DIY Doll Drive-In Theater Speakers

Now that Summer is finally here I have been feeling a bit nostalgic!  Thoughts of summer fun from my childhood sneak up and plant huge smiles on my face!  One of my favorite things to do was go to the Tiffin Drive-In Theater.  It’s at that drive-in I first saw Walt Disney’s, Bambie.  My parents had a station wagon; Mom would lay the back seat down and make a bed in the back.  My sister and I thought it was heaven.  Ownership of the Tiffin Drive-In has changed hands and I believe it is now called “The Field of Dreams” theater.  My own daughters were so excited with my stories of this drive-in theater that I decided to surprise them and create a doll version.  This will be a series of three posts: 1) the speakers 2) the screen, marquee sign, and concessions 3) the projector.  Up today will be the DIY Doll Drive-in Theater Speakers.  The speakers turned out super cute!

I spent a significant amount of time researching the drive-in speakers before creating my speaker printable and stand design.  Below are pictures of the speaker head inspiration.

Below are pictures used for inspiration of the drive-in speaker stand.

I decided to use cpvc for the Doll DIY Drive-in Theater Speaker stands.  Thanks so much to Lowe’s for their sponsorship!  I wanted to make two speaker stands.

Each stand requires: One 3/4″ x 1/2″ cpvc reducing coupling.  One 8″ piece of 1/2″ cpvc.  One 1/2″ male adapter. One pvc 1/2″ flange.

I purchased a 2 foot piece of cpvc.  I used a pvc cutter and cut each piece down to 8 inches.  This is the only cutting required.  All cpvc pieces where sanded and wiped down.

The flange, which I was using as the base, was already a dark grey.  I liked the color as is and decided to paint the speaker pole grey.  I found a perfect match with Rustoleum Painter’s Touch in dark grey.  The male adapter was attached to one end of the cpvc pipe and they were spray painted.

I used Krylon Cover Max in a Nickel color for the reducing coupling.

I used contact cement to attach the cpvc together.  Honestly, the pieces fit very snugly together even prior to gluing.

For the speaker head I recycled small Altoids min tins.  The tins were cleaned.  Each lid was glued shut with epoxy glue such as E6000. Each tin was spray painted with the nickel colored paint mentioned above.

Print off the FREE Doll DIY Drive-in Theater Speaker printable here:  Doll DIY Drive In Theater Speakers Printable.  Simple print, cut, and glue to tin with a glue stick.

I purchased Command hooks for the back of the tins.

I liked how these hooks were clear and blended nicely with the silver.  Make sure whatever hooks you use that they are wide enough to slip over the doll car door.

Next, hot glue a pony bead to the right upper back corner of each tin.

I used 550 thick parachute or sweatshirt cording from Michaels to create the speaker wire.  Each piece was cut to 15 inches.  This cording frays very easily.   You will need to briskly run a flame from a lighter or match around each end to melt and seal.  While each end was still warm I pinched the end to create a small tip.  One end of the cording was hot glued into the pony bead on the back of the tin.

You need to hot glue another pony bead to the side of the reducing coupling.  Then, hot glue the other end of the cording into that bead.   You want to create a loop with the cording so it lays like a wire would on the stand.  The pony bead on the coupling needs to be on the opposite side of the pony bead that is on the tin.

Another view of pony bead placement.

I did add four cabinet bumpers to the bottom the of base to steady the stand and prevent scratching of our flooring.

I love how the DIY Doll Drive In Speaker turned out!  Of course this is for looks only…no sound really comes out.  If you decide not to DIY a speaker you could always use ear buds as speakers.

The speakers fit perfectly on the doll cars.  Our doll cars do no have windows so the speakers were hooked to the door itself.   You could always recycle some clear plastic packaging and create windows for your doll’s cars.  My daughters didn’t want the windows taped to their cars.

The doll sized drive-in theater speaker is so cute!

The drive-in is getting full…the movie will soon be starting!

Coming soon….the drive in marquee sign, screen, and concession stand.  Also, coming soon…find out how we created a real doll drive-in theater movie!

Craft on!