At WaterWinterWonderland, there’s a 2003 comment by “Cinema Treasures” (hmm), saying, “The second 38 x 76 screen was assembled in 1986 using parts from a dismanted (sic) drive in screen tower, which originally measured 60 x 120, fabricated by Selby Industries. The original wood screen tower was destroyed in a 1997 arson fire and was replaced that year with the remaining parts from the aforementioned screen tower. As a result of the fire, a planned third screen will not be built.”
Robert, that’s an old caption. I count fewer than 330 active US drive-ins as of July 2017.
Nice ad video, steelbeard1! As great as that sign looks, it’s ever better with the arrow in motion.
TenPoundHammer, the 1949-50 Theatre Catalog already listed two Flint drive-ins. The Corunna West Side had an address of M-21, and the Dort East Side was on Dort Highway. Each had a capacity of 775 and was run by W. M. Rice.
Those two were joined by the U. S. 23 in the 1952 Catalog. For Exec, it listed (deep breath): L. Stallard, L. Warrington, Wallace O. James, Mgr., and William Clark. Capacity 1200. (The Corunna’s capacity grew to 900, the Dort’s to 1010.)
R. O. Fredley was the US 23’s Exec in the 1955-56 Catalog. Its capacity was down to 1130, while the Dort had mushroomed to 1406.
There were four Flint drive-ins listed in the 1959 IMPA – Eastside (Dort?), Westside (Corunna?), Northland, and US 23. With a few name changes that foursome continued through the 1976 edition.
By the 1982 IMPA, those four were joined by the Miracle Red & Blue. All five survived through the last IMPA drive-in list in 1988.
After more than a decade of inactivity, the drive-in (now referred to as the Manistique) was open twice in 2016 for charity events. The Escanaba Daily Press reports they’re at it again.
“The Schoolcraft Tourism and Commerce will be showing Jurassic Park and Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet on Saturday, July 15, at the Manistique Drive-Inn theater.” Free admission, and concession sales benefit St. Francis de Sales School in Manistique.
The 1982 IMPA shows the Traverse still there in Traverse City, run by H.J. Ringold, capacity 500. It was gone by the 1984 IMPA, replaced by the twin-screen Sundowner.
Aha! An ancient video (WMV format, probably shot in 1996) on the Hi Way history page interviews Stanley Fetting, who bought it in 1968 or ‘69. Fetting says Clements was a lumber dealer in Deckerville. That would be why he claimed that town as the Hi Way’s location.
Similarly, the video mentions Sandusky as the Hi Way’s town. Perhaps its home address changed when Fetting took over. Both owners also owned the Sanilac indoor theater in Sandusky.
Fetting notes there are 180 posts for 360 cars. That’s would be a pretty solid capacity number, although the Hi Way also had FM sound.
Also, the screen blew down in April 1996. (Aftermath and rebuilding photos in the WMV video.) It reopened that July 12, showing Twister.
Gotta wonder what went into some of these old references. The Theatre Catalogs placed the Hi Way in Deckerville (7 miles north) rather than the much larger Sandusky (5.5 miles west) or Carsonville (2.5 miles east). It was owned by C. H. Clements; Benjamin’s superb video calls him “Torchy”.
The 1959-63 IMPAs also chose Deckerville. By the 1969 IMPA, they had moved the Hi Way to Sandusky, where it stayed for the remainder of the IMPA lists.
In both publications, capacity was always listed as 400. Just sayin'.
Wikipedia and some sources claim that the Cherry Bowl opened as the Honor, but I think I’ve proved the opposite. I’ve uploaded the grand opening story (buried on page 5) and the much larger grand opening ad from the July 3, 1953, Traverse City Record-Eagle. As you can see, it was the Cherry Bowl from its birthday on the Fourth of July.
If it was ever just the Honor Drive-In, it wasn’t for long. The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog already showed it as the “Cherrybowl”, run by L. O. Griffith.
From Wikipedia: The Cherry Bowl opened on April 3rd, 1953. Longtime owner Jean Griffin ran the business after her husband’s death in 1959, and was known for working in high heels. Laura and Harry Clark purchased the property from Jean in 1996. Harry Clark died in 2012, and Laura continues to operate the theatre and diner.
The Cherry Bowl offers mini-golf and double feature films rated PG-13 or below. Harry Clark installed sculptures next to the theater’s vintage speakers and 14-foot neon hot dog. One sculpture is a pink and blue Volkswagen with a clown head on it, another is a pink cow with cherries for spots, and there is classic Chevy positioned to look like it is coming through a fence.
