The MichiganDrive-Ins.com website was launched in 1998 in an effort to identify, research, and catalog all of the drive-in theaters that were in the state of Michigan. At that time is was known as the "Michigan Drive-In Theater Guide", and it was the original site for Michigan Drive-Ins History. This page is a recreation of the old website, as of October, 2001. Much of the information posted here has been updated over the years. (© Copyright 1998-2022 MichiganDrive-Ins.com ~ Published 11/06/2022) STARLITE DRIVE-IN Addison Status:n/a LENAWEE DRIVE-IN Adrian 3240 N.Adrian Hwy. Status:"Gone, site is now a indoor theater." (RG Sept 98) SKY DRIVE-IN Adrian 2050 US 223 Status:"Gone, site is vacant."(RG Sept 98) ALBION DRIVE-IN Albion 16462 E.Michigan Status:1955-84? SEAWAY DRIVE-IN Algonac 8543 Marsh Rd. Status:n/a Update:"Gone, a Baptist Church occupies site."(Outdoor Moovies Dec 99) ALPENA DRIVE-IN Alpena 9547 W.Langlake Rd. Status:"Gone, site is now a putt-putt golf, go-carts, and driving range." (Dave Rouleau 1-16-00) THUNDER BAY DRIVE-IN Alpena(Lachine) M-32 M-53 DRIVE-IN Bad Axe 1000 S. Van Dyke Status:n/a PINE AIRE DRIVE-IN Baldwin Status:n/a Update: "The Pine-Aire theater of Baldwin on M-37 is closed, with the lot for sale. all that remains is the screen" (Jeff Raterink 1-31-00) BATTLE CREEK AUTO THEATRE Battle Creek E. US-12 at Cady Rd. Status:"Gone, site is now a church." WESTPOINT DRIVE-IN Battle Creek 4060 W.Michigan Ave. Status:"Gone, site is now a church." STARLITE DRIVE-IN Bay City 2400 Midland Rd. Status:n/a Update:"The Starlite Drive-In Theater at 2400 Midland Road in Bay City was demolished in 1997. All that remains is an open field." (Larry Lewis Jr. 3-30-01) TUSCOLA DRIVE-IN Bay City 573 Tuscola Rd. (M-15) Status:n/a Update:"The marquee sign and concession building of the Tuscola Drive-In on M-13 in Bay City are all that remains of that theater." (Larry Lewis Jr. 3-30-01) Update:"The Tuscola Drive-In south of Bay City on M-15 I believe is about 3 or 3 1/2 miles south of the city. The Tuscola may have been able to have stayed in business had they had better owners. During it's last years of operations the Tuscola was turned into an XXX-rated drive-in theater. This so incensed the neighboring residents that they got the drive-in hutdown, I believe it was around 1984 or 1985. The marquee sign and concession building of the Tuscola is all that remains of that theater. It was last used in early 1990's as an auction business." (Larry Lewis Jr. 3-31-01) NORTHLAND DRIVE-IN Bayshore (Petosky) Status:n/a Update:"Screen is gone, lot and concession stand are reportedly being used by a boat dealer" (RG 9-03-01) STARLITE DRIVE-IN Benton Harbor 2140 S. M-139 Open:1952-89? Status:n/a NITESKY DRIVE-IN Beulah (Honor) Status:n/a BIG RAPIDS/UNIVERSITY Big Rapids 18580 Northland Dr. Status:n/a Update:"Screen is gone, snack bar and marquee may still remain?" (RG 3-30-01) LAKES DRIVE-IN Brighton 10501 E.Grand River Ave,one mile east of Brighton Status:"Marquee & screen still standing, snack bar demo'd in August 1998, site is for sale." (RG Oct 98) Update:"The Lakes screen was removed in July 99, marquee was removed in September 99, and no trace of the Lakes remain today. A Hockey arena built on the site is nearly completed." (RG 10-8-99) BURNSIDE DRIVE-IN Burnside 5950 Van Dyke Rd.(Brown City) Status:n/a Update:"Screen is gone, ticket booth and snack bar may still remain?" (Rg 3-30-01). CADILLAC DRIVE-IN Cadillac 9096 S. US-131 Status:n/a Update:"Even though I grew up in the Lansing area, the countless trips to see relatives in Cadillac usually lead to driving by the Cadillac Drive-In on what is now Old US-131. My parents never took me there, nor any drive-in for that matter. I don't know when it closed - sometime in the early-mid 80s. It was torn down in the late 80s - maybe early 90s. I'm sure the adddress number you give is correct, but the road today is Mackinaw Trail, otherwise known as Old US-131. The freeway leading up to the south side of Cadillac was completed in the early/mid 80s, and 131 was redesignated. The freeway also took a considerable chunk of property out of the drive-in. The drive-in is located at the southwest wedge of the Mackinaw Trail overpass over the 131 freeway. Today, the property is an empty field with scattered pine trees. Its entrance is directly across from No. 46 Rd. The only things that remain on the property are the concrete pads of which the screen sat on and a lonely power pole. A for sale sign has been sitting on the property for several years. The screen sat on the south side of the property next to the road, facing northwest. If it was still there, a perfect view of the screen could be seen from the freeway." (Kurt Ahlgrim 12-15-99 CARO DRIVE-IN Caro 1123 E.Caro (M-81) Opened:May 13, 1950 