<P> Originally , Top Hat customers would park their automobiles anywhere on the gravel parking lot and walk up to place their orders . However , on a trip to Louisiana , Smith saw a drive - in that used speakers for ordering . He suspected that he could increase his sales by controlling the parking and having the customers order from speakers at their cars , with carhops delivering the food to the cars . Smith borrowed several automobiles from a friend who owned a used - car lot to establish a layout for controlled parking . He also had some so - called `` jukebox boys '' come in and wire an intercom system in the parking lot . Sales immediately tripled . Charles Woodrow Pappe , an entrepreneur , chanced upon the Shawnee drive - in and was impressed . He and Smith negotiated the first franchise location in Woodward , Oklahoma , in 1956 , based on nothing more than a handshake . By 1958 , two more drive - ins were built , in Enid and Stillwater . </P>
<P> Originally , Top Hat customers would park their automobiles anywhere on the gravel parking lot and walk up to place their orders . However , on a trip to Louisiana , Smith saw a drive - in that used speakers for ordering . He suspected that he could increase his sales by controlling the parking and having the customers order from speakers at their cars , with carhops delivering the food to the cars . Smith borrowed several automobiles from a friend who owned a used - car lot to establish a layout for controlled parking . He also had some so - called `` jukebox boys '' come in and wire an intercom system in the parking lot . Sales immediately tripled . Charles Woodrow Pappe , an entrepreneur , chanced upon the Shawnee drive - in and was impressed . He and Smith negotiated the first franchise location in Woodward , Oklahoma , in 1956 , based on nothing more than a handshake . By 1958 , two more drive - ins were built , in Enid and Stillwater . </P>
when was the first sonic drive in opened
when was the first sonic drive in opened
1956
1956