Heiko Desch Keeps Germany’s First Drive‑In Cinema in Gravenbruch Open

Heiko Desch, a 54‑year‑old cinema enthusiast, has run the Autokino in Gravenbruch, a suburb of Neu‑Isenburg near Frankfurt, since 2002. The site opened on 31 March 1960 as Germany’s first drive‑in cinema, premiering with the film “The King and I”. Today it still accommodates about 650 vehicles and employs 27 staff members. Desch, who began working in cinemas as a teenager in Bad Orb, handles film selection, negotiations with distributors, the website, supplier relations, staff schedules and salaries, and sometimes works the cash desk or snack bar himself. The venue has hosted numerous personal events, including marriage proposals and a self‑made short film shown for a bride, though fog has occasionally forced cancellations. During the COVID‑19 pandemic, the drive‑in experienced a revival as a socially distanced entertainment option, helping it remain a cultural landmark in the region.