Owner:Ashmun Theatres Capacity:500 lot Size:12 Acres Cost:$65,000 Status:n/a Update:"The Caro Drive-In is no more, the land has been sold and now a Wal-Mart occupies the site." (Tom Elmore 11-28-99) HI-WAY DRIVE-IN Carsonville 2778 E.Sanilac Carsonville MI 48419 Status:OPEN BLUESKY DRIVE-IN Caseville Status:n/a MAPLE CITY DRIVE-IN Charlotte 2812 S. Cochran Open:Est.1966-88 Status:Screen gone, snack bar, fence, & part of marquee still there(RG Sept 98) Update:Site is for sale (RG 3-30-01) HIAWATHA DRIVE-IN Chassell Status:Gone? CHEBOYGAN DRIVE-IN Cheboygan "The Cheboygan Drive-In was demolished around 1983 according to an employee of the gas station that is situated directly in front of the screen tower, none of the structures remain" (RG 11-20-99) NORTHLAND DRIVE-IN Clare Status:n/a Update:"The Northland Drive-In on Mission Rd., which was just three miles north of the Sundown Drive-In in Rosebush, is gone. A mini storage and constuction company now occupy the site. The only evidence remaining of the drive-in are the screen's concrete footings. The lot has been partially excavated." (RG 7-7-01) CAPRI DRIVE-IN Coldwater Status:OPEN Website:www.capridrive-in.com COLDWATER DRIVE-IN Coldwater 241 US-27 North, Coldwater Twp One mile south of Coldwater on US-27 Status:n/a, closed around 1968 AUTO THEATRE Constantine Status:n/a SKYWAY DRIVE-IN Corunna 2608 W.Main St. Status:Gone,vacant site is for sale(RG Aug 98) FIVE-MILE DRIVE-IN Dowagiac 28190 State Rte 152 #M Dowagiac,MI 49047 (616)782-7879 Status:OPEN STARLITE DRIVE-IN Drayton Plains Status:n/a HI-VUE/SCEEN DRIVE-IN Durand 8250 E.Lansing Rd. Status:"Closed, site is now a golf driving range, screen is still standing, name changed to Sceen in 1960's."(RG July 98) Update:"The screen remains, and was recently completely covered (front and rear) with green siding." (RG 7-10-01) TAWAS DRIVE-IN East Tawas 2005 N.US-23 Status:n/a Update:"These pictures were taken about 5 years ago in the fall and there is even less today as a gas station sits where the foundation of the screen is one of the pictures. My family had a summer home in Tawas for about 20 years and I saw many a movie there and smoked my first cigar there with one of my friends at the time. These days I live in Alaska which doesn't have any drive-in's because of the extended sunlght during the summer."(Tom Elmore 11-15-99) HILLTOP DRIVE-IN Escanaba 4965 Danforth Rd. Status:n/a KEN-MAR DRIVE-IN Escanaba 1631 S. 16th St. Status:n/a Update:"Only the snackbar and the moonbeam light remain. The screen, ticket booth, and marquee are gone."(Outdoor Moovies 12-28-99) WESTSIDE DRIVE-IN Flint G-5041 Corunna Rd. Status:Gone aka:Corunna-Westside Demo'd:mid-80's DORT DRIVE-IN Flint 3750 S.Dort Hwy Status:n/a Update:Site is now the Dort mall.(Water Winter Wonderland 9-2-99) MIRACLE TWIN DRIVE-IN Flint (Burton) G-6383 E.Court St. Burton MI Status:OPEN Opened:Thurs.Feb.15th,1973 Owner:Redstone Mgmt/National Amusements NORTH FLINT DRIVE-IN Flint (Mt Morris) Saginaw Rd. Update:Site is now Kroger & K-mart.(Water Winter Wonderland 9-2-99) NORTHLAND DRIVE-IN Flint (Mt.Morris) G-7192 N.Dort Hwy Status:n/a Update:Now the site of a wholesale auto auction lot.(Water Winter Wonderland 9-2-99) SOUTH DORT DRIVE-IN Flint G-5117 S.Dort Hwy Owner:Kerosotes Status:Gone, see US23 Update for screen info Demo'd:1984 Update:"The Imperial Sports coaches store & warehouse were built on the site in the mid-80's."(Water Winter Wonderland 9-2-99) US-23 TWIN DRIVE-IN Flint Built:1950-51 Opened:June 21,1951 Capacity:1300 Owner:Lou Warrington Status:OPEN Update:"The South Dort DI screen tower with its 60' x 120' screen as well as some equipment was sold to the US23 DI and a 38'x76' screen tower was built making the US23 a twin. The remaining tower parts were saved for a possible third screen. The 1997 fire which destroyed the US23's original wood tower changed Mr.Warrington's plans and he built the replacement tower using the remaining components of the South Dort DI tower. So both screens of the US23 Twin DI were originally the one South Dort DI screen tower." (Water Winter Wonderland 9-2-99) Update:The South Dort Drive-In was due to be demolished in the fall of 1984. The screen was purchased from the demolition company, divided into two, and one half was erected as screen two at the US 23 in 1985.(RG 9-3-00) SKY-HI DRIVE-IN Gaylord Status:n/a Update:"No trace of the Sky-Hi Drive-In remains, just an empty field." (RG 7-26-01) MEREDITH DRIVE-IN Gladwin (Meredith) 9555 N. M-18 Status:n/a Update:Closed around 1985 or 86, screen and snack bar are still standing.