Tags
1960s, 1970s, Americana, Gothic Gaming, Gothic Horror, Highway, Roadtrip, Seventies, Sixties, Weird America
In the 1950s, the Drive-ins of America were not just places for teenagers to make-out, but destinations for the entire family. By the 1970s, however, they had generally become the suburban equivalents of the urban Grindhouses, specializing in low-budget and exploitation movies not shown in “normal” theaters. And on the Uncanny Highway, the line between reality and cinematic fantasy can become frighteningly blurry.
Note that unlike modern Drive-ins that microbroadcast the soundtrack to your car stereo, in the 1960s and 70s the sound came through speakers wired to short poles in the parking lot. You brought the speaker into your car – and hopefully remembered to put it back on the pole before driving away!
Tonight’s Showings
|
d6 |
Tonight’s show is a… |
|
1 – 2 |
single movie, with two consecutive showings. |
|
3 – 4 |
double feature. |
|
5 – 6 |
triple feature. |
Drive-in (and Grindhouse) Movie Titles
Roll a d10 to determine which number Title Table to use. Then, roll the dice indicated in parenthesis to construct a new title.
Title Table 1 (d12, twice)
|
1 |
The Prehistoric |
Spider. |
|
2 |
The Atomic |
Woman. |
|
3 |
The Terrible |
Child. |
|
4 |
The Devil(’s) |
Killer. |
|
5 |
The Bloody |
Outlaw. |
|
6 |
The Flying |
Creature. |
|
7 |
The Forbidden |
Hand. |
|
8 |
The Abominable |
Visage. |
|
9 |
The Revolting |
Torso. |
|
10 |
The Grisly |
Horror. |
|
11 |
The Shocking |
Brain. |
|
12 |
The Deadly |
Spawn. |
Title Table 2 (d20, twice)
|
1 |
Robot Titan versus |
the U.F.O.s. |
|
2 |
Wolfman versus |
the K.G.B. |
|
3 |
Battling Beauties versus |
the Slime Monster. |
|
4 |
Killer Cop versus |
the King of Pimps. |
|
5 |
Tyrannosaurus versus |
the Giant Eagle. |
|
6 |
Gill Man versus |
Satan. |
|
7 |
Green Berets versus |
the Invisible Monster. |
|
8 |
Ten Desperados versus |
the Giant Lizard. |
|
9 |
Wonder Man versus |
the Mob. |
|
10 |
Teenage Frankenstein versus |
Dracula. |
|
11 |
Electro-Man versus |
the Abductors. |
|
12 |
Sherlock Holmes versus |
the Klan. |
|
13 |
Machine-Gun P.T.A versus |
the Mummy |
|
14 |
Bad Momma versus |
the She-Beast. |
|
15 |
Far-Out Daddy versus |
the Monster from Dimension Five. |
|
16 |
Groovy Cats versus |
Jack the Ripper. |
|
17 |
Kung Fu Fighters versus |
Doctor Frankenstein. |
|
18 |
Foxy Mahogany versus |
the Beast Men. |
|
19 |
Outlaw Bikers versus |
the Dope Fiends. |
|
20 |
Commando Priest versus |
Psycho Bikers. |
Title Table 4 (d8, three times)
|
1 |
Attack of the |
Radioactive |
Men! |
|
2 |
Shock of the |
Sex-Crazed |
Women! |
|
3 |
Horror of the |
Unknown |
Alligator! |
|
4 |
Beware the |
Deadly |
Priest! |
|
5 |
Escape from the |
Giant |
Snake! |
|
6 |
Terror of the |
Mutant |
Teenagers! |
|
7 |
Captured by the |
Hypnotic |
Beatniks! |
|
8 |
Exorcism of the |
Satanic |
Cultists! |
Title Table 4 (d10, three times)
|
1 |
I Was |
(a) Martian(s) |
for the F.B.I! |
|
2 |
I am |
(a) G-Man/G-Men |
for the Mob! |
|
3 |
I Know |
(a) Werewolf(s) |
for the K.G.B! |
|
4 |
I Married |
(a) Hooker(s) |
in Vegas! |
|
5 |
I Kissed |
(a) Trucker(s) |
in Dixie! |
|
6 |
I Escaped |
(a) Killer(s) |
in Malibu! |
|
7 |
We Were |
Trouble |
in New York! |
|
8 |
Sexy |
(a) Vampire(s) |
on the Run! |
|
9 |
Deadly |
(an) Assassin(s) |
Looking for Love! |
|
10 |
Wild |
(an) Outlaw(s) |
for Hire! |
Title Table 5 (d12, twice)
|
1 |