The 1948-49 Theatre Catalog lists A. W. Ochs, Muskegon Drive-In Theater Co., capacity 400. The next edition dropped the company. In the 1952 edition, Ochs is joined by General Th. Serv. Then Ochs was out by the 1955 edition, replaced by Allen Shaw, Lombardo Bros.
The IMPAs also list a capacity of 400 through at least 1976. The Auto was still listed in the 1982 IMPA (owner: Loeks, capacity: 700) but was gone by the 1984 edition.
For some reason, the Sunset didn’t appear in the 1949-50 Theatre Catalog. It was in the 1952 edition (capacity 288) and in 1955-56 (capacity 350), both times with J. Frank Jacobs.
The 1959-63 IMPAs had capacity at 288, “Waxman Circuit”. The first change I see is the 1982 edition with a capacity of 300, listed with “D. White”. It was D again in 1984, but by 1986, it changed to “J. White”.
The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog calls it the Tri-Way, Exec: Wolf and Marcus, and Y and W Mgt. Corp.
That’s relevant for this example of how long it took the IMPAs to fix a mistake. The 1959 IMPA refers to the “Tri-Hi”, owned by T. Mendelssohn. (In the 1963 IMPA it was owned by Rex Cair.) That inaccurate name continued through at least the 1969 edition, but was corrected by 1972.
From the company blog of INGUARD, a Wabash insurance and risk management firm that puts its names in all-caps:
“When the movie theater was in jeopardy of closing its doors in 2011, INGUARD’s CEO, Parker Beauchamp joined forces with his wife Katie, parents and the Honeywell Foundation to keep movies reeling on the silver screen.
“Since then, the 13-24 Drive In has undergone a variety of renovations (including a brand new digital projector and playground).”
INGUARD also sponsors free admission for kids 12 and under.
Sounds like they replaced the main screen during the 2013-14 off-season. An April 2014 article that misspells owner Earl McLachlan’s name, quotes him as saying, “We have the new screen up”. Google Street View from July 2015 shows the new screen, sturdier but less nostalgic than in previous photos here.
From the May 21, 1961 Logansport Pharos-Tribune (with OCR typos): “The Monticello Drive-in Theatr owned by Al Taylor and Cliffor Rickey has been sold to Marc Brazee of Greenwood, Indiana”
The 1982-88 IMPAs list two Springfield drive-ins run by Kerasotes – the Kerasotes Twin (capacity 1400) AND the 66 (capacity 1000). At the position you map, Historic Aerials shows a single-screen layout. Should this be the listing for the 66 and the Kerasotes Twin get a separate Cinema Treasures listing?
Since March 2016, the Skyview is now owned by two husband-and-wife teams — Nick and Mindy Pastrovich, plus Mike and Debbie Pastrovich. “We plan to run it as a drive-in indefinitely,” Mindy said. That’s the story in Route 66 News.
The 1949-50 Theatre Catalog lists the Litchfield Dr., run by Frisina Amuse. Ct., capacity 750. By the 1952 Catalog, it had changed to the Skyview, capacity 400.
In a Illinois Route 66 video, local historian(?) Walter “Chick” Bishop says the Skyview opened in June 1950. He sounds pretty sure about that.
Although not noticed by the national lists, the drive-in was advertised in the local paper as the Dyas 34 from Year One. The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog listed it as the 34, capacity 300. The 1959-76 IMPAs also called it just the 34, with the oddly specific capacity of 241.
I guess the name changed when ownership changed. The last IMPA list (1988) still shows it as the Dyas 34, run by C. W. Dyas.
One more thing: The IMPAs listed the Melody as a single-screen drive-in through its last list in 1988. When did they add a second screen? It had to have been before 2013, when a storm knocked down one of the two screens.
At WaterWinterWonderland, there’s a 2003 comment by “Cinema Treasures” (hmm), saying, “The second 38 x 76 screen was assembled in 1986 using parts from a dismanted (sic) drive in screen tower, which originally measured 60 x 120, fabricated by Selby Industries. The original wood screen tower was destroyed in a 1997 arson fire and was replaced that year with the remaining parts from the aforementioned screen tower. As a result of the fire, a planned third screen will not be built.”
