News Article: Flint's First Outdoor Theater Opens Thursday - Flint's first outdoor movie, the Dort Drive-In Theater, S. Dort Hwy. and Atherton Rd., will open at dusk Thursday. Fourteen ramps have been constructed to accommodate 1,040 automobiles. An "in-the-car speaker" will bring the sound into each auto. This feature will permit persons to hear with car windows closed during cooler weather. A 30-foot driveway in front of each ramp will enable cars to move in and out of the theater during the picture. Uniformed ushers will assist the parking of cars and placing of speakers in them. William Oleksyn, 517 E. Bishop Ave., and William A. Rice, 1191 Morris Hill Pkwy., are owners of the new business. Mr. Rice said programs will start at dusk, regardless of weather, with two shows five nights a week and three shows on Fridays and Saturdays. The theater covers 15 acres with an entrance on Dort Hwy. and an exit on Atherton Rd. A 50x40-foot picture will be projected on the 60x60 screen tower. Two hundred seats have been provided in front of the screen tower for walk-in patrons. Mr. Rice said it is planned to construct a 40x40-foot terrazzo dance floor, children's slide and merry-go-round in the Spring. These will be built in front of the screen to provide dancing for parents and play for children while waiting for movies to begin, Mr. Rice said. A refreshment stand, on the center ramp, will be operated by Jacobs of Detroit. As a result of a temperature study made by the owners, it is planned to operate the theater 32 to 34 weeks each year, from April 1, possibly as late as Dec. 15. (Flint Journal 8/25/46)

News Article: New Drive-In Theater Opens - Clear Vision Provided For 1,000 Cars; Plan Dance Set-Up Next - Gala performances will mark the premiere week-end performances at Flint's first drive-in theater at S. Dort and Atherton road. Clear-vision audience parking for more than 1,000 automobiles is provided for on 14 ramps and an individual amplifier is furnished for each car. One ramp with seating capacity for 200 persons wil accommodate patrons who wish to leave their cars. William A. Rice and William Oleksyn, co-owners of the unique theatrical enterprise, plan to operate the outdoor movie 34 weeks a year, with the present season to last until Dec. 15. Shows will begin at dusk. Three performances are scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays, and two for the other five nights. The theater layout has a 15-acre site complete with concrete driveways for one-way entrance and exit traffic, 60 x 60 screen tower upon which to flash 50 x 40 pictures. The moving picture set-up is the intial unit of the entertainment center which Oleksyn and Rice plan to complete at the site. When the building materials situation permits, the partners will install a 40 x 40 dance floor for adults and a playground for children, to include a merry-go-round and slides and swings. The refreshment stand concession accessible to drive-in theater patrons has been leased to Jacobs of Detroit. (Flint Journal 8/30/46)

History: The Dort Drive-In was Flint's first outdoor theater, opening in August 1946. The Dort was built by William Oleksyn, and owned by Oleksyn and William Rice. Like most drive-ins, the popular Dort's screen tower was widened for Cinemascope in the mid-50's. Since it was within Flint's city limits, the property eventually became quite valuable, which led to it's early demise. Bulldozers brought it down in July, 1963 to make way for Oleksyn's new Dort Mall. The Dort Drive-In was quickly replaced in December, 1963 with the new South Dort Drive-In, about 2 miles down Dort Rd. The Dort Mall eventually faded into obscurity, losing it's tenants. It remains today, now housing local Hockey legand Bob Perani's personal collection of vintage neon signs and movie memorabilia. Although most drive-in fans would appreciate seeing the very impressive collection, you won't find anything drive-in related items there. (Michigandriveins.com 3/8/09)