Have You Seen |
Marylin? |
|
2 |
Do You Know |
my Sweet? |
|
3 |
Where is /are |
the Babysitter? |
|
4 |
What Happened to |
Mother? |
|
5 |
Can you Help |
my Sister? |
|
6 |
Who Murdered |
Me? |
|
7 |
Who will Love |
the Bishop? |
|
8 |
Who can Resist |
Teacher? |
|
9 |
Where is |
Sister Agnes? |
|
10 |
Who Took |
the Night Nurse? |
|
11 |
Who Bought |
Her? |
|
12 |
Who Cursed |
Him? |
Title Table 6 (d12, twice)
|
1 |
Beast(s) |
from the Bronx. |
|
2 |
Whore(s) |
from Mississippi. |
|
3 |
Horror |
on the Subway. |
|
4 |
Madman |
of the Dead. |
|
5 |
Pimp(s) |
in the Heartland. |
|
6 |
Runaway(s) |
on the Road. |
|
7 |
Bad Girl(s) |
in Hell. |
|
8 |
Coed(s) |
in the White House. |
|
9 |
Innocent(s) |
on 42nd Street. |
|
10 |
Nurse(s) |
in Hollywood. |
|
11 |
Detective |
of the Night. |
|
12 |
Killer(s) |
in Candyland. |
Title Table 7 (d12, twice)
|
1 |
Roadhouse |
of Blood. |
|
2 |
Castle |
of Murder. |
|
3 |
Hospital |
of Fear. |
|
4 |
Motel |
of Screams. |
|
5 |
School |
of Violence. |
|
6 |
Prison |
of the Dead. |
|
7 |
Carnival |
of Sins. |
|
8 |
Church |
of a Thousand Terrors. |
|
9 |
House |
of Evil. |
|
10 |
Shop |
of Hell |
|
11 |
Resort |
of Fallen Angels. |
|
12 |
Street |
Without a Name. |
Title Table 8 (d12, twice)
|
1 |
Blood |
Car. |
|
2 |
Terror |
Train. |
|
3 |
Murder |
Dogs. |
|
4 |
Horror |
House. |
|
5 |
Shock |
City. |
|
6 |
Murder |
Mile. |
|
7 |
Hell |
Girls. |
|
8 |
Night |
Station. |
|
9 |
Terror |
Highway. |
|
10 |
Doom |
Street. |
|
11 |
Space |
Plane. |
|
12 |
Star |
Trip. |
Title Table 9 (Giallo & Eurosleeze Movies) (d10, three times)
|
1 |
Five |
Cats |
in Leather. |
|
2 |
Bloody |
Nuns |
of Milan. |
|
3 |
Naked |
Models |
on Silk Sheets. |
|
4 |
Delirious |
Photos |
of the Baroness. |
|
5 |
Sinister |
Secrets |
with Murderous Intent. |
|
6 |
Deadly |
Girls |
for Satan. |
|
7 |
Sinful |
Rats |
in Bondage. |
|
8 |
Blue |
Vices |
Without Pity. |
|
9 |
Lovely |
Eyes |
of New York. |
|
10 |
Wanton |
Lips |
by the Cemetery. |
Title Table 10 (King Fu Movies) (d12 three times)
|
1 |
Shaolin |
Monks |
Versus the Lama. |
|
2 |
Three |
Brothers |
of Iron. |
|
3 |
Flying |
Wife / Wives |
Versus Hopping Vampire. |
|
4 |
Drunken |
Master(s) |
Strike(s) Again! |
|
5 |
Crippled |
Fists |
Versus Wu Tang. |
|
6 |
Mad |
Monkey(s) |
Versus Deadly Tiger. |
|
7 |
Vengeful |
Dragon(s) |
Fight(s) All! |
|
8 |
Wild |
Crane(s) |
Against Evil. |
|
9 |
Little |
Warriors |
of Shanghai. |
|
10 |
Outlaw |
Lady / Ladies |
from Canton. |
|
11 |
Eightfold |
Avengers |
and the Princess. |
|
12 |
Magnificent |
Abbot(s) |
and the Poison Lotus. |
Drive-in Capacity
|
d12 |
The capacity of the lot is… |
|
1 |
50 cars |
|
2 |
100 cars |
|
3 |
150 cars |
|
4 |
200 cars |
|
5 |
250 cars |
|
6 |
300 cars |
|
7 |
350 cars |
|
8 |
400 cars |
|
9 |
450 cars |
|
10 |
500 cars |
|
11 |
550 cars |
|
12 |
600 cars |
Concessions
|
d20, 1d8 times |
Besides buttered popcorn, the concession stand sells: |
|
1 |
cheese-flavored popcorn. |
|
2 |
caramel corn. |
|
3 |
peanuts. |
|
4 |
candy. |
|
5 |
chocolates. |
|
6 |
cotton candy. |
|
7 |
potato chips. |
|
8 |
ice cream and ices. |
|
9 |
donuts. |
|
10 |
sandwiches. |
|
11 |
hamburgers. |
|
12 |
hot dogs. |
|
13 |
corn dogs. |
|
14 |
fried fish. |
|
15 |
barbecue. |
|
16 |
chili. |
|
17 |
soda. |
|
18 |
chocolate milk. |
|
19 |
corn bread. |
|
20 |
cookies |
Multiples of the same result indicate an unusually large variety of the indicated item(s).
