History: Kalamazoo's first drive-in, the Kalamzoo Auto Theatre was opened on July 8th, 1948 by Albert Ochs. The Kalamazoo Auto used a screen tower design identical to the Muskegon Auto Theatre and the Saginaw Auto Theatre. The Kalamazoo Auto was renamed and became the Portage Drive-In Theatre on March 31st, 1955. Across town, Ochs opened Kalamazoo's second drive-in, Douglas Auto Theatre shortly thereafter on April 14th, 1955. Both the Portage, and Douglas, were sold to Butterfield Theatres in 1961. The Portage was closed in 1983 and the property was developed. The Douglas closed and abandoned in 1985. The marquee was fortunately saved and restored by the Henry Ford Museum, and is currently on display. But, the snack bar and screen were left to decay for years. The snack bar was demolished in the mid 90's, and the big curved steel screen tower and concrete marquee pedestal finally came down in 2004. (Michigandriveins.com 5/29/05)

Update: I remember going to this drive in the year before it closed. It was located right across the street from the Kalamazoo airport and I think was one of the coolest drive in ever. If I remember right, it had tiered parking, like the stadium seating in the new modern theaters of today. (Waterwinterwonderland.com/Jeff Kline 6/6/05)

Update: This Drive-In did indeed have "stepped" ramps, where one was slightly higher than the one in front of it. It closed after the 1983 season due to a combination of declining attendance, light pollution problems from the growing area around the Drive-In, plus the fact the property it sat on was more valuable the the income from the theatre itself. It was then torn down a couple of years later and a Sam''s Club store was built on the site. It would eventually move to another location and State Farm Insurance later moved into the building. (Waterwinterwonderland.com/TB 7/2/07)

Related Links:
Kalamazoo Drive-In Theatres - 1948-1985 (J.P. Jenks/Vanishedkalamazoo.com)
Requiem for a Cool Drive-In (Eric Lorey/Vanishedkalamazoo.com)