Gratiot Drive-In
31900 Gratiot Avenue,
Roseville,
MI
48066
31900 Gratiot Avenue,
Roseville,
MI
48066
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Associated Theaters Inc., Community Theatres
Architects: Ted Rogvoy
Nearby Theaters
Listed as being located in Fraser, to the north of Detroit, MI. The Gratiot Drive-In was designed by architect Ted Rogvoy and opened April 30, 1948 with Leon Errol and Joe Kirkwood Jr. in “Joe Palooka in the Knockout”. It was operated by Detroit based Associated Theaters, Inc. It featured “Free pony rides, merry-go-round and other playground amusements for the kids, a large restaurant that even warmed baby bottles on schedule for patrons”. The back of the 115 feet tall screen tower featured a living curtain waterfall, illuminated at night by colored lights to simulate Niagara Falls. Car capacity is given as 1,056. A second screen was added on November 2, 1979. The Gratiot Drive-In showed its last movies on Labor Day- September 3, 1984. It was demolished in 1987.
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Recent comments (view all 13 comments)
Here is an ad for the sale of the Gratiot in July 1949:
http://tinyurl.com/yd5kzuz
Screen side photo added courtesy of the Fiftiesville Facebook page.
You can see where they mounted the cinema-scope screen, in front of the old flat screen.
April 30th, 1948 grand opening ad in photo section
Gratiot Drive-In marquee is seen at the head end of this 1966 Chevrolet promo film.
http://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/2016/09/25/from-chevrolet-with-love-gms-bizarre-1966-promotional-film/
Opened with newreels and “The knockout”.
Two screens on November 2nd, 1979.
Closed on September 3, 1984 with “C.H.U.D” and “Ninja Mission” in Screen 1 and “Flashpoint” and “Party Animal” in Screen 2.
Razed in 1987.
Once operated by Associated Theatres.