Daytime Use
|
d8 |
During the day today, the lot is being used for… |
|
1 – 3 |
nothing. |
|
4 |
a Swap Meet. |
|
5 |
religious services. |
|
6 |
a carnival. See Amusement Parks of the Uncanny Highway. |
|
7 |
a custom car and “hot rod” show. |
|
8 |
a farm stand. |
Movie Quality
|
d20, twice |
The movie… |
|
1 |
stars (1d4) well-known actors / actresses. |
|
2 |
was made by a well-known director. |
|
3 |
was directed by someone using an obvious alias. |
|
4 |
is surprisingly well written. |
|
5 |
has the worst dialogue you’ve ever heard. |
|
6 |
is surprisingly well acted. |
|
7 |
features outrageously bad performances from the actors. |
|
8 |
has surprisingly good special effects. |
|
9 |
has laughably bad special effects. |
|
10 |
has a plot completely different from what you’d expect form the title. |
|
11 |
was actually filmed in another language and dubbed. If a Giallo, Eurosleeze, or King Fu movie, then it was actually filmed in English! |
|
12 |
features an exceptional amount of gratuitous nudity. |
|
13 |
features an exceptional amount of bloody violence. |
|
14 |
is surprisingly family-friendly! |
|
15 |
has such poor sound you can barely understand anything being said. |
|
16 |
looks like it was filmed in a dark tunnel! |
|
17 |
seems to be highly allegorical. |
|
18 |
is obsessed with a seemingly random subject. |
|
19 |
is so bad overall that it’s actually enjoyably funny! |
|
20 |
has a plot that seems to parallel the PC’s adventures on the road so far. |
Re-roll repeated results.
Drive-In Events.
|
d20 |
Suddenly… |
|
1 |
the film stops and the picture melts. |
|
2 |
the car nearest to you begins rocking! |
|
3 |
the nearest car suddenly pulls out and leaves, right in the middle of a movie. |
|
4 |
the dialogue and soundtrack seem to have gone out of synch with the visuals. |
|
5 |
the audio cuts out. |
|
6 |
you hear gunshots in the distance. |
|
7 |
somebody knocks on the window. (They want to: 1 = share the good news of Jesus Christ. 2 = find their missing spouse. 3 = find their missing child. 4 = accuse someone in the car of being their spouse’s lover. 5 = get your help with their car. 6 = murder the driver, or a passenger.) |
|
8 |
somebody starts honking their car’s horn. |
|
9 |
there is an inexplicably horrible smell in the air. |
|
10 |
1d4 cop cars show up. The movie is suddenly stops, and the owner of the theater is arrested for obscenity. |
|
11 |
a couple steps out of their car and starts arguing. |
|
12 |
a child runs out of a nearby car. |
|
13 |
a woman runs out of a car screaming! |
|
14 |
a U.F.O. is seen overhead! |
|
15 |
a small aircraft crashes into the screen! |
|
16 |
a biker gang pulls into the lot. |
|
17 |
cops are chasing a suspect through the lot! |
|
18 |
a car explodes! |
|
19 |
a car careens into the lot, crashing into 1d4 other cars before stopping. |
|
20 |
a sinkhole opens up under the lot. |