12 Drive-In Theater Snacks from the ’70s You Can’t Find Anymore
These drive-in theater snacks from the 1970s were once movie night staples, but they’ve quietly disappeared from shelves.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
The 1970s were a big time for drive-in theaters, and the snacks were a huge part of the experience. Many of these treats were unique to the era and can’t be found anymore, even in retro shops. They faded out due to changes in taste, health rules, or just being replaced by new products.
1. Space Food Sticks
Achim Raschka on Wikimedia Commons
These chewy, stick-shaped snacks were inspired by real space missions. They were sold as high-energy treats for kids and often came in flavors like peanut butter or chocolate. You could find them at snack bars because they were easy to pack and didn’t melt. They were discontinued when interest in space-themed products slowed down.
2. Marathon Bar
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia Commons
The Marathon Bar was a long, braided caramel bar covered in milk chocolate. It came in an extra-long wrapper, and its size made it fun for kids and a good value. It was especially popular at theaters because it lasted a long time. Mars discontinued it in the early 1980s without bringing it back.
3. Regal Crown Sours
Mysid on Wikimedia Commons
These hard candies came in flavors like sour cherry and lemon. They were known for being very tart, almost too much for some kids. Sold in roll form, they were a good option for slow snacking through a movie. They vanished for years and only recently saw a limited re-release.
4. Flicks Chocolate Wafers
Flicks on Wikimedia Commons
Flicks were small, round chocolate wafers packaged in shiny foil tubes. They were easy to share and perfect for drive-ins where messy snacks weren’t ideal. The brand started way back in the early 1900s but was still around in the ’70s. The company closed in the 1980s due to equipment issues and a lack of demand.
5. Seven Up Candy Bar
Allo002 on Wikimedia Commons
Not to be confused with the soda, this chocolate bar had seven filled sections, each with a different flavor. You never really knew what filling you’d get first — one might be cherry, the next coconut or caramel. It was a fun and unusual candy bar, which made it a good conversation starter at the theater. It was discontinued because it was expensive to make.
6. Reggie! Bar
Jin Zan on Wikimedia Commons
Named after baseball player Reggie Jackson, this bar was filled with peanuts, caramel, and chocolate. It came out in the late ’70s and was marketed during his peak popularity. Some theaters stocked them as part of limited promotions. Once the hype faded, so did the candy.
7. Oompahs
Austin Kirk on Wikimedia Commons
These were chewy, round candies with colorful shells and chocolate or peanut butter centers. They were a bit like large M&Ms but had a different texture. They were made by Willy Wonka Candy Company, which had strong visibility at the time. They were phased out in the 1990s with no major replacements.
8. Chocolate Babies
Samuel Wiki on Wikimedia Commons
These soft, chewy candies looked like tiny baby figurines and had a distinct, rich cocoa flavor. They weren’t overly sweet and had a unique texture. Some people found them strange, but others saw them as nostalgic. Over time, cultural sensitivity and low demand led to their disappearance.
9. Koogle Spread
A.Savin on Wikimedia Commons
Though not a candy, Koogle was a flavored peanut spread that came in varieties like chocolate, cinnamon, and banana. Some drive-ins offered it on crackers or toast as part of kid snack trays. It had a short shelf life and didn’t compete well with traditional peanut butter. It quietly vanished by the late ’70s.
10. Quake Cereal Snacks
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia Commons
Quake was a breakfast cereal with a spinoff snack version sold at some theaters as pre-packaged finger food. It was crunchy, sweet, and shaped like gears or bolts. These were often sold in little bags at drive-ins for kids. When the cereal was discontinued, the snack version disappeared too.
11. Dr. Pepper Gum
CF496233 on Wikimedia Commons
This was chewing gum that tasted like Dr. Pepper soda. It was marketed toward teens and sold alongside sodas and popcorn at snack counters. The flavor was bold and didn’t last long, but it was memorable. It quietly faded out by the early 1980s.
12. Lik-M-Aid with Original Packaging
Timothy Tolle on Wikimedia Commons
This powdered candy came in little pouches and was eaten by licking your finger and dipping it into the powder. The original version didn’t come with a candy stick like today’s Fun Dip. It was cheap, easy to sell in bulk, and popular with kids. Over time, the packaging and formula changed, and the original version was phased out.