OREFIELD - Shankweiler’s Drive-In, the oldest existing drive-in theater in the country, has been sold.

The Moving Picture Cinema, run by drive-in veteran Matthew McClanahan and partner Lauren McChesney, finalized the purchase on Friday of Shankweiler’s, which is in Orefield.

McClanahan and McChesney are the fourth owners in Shankweiler’s 88-year history.

Shankweiler’s was the second drive-in theater ever built in the U.S., in 1934. Former owners Paul and Susan Geissinger purchased the property in 1984.

McClanahan, 32, previously revived and ran The Mahoning Drive-In Theater in Lehighton from 2014-2020. He has owned and operated The Moving Picture Cinema, a full-service mobile cinema, since 2019.

“I grew up going to Shankweiler’s to see movies with my family,” McClanahan said. “It’s such an honor to be able to craft those memories for future generations while preserving a significant piece of American history.”

Shankweiler’s will resume operations this month and continue with a limited schedule through the winter, with a grand reopening to follow in the spring.

The Moving Picture Cinema is a Lehigh Valley-based full-service mobile cinema. To learn more, visit www.seethemovingpicture.com

Shankweiler’s was built in 1934 by Wilson Shankweiler.

It was the first drive-in theater to broadcast movie audio via FM broadcast stereo in 1986 and converted to digital cinema in 2014. For updated information about schedules, go to www.shankweilers.com