CAARP
Cinema and Audience Research Project

"Original capacity was 454 cars with a holding paddock for second session patrons - drive-ins in the fifties often ran two sessions per night which included a feature, newsreel, cartoon and trailers. Croydon was one of the few drive-ins in Australia to have a swimming pool. By the early 1960's capacity was up to 741 cars and a bituman go-kart track had been added under the screen. Complaints were received from surrounding residents about the noise and these led to an inspection of the track, which was unfenced and it was deemed unsafe. A walk-in was added in 1956 to cater for locals without cars, these were common up until the 1960's. Croydon was equipped with Brady drive-in speakers, Village Theatre supplies were sole agents for this Australian brand" (Kilderry, 1999)

Film Weekly records the following changes in capacity:
1955/6 = 500 cars
1956/7 = 514
1962/3 = 600
1967/8 = 800

References
Cinema & Theatre Historical Society 1997, Cinema index : Melbourne cinemas, suburban cinemas, Victorian drive-ins. CATHS, Victoria.

Film Weekly, Film Weekly: motion picture directory, Film Weekly, Sydney. 1955/6-1971

Film screenings advertised in The Herald until 1981

Film Weekly (29 July 1954, p.1) briefly references the installment RCA technical equipment in the village Drive-in. Reports that it will be scheduled for completion November next.

Kilderry, D 1999, Drive-ins Downunder, viewed 2 October 2008, http://www.drive-insdownunder.com.au/australian/vic_croydon.htm

Manzie, K 1954 "Still more Vic. drive-ins", Film Weekly 20 May, p. 18.

Sampson, F 1955, "Newest drive-in has everything!: opens with flourish", Film Weekly, 20 January, p. 1.
This article announces the opening of the The Village, Croydon. Reported to accommodate 500 + 150 cars