(Outdoor Moovies 10-22-99) Update:"The Meredith Drive-In remains intact, screen and snack bar are still standing. See photos. The owner of the Meredith Drive-In also owns a local restaurant, indicated she closed the drive-in about 15 years ago due to the introduction of the VCR. A calendar found in the heavily vandalized snack bar indicate the drive-in was still open in July of 1988. Some of the movies listed were Rambo, The Presidio, Hamburger Hill, Red Heat, and the Great Outdoors. Also found in the snack bar was a notice from the Central Michigan District Health Dept. The notice, dated 9-1-77, effectively closed the drive-in for various health violations, including the requirement for a new sewage disposal system, based on a 322 car capacity."(RG 7-7-01) BELTLINE 3 DRIVE-IN Grand Rapids (Wyoming) 1400 28th St. SW Status:Gone,site is now Studio 28 indoor theater(RG Oct 98) CASCADE TWIN/TRIPLE DRIVE-IN Grand Rapids 5050 28th St. SE Capacity:2289 (1972) Capacity:2500 (1977) Owner:Redstone Mgnt/National Amusements Opened:Friday,May 9TH,1969 Closed:1990? Status:Gone, Showcase Cinema indoor theater at front of lot, heavily overgrown drive-in field, ramps, and driveway are still there. The screens, snack bar, and ticket booths are gone,this big drive-in had 3 screens, 4 ticket booths, and 8 traffic lanes, has possibilities?(RG Oct 98) Update:"It was torn done maybe a year (oct 97) before you were there. The large screens were curved (dished) with steel framework un-like anything else I have ever seen pictures of. I really wish I had trespassed with my camera."(Les Hale 10-12-99) STARDUST DRIVE-IN Grand Rapids 5566 Division St.S Previous Name:DIVISION DRIVE-IN Status:Gone, now a RV Dealer, name changed to Stardust in the 70's? (RG 10-98) PLAINFIELD DRIVE-IN Grand Rapids 4900 Plainfield Status:n/a Update:"I worked at the Plainfield Drive-In back in 1973. My first job ever. I was 16 years old and they paid me 99 cents a hour. That was the year they had the huge riot. It was WGRD Night. They charged 50 cents per person. Alfred Hitchcocks' Psycho was the film being shown. A local policeman drove through and after being pelted with stones and beer bottles and then having his vehicle surrounded by our local patrons who began rocking his car, he made his way back out and then put out a call for any and all naerby back up vehicles - a total 53 cars and 83 officers responded. The lights came up, the film was stopped and they streamedin one after the other, lights flashing and just surrounded the place. Oh the memories. Hello to my fellow drive-in employees, Cindy M., Dave D., Don C., Mark B. Thanks for the photos." (Bob 5-28-01) STADIUM DRIVE-IN Grand Rapids 2500 Turner NW Status:n/a Update:"The Stadium Drive-In was once part of the old Stadium Arena which was built in 1950. The drive-in used a portion of the arena parking lot, and the screen was attached to the arena building. The years of operation are unknown. The Stadium Arena was renovated and renamed The Deltaplex in 1998. The 4,500 seat arena hosted the rock band AC/DC in 2000 as they prepared for a world tour." (RG 7-10-01) VISTA DRIVE-IN Grand Rapids (Walker) 4500 Lake Michigan Dr. Status:Closed,snack bar & part of ticket booth are still there,screen & marquee are gone.(RG Oct 98) Update:"The remains of the Vista on Lake Michigan in GR will soon be history. A new Meijers superstore will dance on it's grave.Final approval for the project has passed." (Les Hale 5-28-01) WOODLAND DRIVE-IN Grand Rapids 3290 28th St. SE Status:Gone Update 1:The two "halves" of the site are for sale, a road (29th St) runs thru the middle of it! The only thing left is the fence with large "Woodland Drive In Theater" wood letters attached.(RG 6-99) Opened:Early-70's Closed:Mid-80's Update 2:"The two Woodland Drive-In marquees have 'reappeared' since the MC Sporting Goods signs covering them have been removed. The marquee's are now used to advertise an indoor theater down the street."(RG 8-11-00) Update 3:"The marquee's for the Woodland drive-in are gone and the property is being cleared for a Lowe's home improvement superstore." (Les Hale 5-28-01) GREENVILLE DRIVE-IN Greenville 9420 S.Greenville Rd Status:Gone,only the driveway remains(RG 4-10-99) SUNSET AUTO THEATER Hartford 69017 Red Arrow Hwy Hartford,MI 49057 (616)621-4194 Opened:Mid-50's Status:OPEN HASTINGS DRIVE-IN Hastings 1883 Bedford Rd.(M-37) Status:Gone,site is now mini-golf? Update:"Hastings Drive-In was one driveway north of the mini-golf. The brick sign frame and small ticket booth were, last I knew, still there. It closed in the late 70's sometime."