Salem, Oregon: Find Fun With Outdoor Movies

Salem, Oregon's first Summer Outdoor Family Film Series ran at Riverfront Park Amphitheater in 2008, screening movies on a 24-by-13-foot inflatable screen for free. People could arrive from 7:30 p.m.; films started at dusk. Becky George, recreation coordinator for Salem's Department of Community Services, called it like going to the drive-in.

The series was part of a broader trend of communities finding low-cost family entertainment. Nearby, the second-run Northern Lights Theatre Pub charged just $3 per ticket with a full dinner menu. Town & Country Lanes partnered with Domino's and Hollywood Video on a weekend “Bowling, Movie and Pizza Night” package -- free shoe rental with three games bowled, $10 pizza delivery.