from the concession stand before the movie starts.

Things got a little more creative over at the Skyline in Fairfield, the El Rancho, which had a Wild West theme. The theatre used a chuckwagon for quick-service meals and costumed cowboys and cowgirls served customers.