(Les Hale 10-12-99) HILLSDALE DRIVE-IN Hillsdale 3271 W.Carleton Rd. Status:n/a CHERRY BOWL DRIVE-IN Honor 9812 Honor Hwy Honor,MI 49640 (616)325-3413 Status:OPEN Opened:1953-2001 Website:www.cherrybowldrivein.com 55-HI DRIVE-IN Houghton Lake Status:n/a Update:"The 55-Hi Drive-In on M-55 near Houghton Lake was actually east of Prudenville. The screen is still up and the site is occupied by Maple Valley Truss." (Larry Lewis Jr. 3-30-01 Update:"The 55-Hi screen and snack bar remain. A rental house sits directly in front of the screen. The occupant of the house indicated the drive-in was closed about 15 years ago, and the snack bar has been renovated for use by the truss company. He also said the lot is currently protected by motion detectors, and did not have access to the gate. See photos." (RG 7-7-01) PAUL BUNYAN DRIVE-IN Hubbard Lake Status:n/a Update:"The Paul Bunyan screen tower, in Hubbard Lake, was destroyed by a tornado on Sunday, July 1, 1956. The news clipping I have said they were going to rebuild." (Dave Rouleau 1-16-00) SKY-VUE DRIVE-IN Hubbard Lake Status:n/a, this may be a Paul Bunyan name change? IONIA DRIVE-IN Ionia 3525 S.State St. (M-66,south of Ionia) Status:Gone,site is now a K-Mart Update:"Wasn't where K-mart is, but a half mile to the south on the same side of M-66. A small motel was moved there shortly after the theater closed in about 1984. More recently, a modular home sales took over the rest of the lot. Rural Gas was the next driveway to the north and the airport was across the road. Sorry, no pictures, but if terra server ever re-loads the 1988 Spin-2 images, the car ramps were still visable."(Les Hale 10-12-99) TRI-CITY DRIVE-IN Iron Mt. US-2 Status:n/a, may still be standing? Update:"The abandoned Tri-City Drive-In still stands." (Whit Whitworth 3-3-00) IRONWOOD DRIVE-IN Ironwood Status:n/a AIRPORT DRIVE-IN Ishpeming 310 Cleveland Ave Status:n/a EVERGREEN DRIVE-IN Ishpeming Status:Demolished BEL AIR DRIVE-IN Jackson 2603 W.Michigan Ave. Status:Gone,vacant lot is for sale(RG Aug 98) JACKSON DRIVE-IN Jackson 4400 Ann Arbor Rd. Owner:Redstone Mgnt/National Amusements Status:n/a DOUGLAS AUTO THEATRE Kalamazoo 1776 Douglas Ave. Opened:Thursday, April 14th, 1955 Closed:August, 1985 Status:n/a,the restored Douglas marquee is in Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. Update 1: "The Douglas Auto Theater in Kalamazoo is obviously closed. Only a screen in deperate need of repair remains." (Jeff Raterink 1-31-00) Update 2:"The huge curved screen remains, as does the driveway, and the marquee pedestal. Several apparently abandoned moving vans now reside in this drive-in graveyard. The snack bar is gone."(RG 8-13-00) PORTAGE DRIVE-IN Kalamazoo 5528 Portage Rd. Previous Name:KALAMAZOO AUTO THEATRE,changed in 1955 Opened:Thursday, July 8th, 1948 Closed:1983 Status:n/a Update:"The Portage Drive-In lot is vacant, with the only the driveway remaining" (RG 8-13-00) LAKES DRIVE-IN Lake Linden Status:n/a CREST DRIVE-IN Lansing (East Lansing/Okemos) 1096 W.Grand River Ave. Capacity:800 (1956) Owner:Crest Drive-In Theatre Co. (1956) Capacity:800 (1977) Owner:H.Mohney (1977) Status:Gone, while originally a family drive-in, this former adult drive-in site is now ironically, St.Marthas Catholic Church's parking lot. Opened:early 1950's LANSING DRIVE-IN Lansing 5097 S.Cedar St. Capacity:400 (1956) Owner:Lansing Drive-In Corp. (1956) Capacity:1100 (1977) Owner:Butterfield (1977) Status:Gone, site is now a Ingham Co. office bldg Opened:Saturday May 29,1948 Closed:Est.1982 M-78 TWIN/TRIPLE DRIVE-IN Lansing (Meridian Twp) 6385 Newton Rd. at M-78 Capacity:1000 (1971) Capacity:1300 (1977) Owner:Redstone Theaters/National Amusements History:Opened Friday November 7th,1969 as a year-round 2-screen drive-in,"Red and "Blue" screens,third "Green" screen was added in the 1977 and then removed around 1992 to make room for a Super Cinemas indoor theater. The M-78 closed forever in the fall of 1992. Status:"Snack bar, ticket booth, & 2 screens are still up just waiting for for the projectors to be turned on, there's always hope...."(RG 1999) Update 1:"In response to my request for information on the status of the M-78 Drive-In, National Amusements reply was; 'We have no current plans to re-open the M-78 Drive-In'"(RG 11-11-99) Update 2:Sadly, both screens were demolished sometime around 1 p.m. on Wednesday, November 17th, 1999. All of the speaker poles were also removed.The concession stand, office, and ticket booths remain, probably not for long. The screen tower demolition coincides almost exactly with the M-78's November 7th, 1969 Grand Opening. Way to go National Amusements!" (RG 11-20-99) Update:"The Super Cinema theater adjacent to the M-78 was closed in July 2000. The property has reportly been sold, the Super Cinema and the remaining drive-in structures will be demolished to make way for new homes."