Robert, that’s an old caption. I count fewer than 330 active US drive-ins as of July 2017.
Nice ad video, steelbeard1! As great as that sign looks, it’s ever better with the arrow in motion.
TenPoundHammer, the 1949-50 Theatre Catalog already listed two Flint drive-ins. The Corunna West Side had an address of M-21, and the Dort East Side was on Dort Highway. Each had a capacity of 775 and was run by W. M. Rice.
Those two were joined by the U. S. 23 in the 1952 Catalog. For Exec, it listed (deep breath): L. Stallard, L. Warrington, Wallace O. James, Mgr., and William Clark. Capacity 1200. (The Corunna’s capacity grew to 900, the Dort’s to 1010.)
R. O. Fredley was the US 23’s Exec in the 1955-56 Catalog. Its capacity was down to 1130, while the Dort had mushroomed to 1406.
There were four Flint drive-ins listed in the 1959 IMPA – Eastside (Dort?), Westside (Corunna?), Northland, and US 23. With a few name changes that foursome continued through the 1976 edition.
By the 1982 IMPA, those four were joined by the Miracle Red & Blue. All five survived through the last IMPA drive-in list in 1988.
After more than a decade of inactivity, the drive-in (now referred to as the Manistique) was open twice in 2016 for charity events. The Escanaba Daily Press reports they’re at it again.
“The Schoolcraft Tourism and Commerce will be showing Jurassic Park and Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet on Saturday, July 15, at the Manistique Drive-Inn theater.” Free admission, and concession sales benefit St. Francis de Sales School in Manistique.
I drove past it earlier this week, and the speaker poles are still there.
The 1959-1976 IMPAs showed capacity 350.
The 1982 IMPA shows the Traverse still there in Traverse City, run by H.J. Ringold, capacity 500. It was gone by the 1984 IMPA, replaced by the twin-screen Sundowner.
Aha! An ancient video (WMV format, probably shot in 1996) on the Hi Way history page interviews Stanley Fetting, who bought it in 1968 or ‘69. Fetting says Clements was a lumber dealer in Deckerville. That would be why he claimed that town as the Hi Way’s location.
Similarly, the video mentions Sandusky as the Hi Way’s town. Perhaps its home address changed when Fetting took over. Both owners also owned the Sanilac indoor theater in Sandusky.
Fetting notes there are 180 posts for 360 cars. That’s would be a pretty solid capacity number, although the Hi Way also had FM sound.
Also, the screen blew down in April 1996. (Aftermath and rebuilding photos in the WMV video.) It reopened that July 12, showing Twister.
Gotta wonder what went into some of these old references. The Theatre Catalogs placed the Hi Way in Deckerville (7 miles north) rather than the much larger Sandusky (5.5 miles west) or Carsonville (2.5 miles east). It was owned by C. H. Clements; Benjamin’s superb video calls him “Torchy”.
The 1959-63 IMPAs also chose Deckerville. By the 1969 IMPA, they had moved the Hi Way to Sandusky, where it stayed for the remainder of the IMPA lists.
In both publications, capacity was always listed as 400. Just sayin'.
Wikipedia and some sources claim that the Cherry Bowl opened as the Honor, but I think I’ve proved the opposite. I’ve uploaded the grand opening story (buried on page 5) and the much larger grand opening ad from the July 3, 1953, Traverse City Record-Eagle. As you can see, it was the Cherry Bowl from its birthday on the Fourth of July.
If it was ever just the Honor Drive-In, it wasn’t for long. The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog already showed it as the “Cherrybowl”, run by L. O. Griffith.
From Wikipedia: The Cherry Bowl opened on April 3rd, 1953. Longtime owner Jean Griffin ran the business after her husband’s death in 1959, and was known for working in high heels. Laura and Harry Clark purchased the property from Jean in 1996. Harry Clark died in 2012, and Laura continues to operate the theatre and diner.
The Cherry Bowl offers mini-golf and double feature films rated PG-13 or below. Harry Clark installed sculptures next to the theater’s vintage speakers and 14-foot neon hot dog. One sculpture is a pink and blue Volkswagen with a clown head on it, another is a pink cow with cherries for spots, and there is classic Chevy positioned to look like it is coming through a fence.
There’s a superb 2016 tour of the Getty hosted by Loeks president J.D. Loeks on YouTube.
Looks like one A.W. Ochs started the Auto.
