8-12-2026 4:05am

The Largest Screen

The Bengies Drive-In Theatre to host Seven Decades fireworks finale

The Bengies Drive-In Theatre announced plans to host a fireworks show and movie screening on Saturday, Aug. 15, marking the grand finale of the venue’s 70th anniversary season.

The event serves as the conclusion to the theater’s “Seven Decade Series,” a summer-long celebration honoring seven decades of continuous operation in Baltimore County.

As part of the closing festivities, the outdoor venue will showcase a fireworks display followed by a screening of the summer blockbuster feature film “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”

Theater management expects the anniversary finale to draw one of the largest turnouts of the summer season. Patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance online to secure admission for the evening.

"This is the grand finale of our 70th Anniversary celebration, and we expect it to be one of the busiest nights of the season," reads an announcement.

Residents interested in attending the festivities are urged to arrive early to secure a parking spot closest to the screen. No entries will be allowed after the box office closes.

A Truly Unique Moviegoing EXPERIENCE

Enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere and movies from the comfort of your car. Bring chairs and blankets to sit outside of your vehicle. Our huge original snack bar, signage, and intermission clips will take you back to another time. Tire the kids out in our giant playground under the screen. We have audience participation during intermissions.

~Since 1956~

History of The Bengies

How Bengies Got Its Name

The Bengies Drive-In Theatre was the result of a collaboration by Jack, Hank, and Paul Vogel. Jack was the sole architect for the project and the Vogel Building Company, with Hank at the helm, did the actual construction. The drive-in opened on June 6, 1956, exactly 23 years after Richard Hollingshead opened the very first drive-in theatre. It was named the Bengies Drive-In Theatre to reflect the name of the surrounding Bengies community, which had been named to honor the 23rd US. President Benjamin Harrison (nicknamed Bengie). Hank Vogel personally managed the Bengies from the day it opened until his death in 1978.

Theatre Design

Built with streamlined efficiency and customer service in mind, the brand new Bengies not only sported the perfect and largest CinemaScope screen tower, but also featured a large, well designed snack bar with two serving lanes. Twin auditoriums flanked each side of the concession stand to accommodate walk-in patrons. Each auditorium seated 60. The restroom facilities were unusually large for a drive-in of its era. The layout of the car ramps was unusual also. Most drive-ins are designed with a roadway between each ramp, whereas the Bengies features double ramps to allow maximum capacity in a limited space. At the time it was built, the drive-in had a capacity of 1000 cars.

Little Has Changed

Through the years, the appearance of Bengies has changed a little. The original marquee was changed to the present marquee in 1973. The space that was once auditorium seating is now utilized for storage and offices. AM sound was added in 1984. FM radio sound was added in 1991. Digital Projection was added in 2013. Although some of the exterior features have changed through the years, the essence of Bengies has remained the same, making it (as its telephone recording states) a “real-live, honest-to-God, all-American, drive-in movie theatre.” It even says “All American Drive-In” on the marquee. Bengies starts each evening with the playing of the National Anthem. It is a long-time Vogel tradition started by Paul Vogel, and is taken very seriously by staff and patrons alike. Young and old face the screen to pay tribute to our flag. Some even sing along.

Showmanship

Cement, steel, glass, and film do not by themselves make a theatre. Ask any drive-in aficionado, and they will tell you that it is Showmanship that makes going to a drive-in (or any motion picture theatre) a real treat. Showmanship is a lost art among the many theatres today that rely on the reputations of particular films or actors to draw crowds. The drive-ins and indoor movie palaces of yesteryear knew how to draw crowds and knew how to keep them entertained. They knew how to make the theatre itself as much fun as the movies it played. While many modern indoor theatres have long since stopped making an effort to dazzle patrons, this is certainly not the case with the Bengies Drive-In.

Little Extras

Many little extras give the Bengies “personality.” An evening at the Bengies includes at least two features (usually three on Friday and Saturday), and those wonderful animated vintage intermission trailers that lure patrons to the concession stand and bring about a sense of nostalgia for drive-in nights past. The snack bar offers many “taste-tempting treats” as well as a wide variety of Bengies memorabilia that patrons can purchase as souvenirs. There is also audience participation via flashing your headlights. While most other drive-ins now operate during summer months only, Bengies remains open into the colder weather months. In-car heaters keep patrons warm during those chilly nights. Additionally, there are giveaways, and on some nights, Dusk-to-Dawn shows. All this for the price of one film at other theatres. Some other drive-ins only show one feature or show nothing during intermission. The Bengies truly is Special.