(RG 8-11-00) NORTHSIDE DRIVE-IN> Lansing (Dewitt Twp) N.US-27 at Stoll Rd. Capacity:400 (1956) Owner:Leon Robbe (1956) Capacity:800 (1977) Owner:Midstates (1977) Status:Gone, vacant lot is for sale Opened:Friday August 29,1952 Closed:1993?? (RG Nov 98) Update:"The original screen reportedly burned down due to a fireworks accident sometime in the 70's, and was quickly replaced. Two more screens were added in the 80's, making the Northside a triple. The theater was neglected towards the end and had become quite a party spot, causing local police to visit often. (Outdoor Moovies 9-99) STARLITE DRIVE-IN Lansing 3020 Snow Rd. Capacity:700 (1956) Owner:J.Blackburn (1956) Capacity:1100 (1977) Owner:Butterfield (1977) Status:Gone, site is a RV storage lot Opened:Friday May 22,1953 Closed:Est.1985 SUNSET DRIVE-IN Lapeer Status:n/a Update:"The Sunset is gone, the only remnants are the exit drive, and a portion of the drive-in field. A parking lot for Cambridge Industries, 1455 Imlay City Rd. occupies a majority of the property. According to a local resident, the Sunset started getting many complaints from a growing residential area nearby about the showing of adult films, leading its to eventual demise."(RG 12-19-99) SILVER DRIVE-IN Linden(Fenton) G-3315 Silver Lake Rd. Built:1955 Closed:1989 Capacity:400 (1977) Owner:A.Sears (1977) Status:n/a Update:Gone, site is part of the Silver Lake Village commercial/ residential development. (Water Winter Wonderland 9-2-99) LUDINGTON DRIVE-IN Ludington 5375 E.Ludington status:n/a STARLITE DRIVE-IN Ludington US-31 Status:n/a, Ludington/Starlite may be one in the same? CHIPPEWA DRIVE-IN Manistee 1781 E.Parkdale (US-31) Status:n/a Update 1:"The Chippewa theater in Manistee is closed. It sits next to the West Shore community hospital, with only the snack bar visable." (Jeff Raterink 1-31-00) Update 2:"An overgrown lot and a heavily vandalized snack bar are all that remain of the old Chippewa Drive-In. The snack bar is strewn with garbage, old clothes, and broken toilets. An empty box labeled "chippewa bulbs" addressed to Goodrich Theaters in Grand Rapids was found inside." (RG 9-9-00) Update 3:"Abandoned snack bar remains." (RG 2-24-01) CINEMA 2 DRIVE-IN Manistique US Hwy 2 Manistique MI 49854 (906)341-5920 Screens:One Capacity:350 (1972) Status:OPEN H & S DRIVE-IN Marlette Status:n/a OUTDOOR THEATER Marquette Status:n/a MARYSVILLE DRIVE-IN Marysville 1120 Gratiot Status:n/a M-60 DRIVE-IN Mendon 21619 M-60 Park Twp. Open:est.1964-90 Closed:1983 Status:n/a Notes:Flea market listed at this address in 92-93 Directory Update:The screen, snack bar, ticket booth, and marquee are still there, see photos. (RG 9-25-99) SUNSET DRIVE-IN Midland 4705 Bay City Rd Status:n/a MIKADO DRIVE-IN Mikado Status:n/a DAI-ROY DRIVE-IN Mio Status:n/a GALAXY DRIVE-IN Mio N. M-33 Status:n/a, Dai-Roy and Galaxy may be one in the same? Update:"The Galaxy and Dai-Roy Drive-In's in Mio were separate drive-in's. The Galaxy's marquee is still up and is used for a flea market." (Larry Lewis Jr. 3-30-01) BEL AIRE TWIN DRIVE-IN Monroe 6231 N.Monroe Status:"Gone" (Whit Whitworth Jan 99) Status:"Gone, no trace." (RG 8-8-99) DENNISTON DRIVE-IN Monroe 6495/6501 N.Monroe St.(M-125) Status:"Closed, screen gone, snack bar still up." (Whit Whitworth Jan 99) Update:"Snack bar still up, hardtop theater now on site."(RG 8-8-99) DIXIE DRIVE-IN Monroe Status:n/a GENERAL CUSTER DRIVE-IN Monroe Status:n/a SKYLINE AUTO THEATER Morenci Status:n/a PLEASANT DRIVE-IN Mt.Pleasant 6615 E.Pickard (M-20) Status:Gone, vacant lot, no trace. (RG Aug 98) SUPERIOR DRIVE-IN Munising Status:n/a AUTO THEATRE Muskegon 4291 Grand Haven Rd. Previous Names:MUSKEGON,MUSKEGON AUTO THEATRE Status:Gone, replaced by hardtop parking lot. (RG 5-30-99) closed:1981 NORTH DRIVE-IN Muskegon 1150 Whitehall Rd. (US-31) Previous Name:O-K DRIVE-IN Status:Gone Closed:1981 Update:"The North isn't gone, the screen, snack bar, and ticket booth are intact!" (RG 5-30-99) Update:"The North Drive-In is now gone, all structures have been demolished" (RG 6-16-01) GETTY 4 DRIVE-IN Muskegon Status:OPEN Previous Names:N-K SOUTH DRIVE-IN,GETTY DRIVE-IN Update:"The Getty 4 property is close to being sold for development by Jack Loeks Theaters. 2001 will likely be the last year of operation." (RG 6-16-01) AIRPORT DRIVE-IN Negaunee Status:n/a NILES 31 OUTDOOR THEATER Niles 2141 S. 11th St. Open:Est.1956-85 Status:n/a BAY DRIVE-IN Pinconning Status:n/a 131 OUTDOOR THEATRE Plainwell 166 10th St. Opened:Thursday, June 8th, 1950 Closed:1984 Status:Site is now a auto salvage yard, marquee, snack bar, & screen are still there.(RG Aug 98) LAKESHORE DRIVE-IN Port Huron 5737 Lakeshore Rd. Previous Name:BLUEWATER DRIVE-IN until 1968 Status:n/a B & D DRIVE-IN Rapid River Status:n/a SUNDOWN DRIVE-IN Rosebush 5000 N.Mission Rd. Status:"Gone, vacant lot, no trace."