With their roller-skating waiters and rows of polished convertibles, drive-in movie theatres were once all the rage in 1950s and 60s America.
They gradually died out around 50 years ago as the rise of the VHS ushered in a preference to watch films from home, but still evoke a sense of nostalgia at the idea of witnessing Hollywood’s golden age from the comfort of a car.
Now, thanks to Elon Musk, they may well see a mini resurgence.
That’s because the billionaire entrepreneur has received approval to open an all-night Tesla diner that would include a drive-in cinema and charging station.
It will feature two 45-foot LED movie screens running famous film clips 24/7.
Futuristic nostalgia: Elon Musk has received approval to open an all-night Tesla diner that would include a drive-in cinema and charging station. The company has not released official artist’s impressions yet but that hasn’t stopped fans creating their own, including 3D renders put together by architect Ed Howard (pictured)
Rough idea: Tesla also gave a brief glimpse of the design during its 2023 Investor Day presentation (pictured), which would suggest Mr Howard’s concept is not a million miles off
Musk’s vision is for people to be able to catch a 30-minute glimpse of these scenes while they grab a bite to eat and wait for their car to recharge at one of 28 supercharging points.
His idea for the design was to create a retro-futuristic aesthetic billed as being ‘Grease meets The Jetsons with Supercharging’.
Starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, the 1978 film Grease is adored the world over for capturing a teen love story against the backdrop of 50s rock ‘n’ roll, where a drive-in movie theatre is the go-to place to hang out and go on dates.
The Jetsons, meanwhile, was an animated sitcom about a family living in a comical version of the future where flying cars, holograms and robotic contraptions are commonplace.
Tesla has revealed technical drawings of its proposed drive-in – which will be built on Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood – but no official artist impressions as yet.
That hasn’t stopped fans from creating their own, however, including 3D renders put together by architect Ed Howard.
Tesla has revealed technical drawings of its proposed drive-in – which will be built on Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood
The facility will feature two 45-foot LED movie screens, indoor and outdoor seating, and 28 superchargers so visitors can recharge their vehicles while they relax
They show a spaceship-like diner with a large rooftop terrace which also captures the essence of 1950s Americana.
Construction of the new Tesla facility is expected to begin soon now the proposals have been given the green light by the city of Los Angeles.
The venue will have indoor and outdoor seating, while visitors will be able to pay with the cryptocurrency Dogecoin once the venue is built.
Musk previously said that Tesla-branded diners could sprout up around its charging stations, having first tweeted about the idea back in 2018, and last year filed for three trademarks related to possibly joining the restaurant business.
Tesla originally planned to build the diner in the coastal city of Santa Monica but moved the plans to Hollywood, on the historic Route 66.
They will involve demolishing a Shakey’s Pizza Parlor on the current site and building the diner in its place.
What the Tesla venue could look like: Mr Howard’s renderings show a spaceship-like diner with a large rooftop terrace which also captures the essence of 1950s Americana
Coming soon: Construction is expected to begin soon now the proposals have been given the green light by the city of Los Angeles
In February, Musk tweeted that a ‘futuristic diner / drive-in theater’ was being ‘planned for Hollywood area!’
The ground floor of the venue will include a kitchen, stool seating and booths, and an outdoor bar around the edge of the building, while the top deck will have outdoor rooftop seating and an area for theatre-style seats.
There will also be a ‘carhop area’ downstairs for staff to bring meals out to vehicles in the car park. In total there will be over 200 seats.
It is hard to tell from the technical drawings what the decor will look like, but Tesla may be going for more of a futuristic style, despite originally billing the idea as being for an ‘old-school’ diner.
It could also be a mixture of the two.
In February, Musk tweeted that a ‘futuristic diner / drive-in theater’ was being ‘planned for Hollywood area!’
Tesla also gave a brief glimpse of the design during its 2023 Investor Day presentation, which would suggest Mr Howard’s concept is not a million miles off.
Now approval for the project has been given, more details are expected to follow very soon.
WHAT ARE TESLA SUPERCHARGERS AND HOW DO THEY WORK?
Tesla has created a Supercharger network around the world that allows its electric vehicles to power up for long distance travel.
Prices of using the service vary across the world, and they can be found here.
To charge a Tesla, drivers park and plug in their vehicle using the connector at the Supercharger post.
Tesla has created a Supercharger network around the world that allows its electric vehicles to power up for long distance travel
Once plugged in, the vehicle’s charge port will flash green to indicate that charging has started.
Drivers can monitor charging progress on your instrument panel or Tesla App.
The chargers allow Tesla owners to recharge their cars to 80 per cent within half an hour.
The firm currently has more than 2,500 Supercharger Stations with 25,000 Superchargers across the globe.