The 1948-49 Theatre Catalog lists A. W. Ochs, Muskegon Drive-In Theater Co., capacity 400. The next edition dropped the company. In the 1952 edition, Ochs is joined by General Th. Serv. Then Ochs was out by the 1955 edition, replaced by Allen Shaw, Lombardo Bros.
The IMPAs also list a capacity of 400 through at least 1976. The Auto was still listed in the 1982 IMPA (owner: Loeks, capacity: 700) but was gone by the 1984 edition.
For some reason, the Sunset didn’t appear in the 1949-50 Theatre Catalog. It was in the 1952 edition (capacity 288) and in 1955-56 (capacity 350), both times with J. Frank Jacobs.
The 1959-63 IMPAs had capacity at 288, “Waxman Circuit”. The first change I see is the 1982 edition with a capacity of 300, listed with “D. White”. It was D again in 1984, but by 1986, it changed to “J. White”.
The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog calls it the Tri-Way, Exec: Wolf and Marcus, and Y and W Mgt. Corp.
That’s relevant for this example of how long it took the IMPAs to fix a mistake. The 1959 IMPA refers to the “Tri-Hi”, owned by T. Mendelssohn. (In the 1963 IMPA it was owned by Rex Cair.) That inaccurate name continued through at least the 1969 edition, but was corrected by 1972.
From the company blog of INGUARD, a Wabash insurance and risk management firm that puts its names in all-caps:
“When the movie theater was in jeopardy of closing its doors in 2011, INGUARD’s CEO, Parker Beauchamp joined forces with his wife Katie, parents and the Honeywell Foundation to keep movies reeling on the silver screen.
“Since then, the 13-24 Drive In has undergone a variety of renovations (including a brand new digital projector and playground).”
INGUARD also sponsors free admission for kids 12 and under.
Sounds like they replaced the main screen during the 2013-14 off-season. An April 2014 article that misspells owner Earl McLachlan’s name, quotes him as saying, “We have the new screen up”. Google Street View from July 2015 shows the new screen, sturdier but less nostalgic than in previous photos here.
From the May 21, 1961 Logansport Pharos-Tribune (with OCR typos): “The Monticello Drive-in Theatr owned by Al Taylor and Cliffor Rickey has been sold to Marc Brazee of Greenwood, Indiana”
When it opened in 1949, the Theatre Catalog listed Exec: A. E. Campbell Ct., capacity 400. 1952: A. L. Taylor and J. C. Rickey. 1955: H. A. Taylor.
The 1959 IMPA had A. L. Taylor and capacity 500. 1963: Marc Brazee. 1982: M. Brazee, capacity 400. 1988: M. Brazee, still listed as the Monticello.
Earle and Phyllis McLachlan bought the place around 2000. Was that when the name changed?
The 1982-88 IMPAs list two Springfield drive-ins run by Kerasotes – the Kerasotes Twin (capacity 1400) AND the 66 (capacity 1000). At the position you map, Historic Aerials shows a single-screen layout. Should this be the listing for the 66 and the Kerasotes Twin get a separate Cinema Treasures listing?
The Tivoli’s history page includes some photos inside and out.
Since March 2016, the Skyview is now owned by two husband-and-wife teams — Nick and Mindy Pastrovich, plus Mike and Debbie Pastrovich. “We plan to run it as a drive-in indefinitely,” Mindy said. That’s the story in Route 66 News.
The 1949-50 Theatre Catalog lists the Litchfield Dr., run by Frisina Amuse. Ct., capacity 750. By the 1952 Catalog, it had changed to the Skyview, capacity 400.
In a Illinois Route 66 video, local historian(?) Walter “Chick” Bishop says the Skyview opened in June 1950. He sounds pretty sure about that.
I stumbled upon a few minutes of video shot in 1991, uploaded in 2013 to YouTube.
Although not noticed by the national lists, the drive-in was advertised in the local paper as the Dyas 34 from Year One. The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog listed it as the 34, capacity 300. The 1959-76 IMPAs also called it just the 34, with the oddly specific capacity of 241.
I guess the name changed when ownership changed. The last IMPA list (1988) still shows it as the Dyas 34, run by C. W. Dyas.
There’s a superb 2015 interview with owner Ron Magnoni Jr. on YouTube.
One more thing: The IMPAs listed the Melody as a single-screen drive-in through its last list in 1988. When did they add a second screen? It had to have been before 2013, when a storm knocked down one of the two screens.