(RG Aug 98) Update:"The moonlight is the only thing remaining of the Sundown Drive-In. the lot is being excavated, and is posted no trespassing." AUTO THEATER Saginaw 5151 Dixie Hwy. Capacity:400 (1956) Owner:General Theatres (1956) Status:Gone BEL AIR DRIVE-IN Saginaw 3504 Janes Ave. Capacity:700 (1963) Owner:Ashmun Bros. Status:Gone TWILITE DRIVE-IN Saginaw 5810 State St. Capacity:650 (1956) Owner:Waxman Curcuit (1956) Status:Gone FAMILY DRIVE-IN St Johns 2300 N.US-27 north of St.Johns Capacity:360 (1956) Owner:Howard Kortes (1956) Status:Gone, site is now a golf driving range. ST JOE AUTO THEATER St. Joseph 4023 Red Arrow Hwy. Owner:Waxman Curcuit (1956) Status:n/a SKYTOP DRIVE-IN St.Louis 1932 Monroe Rd. Capacity:400 (1956) Owner:James Langston (1956) Status:Closed, screen is still there, it is visible from southbound US-27 at St Louis exit, someone lives in trailer on lot. (RG Aug 98) Update:"The screen was demolished sometime in late 1999/early 2000, all traces of the Skytop are now gone." (RG 8-28-00) STARLITE DRIVE-IN Saugatuck (Holland) Status:n/a Update:"The Starlite drive-in in Holland and Saugatuck are one in the same. Best that I can tell, it opened on July 4, 1948. I could not find any other listings of it after 1987. A construction company seems to have taken over the site, with the snack bar/projection booth only remaining." (Jeff Raterink 1-31-00) Update:"Snack bar remains in the middle of what is now a heavy equipment storage lot, screen and marquee are gone." (RG 1-13-01) STARLITE DRIVE-IN Sault Ste.Marie US-2 Open:est.1958-90 Capacity:400 (1956) Owner:Delft Theatres Status:n/a Update:"Screen is down, ticket booth, snack bar, and marquee remain." (Darryl Burgess/Outdoor Moovies 10-8-99) STARLITE DRIVE-IN Scottville Capacity:284 (1956) Owner:W.Michigan Theatres Inc. Status:n/a, this may be the Starlite in Ludington? M-104 DRIVE-IN Spring Lake Status:n/a OASIS DRIVE-IN Spring Lake Status:n/a OTTAWA DRIVE-IN Spring Lake Status:n/a STURGIS DRIVE-IN Sturgis 28814 E.Chicago Rd.(US-12) Capacity:280 (1956) Owner:Waxman Circuit (1956) Open:Est.1964-83 Status:Gone (RG 10-99) SUNDOWNER DRIVE-IN Traverse City 292 N. US-31 So. Opened:Est.1978 Closed:Est.1986 Status:Closed, may still be standing? (RG 10-8-99) Update:"The Sundowner theater in Traverse City on US 31 N. is closed. A construction company is using the lot. The screen seems intact (2, possibly 3 screen). The theater rest in a valley below US 31, so you can only see the tops of the screens. Snack bar also seemed intact." (Jeff Raterin1-31-00) Update:"The Sundowner's marquee, snack bar, and one screen remain standing. The second screen is laying on the ground, partially dismantled (destroyed). The snack bar has been completely gutted, and the lot is being excavated. A few ramps remain and the lot is also used for storage of various construction materials. A few plastic pvc pipe speaker poles remain scattered around the lot."(RG 7-8-01) TRAVERSE DRIVE-IN Traverse City US-31 in Acme Capacity:350 (1956) Owner:W.Michigan Theatres Inc (1956) Closed:Est.1981-82 Status:n/a Update:"The Traverse Drive-In is no longer standing" (RG 7-8-01) STARLITE DRIVE-IN Watertown Status:n/a M-37 DRIVE-IN White Cloud Capacity:300 (1977) Owner:Eisner (1977) Status:n/a Update 1:"The M-37 Theater of White Cloud/Newaygo is closed. Land is being developed around it, and the lot is suspiciously clean (2 years ago, it was overgrown). The screen, projection booth, and snack bar seem intact." (Jeff Raterink 1-31-00) Update 2:"The M-37 Drive-In Theater is now home to someone. The snack bar is being used as a home. There is also a house trailer on the lot. The screen and ticket booth are also still standing, but the marquee is gone." (RG 9-9-00) DETROIT AREA DRIVE-INS SCIO DRIVE-IN Ann Arbor 6588 Jackson Rd. Status:Gone, site is vacant(RG July 98) Screen:65' Original Capicity:n/a Opened:April 10th, 1953 Closed:1985/88? Demo'd:1991 YPSI ANN DRIVE-IN Ann Arbor 4675 Wastenaw Ave. Status:Gone, site is now a mattress warehouse Org.Capacity:600 Opened:May 29th, 1948 Closed:1976/77? Demo'd:Dec.1978 UNIVERSITY DRIVE-IN Ann Arbor 4100 Carpenter St. Status:Gone, site is now a showcase cinema Screen:120' x 52' Org.Capacity:1000 Opened:July 9th, 1965 Closed:1986/87? Demo'd:1987 WILLOW DRIVE-IN Belleville (Canton Twp) 51300 E.Michigan Ave.(US-12) Owner:Charles Shafer Status:Gone,site is now a trailer park (Whit Whitworth Dec 98) Screen:118' x 50' Org.Capacity:1000 Closed:1983 DEARBORN Dearborn 26500 Ford Rd.,north side of Ford Rd., west of Telegraph Owner:Charles Shafer Status:Gone, site is now a mall (Whit Whitworth Dec 98) Org.Capacity:1040 Opened:1948 Closed:1984 (2-screens) Demo'd:April 1,1986 ECORSE DRIVE-IN Dearborn 21366 Ecorse Rd.,1 mile east of Telegraph Owner:Charles Shafer Status:Gone,site is a now farmer jack store (Whit Whitworth Dec 98) Org.Capacity:1050 Opened:1951 Closed:1985 (2-screens) FORD-WYOMING 1-9 Dearborn 10400 Ford Rd.,at Wyoming Rd. Owner:Charles Shafer Status:OPEN YEAR-ROUND Org.Capacity:750 (1-screen) Opened:1950 JOLLY ROGER