Now, thanks to Elon Musk, they may well see a mini resurgence.

That's because the billionaire entrepreneur has received approval to open an all-night Tesla diner that would include a drive-in cinema and charging station. 

It will feature two 45-foot LED movie screens running famous film clips 24/7.

Musk's vision is for people to be able to catch a 30-minute glimpse of these scenes while they grab a bite to eat and wait for their car to recharge at one of 28 supercharging points.

His idea for the design was to create a retro-futuristic aesthetic billed as being 'Grease meets The Jetsons with Supercharging'.

Starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, the 1978 film Grease is adored the world over for capturing a teen love story against the backdrop of 50s rock 'n' roll, where a drive-in movie theatre is the go-to place to hang out and go on dates.

The Jetsons, meanwhile, was an animated sitcom about a family living in a comical version of the future where flying cars, holograms and robotic contraptions are commonplace. 

Tesla has revealed technical drawings of its proposed drive-in – which will be built on Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood – but no official artist impressions as yet.

That hasn't stopped fans from creating their own, however, including 3D renders put together by architect Ed Howard.

They show a spaceship-like diner with a large rooftop terrace which also captures the essence of 1950s Americana.

Construction of the new Tesla facility is expected to begin soon now the proposals have been given the green light by the city of Los Angeles, as first reported by the website Teslarati.

The venue will have indoor and outdoor seating, while visitors will be able to pay with the cryptocurrency Dogecoin once the venue is built.

Musk previously said that Tesla-branded diners could sprout up around its charging stations, having first tweeted about the idea back in 2018, and last year filed for three trademarks related to possibly joining the restaurant business.

Tesla originally planned to build the diner in the coastal city of Santa Monica but moved the plans to Hollywood, on the historic Route 66.