Dearborn (Taylor) 24745 Van Born Rd.,west of Telegraph Status:"Gone, vacant lot. (Whit Whitworth Dec 98) Org.Capacity:1000 Opened:1956 Closed:1990 BEL AIR DRIVE-IN Detroit 8600 E. 8-Mile near VanDyke Status:Gone,site is now Bel Air shopping center (Whit Whitworth Jan 99) Update:"I grew up in Detroit, and my favorite DIs were the East Side and especially the Bel-Air. The last time I went to the Bel-Air was around 1981; my wife and I were visiting Detroit and went to a flea-market they were holding there. At that time they regularly held flea-markets at the Bel-Air; I don't know if they were still showing movies there then. It broke my heart when I heard the Bel-Air was being torn down, to be replaced by another shopping mall. The mall has an indoor theatre in it. But in the early '60s, the Bel-Air was at it's peak, with a small amusement park on the west side of the screen and a playground on the south side of the screen (in front of the viewing side of the screen). There was also a kids size train (a REAL miniature train) that the kids could take free rides on. And on the 4th of July weekend, the place was packed for the fireworks display. Cars were also lined up along the street outside to see the fireworks for free."(Doug Long 10-31-99) Photo:See page 88 of "The American Drive-In Movie Theatre" book for a photo of the train.(RG 11-8-99) Org.Capacity:1750 Opened:1950 Closed:Mid-80's (4-screens) EASTSIDE Detroit (Harper Woods) 19440 Harper,near 7-Mile Status:Gone Screen:50' x 50' Org.Capacity:500 Opened:May 26th, 1938 (Detroit's first drive-in) Closed:n/a Update:"I used to work at the Eastside drive-in (1975-1977) until it was closed and torn down to build a park. I did everything at the drive-in (Concessions, tickets, cut grass, change the marquee, clean bathrooms, patrol during the movies and etc.)..I've got some original photos of the drive-in when it was built. I've also have some old 8mm movies of the drive-in I took during my drive-in career. Also have some old news clippings. (Police raid drive-in for showing dirty movies, I have a old ad from the wast-side drive-in showing "Michelle vs Godzilla" this was my boss and I didn't like her too much). The photos are dated 7-7-56. The marquee and box office were moved next to the screen, possibly when I-94 was built next to the drive-in. The drive-in closed in the fall of 1977, and was torn down the summer of 1978." (Steven Wojtowicz 11-15-00) Update:"Detroit's first drive-in theater, and one of the first in the world, the Drive-In opened at 8 p.m and tickets were $.35 per person. The first film was 'The Big Broadcast of 1938'. Its screen measured 50' x 50', and was advertised as the 'largest screen in the world'. Later known as the East Side Drive-In, and part of the Boston-based General Cinema Corporation, it was later sold to the Wisper & Wetsman chain. Razed." (Motor City Marquees pub. 1992 by Stuart Galbraith IV 4-21-01) GALAXY DRIVE-IN Detroit (Madison Heights) Dequindre Rd. near 10-Mile Status:n/a Org.Capacity:1400 Opened:Mid-70's? Closed:1988 TOWN< Detroit Telegraph Rd.and Chicago Blvd,between Plymouth & Joy Status:n/a Opened:1949 Closed:n/a Update:I grew up around drive-ins in the Detroit area. My father was manager of the Town Drive In from the day it opened until it closed in the mid 60's. The company that owned the Town, Gratiot, Grand River and Bel-Air is Community Theatres. They are still in business, operating several indoor houses and shopping centers.(Joe Pellerito 10-14-99) WESTSIDE DRIVE-IN Detroit (Oak Park) 14350 W. 8-Mile, at Schaefer Status:Gone Org.Capacity:700 Opened:1941 Closed:n/a GRAND RIVER DRIVE-IN Farmington 30200 Grand River,at 9-Mile Status:Gone Org.Capacity:750 Opened:1949 Closed:July 20th,1988 (3-screens,1100 car capacity) GRATIOT DRIVE-IN Fraser(Roseville) 31900 Gratiot,at 13 1/2-Mile Status:n/a Org.Capacity:1000 Opened:1948 Closed:n/a Demo'd:1987 (2 screens) MT CLEMENS Mt Clemens 45360 N.Gratiot,at Hall St. Status:Gone, auto dealership being built on site (Whit Whitworth Jan 99) Org.Capacity:1000 Opened:1952 Closed:1996 Demo'd:1998/99? BLUE SKY DRIVE-IN Pontiac 2150 N.Opdyke Rd. at Walton Status:Gone, site is now an indoor theater Org.Capacity:700 Opened:May 28th, 1948 Closed:80's Demo'd:1989 MIRACLE MILE DRIVE-IN Pontiac(Bloomfield Hills) 2103 S. Telegraph at Square Lake Rd. Status:Gone, replaced by indoor theater Org.Capacity:1540 Opened:June 30,1960 Closed:n/a PONTIAC DRIVE-IN Pontiac 2435 Dixie hwy (US10), one blk n. of Telegraph Status:n/a Org.Capacity:720 Opened:1950 Closed:1990 OAK DRIVE-IN Royal Oak 2916 Normandy Rd.(13 1/2-Mile)at Woodward Status:n/a Org.Capacity:1000 Opened:1950 Closed:n/a HOLIDAY Trenton 23000 West Rd.at Telegraph Status:Gone Org.Capacity:1140 Opened:1956 Closed:n/a TROY DRIVE-IN Troy E.Maple (15-Mile) at Stephenson Status:Gone Screen:120' X 100' Org.Capacity:1200 Opened:July 1st,1955 Closed:1986 Update:"As a kid I grew up in Madison Heights and can remember seeing the Galaxy Drive In sign from the roof of our house. Then in 1979 my family moved to Troy, and the old Troy drive-in right next to I-75, you could that place for mile it was so big. In the early 80's while in high school I went there several times, twice in the trunk of a car with my freinds, I wish I could remember what we saw there. I remember the day they dropped the screen at the Troy around 1984, and today there is a big office plaza there, and you would never know a drive-in was there."(Tom Elmore 11-30-99) VAN DYKE DRIVE-IN Van Dyke 32341 Van Dyke,s.of 14-Mile Status:Gone Org.Capacity:750 Opened:1955 Closed:1986 COMMERCE DRIVE-IN Walled Lake 8305 Richardson Rd. status:n/a Org.Capacity:1065 Opened:1956 Closed:1990 Update:"The marquee remains at the Commerce Drive-In site, the screen and snack bar are gone" (Darryl Burgess/Outdoor Moovies 9-29-00) WALAKE DRIVE-IN Walled Lake Aka:Walled lake 2150 W.Maple Rd. Status:n/a Org.Capacity:750 Opened:1948 Closed:n/a WATERFORD DRIVE-IN Waterford 3520 Airport Rd. Status:n/a Org.Capacity:600 Opened:1948 Closed:n/a ALGIERS DRIVE-IN Wayne (Westland) NE corner of Warren Ave. at Wayne Rd. Owner:Charles Shafer Screen:216' Org.Capacity:1200 Opened:August 15th,1956 Closed:Mid-80's? (2-screens) Status:"Gone, site is now shopping center, toys r us, & mcdonalds, the screens are now in use at The Ford-Wyoming Drive-In" (Whit Whitworth Dec 98) Update:"Allegedly the 'largest screen installed in the U.S.,' it measured an astounding 216 feet across and covered 4,800 square feet. Owned by Wayne Amusements (their first drive-in), this site, lke many during this peroid, offered free rides for the kids. Its first film was the John Ford-John Wayne western 'The Searchers'. The Algiers later became part of the Quo Vadis Entertainment Center. Restaurant goers at the Quo Vadis could watch films while eating, listening in through headsets piped into the restaurant. The Algiers was later twinned, and in 1985 the Shafer famly sold the land, which was turned into a shopping center." (Motor City Marquees pub.1992 by Stuart Galbraith IV 4-21-01) WAYNE DRIVE-IN Wayne 38547 Michigan Ave., south side of Michigan Ave, east of I-275, 4 miles west of Middlebelt Rd. Owner:Charles Shafer Screens:2nd added in 1971, 3rd and 4th added later Org.Capacity:842 Opened:1949 Closed:August 1990 Status:"Gone, site is now a Ford paint plant, all 4 screens are now in use at The Ford-Wyoming Drive-In. Built in 1947 on the site of the old Stellwagen Farm" (Whit Whitworth Dec 98) Update:"This site advertised a playgroud and kiddie rides. A Wayne Amusements site from its opening, it was twinned in 1971, and later split into four screens. Charles Shafer said there was room for 2,000 auotmobiles when it closed in 1990. The land was sold to Ford Mtor Company, which razed the theater and expanded its neighboring plant." (Motor City Marquees pub.1992 by Stuart Galbraith IV 4-21-01) FORT GEORGE DRIVE-IN Wyandotte (Southgate) 16300 Fort St. 1/4 mile south of Eureka Rd. Status:Gone, last ad-1990 Org.Name:FORT, changed in 1955 Org.Capacity:1000 Owner(s):Nicholas George Closed:1990 Demo'd:Summer 1991 Update:"The Ft. George has beeen replaced by a Meijer store." (John Percey 4-21-01) Update:"Later a Nicholas George site, it became the Fort George in 1955. The indoor Southgate theater was built next door in 1969. This one-screen site closed in 1990, when a tremendous wind storm ripped a hole in the Fort George's screen. the site was razed during the summer of 1991." (Motor City Marquees pub. 1992 by Stuart Galbraith IV 4-21-01) MICHIGAN DRIVE-IN Wyandotte Dix-Toledo Hwy (US-25) at Eureka Status:n/a Org.Capacity:1000 Owner(s):Nicholas George Opened:1948 Closed:n/a Demo'd:1987? Update:"...I managed the Holiday Drive-In, I also worked at the Fort George, the Jolly Roger, and was the misfortunate person that was given the sad task of putting the final marquee on the Michigan Drive-In stating that it was closed. The location on the site lists it as Wyandotte, but it was actually Southgate. It is now a strip mall and a Chi-Chi's and Best Buy." (Christoper Allen 7-16-00) Update:"The Michigan Drive-In has been replaced for almost 15 years now....on the site that it once stood stands a Chi-Chi's, Best Buy, Lone Star Steakhouse, and a Dollar Store, plus a few other closed stores in a shopping center (like an abandoned Builders Square and Play It Again Sports)...." (John Percey 4-21-01) Operating Drive-In's by Year (estimated) 1938 1 1948 12 1956 111 1959 127 1965 132 1968 131 1972 137 1977 126 1988 62 1990 29 1992 14 1996 11 1998 10 1999 10 2000 10 2001 10 2002 9? Total 151 Updated 10-10-01