News Article: First Drive-In Theater to Open Thursday Night - On a screen reported to be the world's largest will flash "The Big Broadcast of 1938" Thursday evening, to open Detroit's new Drive-In Theater. The opening of the theater for motoring movie fans at Harper Ave., near Seven Mile Road, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Alden Smith, manager of the project, announced that two pictures would be shpwn each week, changes being made on Thursday and Sunday. Two performances will be given nightly with admission 35 cents for adults and children admitted free. (Detroit News May 1938)

Status: East Side -- Ford Freeway and 7 Mile Road -- Harper Woods -- The East Side Drive-In was the first General Cinema Drive-In Theater. I worked there as the manager and we started showing t&a movies (not x-rated just soft r-rated). About a week later the Mayor stopped by and told me he didn't like the movies we were showing, as he put it (as we were walking around the theater) "We don't want to tell you what kind of movies to show...Is that fence up to code?...But we would appreciate it if you didn't show them...By the way I don't think the screen is up to fire code." (Evil Sams Drive-In Theatre Guide/James Szeles 1996)

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 West-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: I remember when the screen caught on fire and burned back in 53 or 54.
(Waterwinterwonderland.com/Bob 4/28/06)

Update: My father used to be the projectionist at the east side and many others as well. So I have many memories of that place, movies like ben tora,tora,tora and lots of others I would like to submit. Please let me know how, thank you. (Jeff G. 8/12/06)

Update: One fact that was not brought to light. Yes, they did start showing films with more "skin," and the biggest oppostion of the showing of these films was from the nuns in the convent and the priests in the rectory of Our Lady Queen of Peace catholic church/school. They had a clear shot of the screen from their living quarters. (Waterwinterwonderland.com/Melinda Caito 9/18/07)

Update: I worked at the East Side in the early 70''s. It was my first job and I loved it only making a $1.00 an hour. I work during the day doing maintenance and at night as an usher. I also gave kids a ride on the train in the play ground before the movie started. I worked there when Summer of 42 first came out and it was a sell out. Cars backed up to 7 mile road waiting to get in. Those years will always be the best years of my life. (Waterwinterwonderland.com/Brad Cook 5/8/08)

Update: Grew up where we could sit on the front porch of my folks house and watch the movies, come 1967 it was my first job. 90 cents or a buck an hour. Friday and Sat nights were a blast. There were two of us "ushers" one would be by the ticket gate, and if someone came in by themselves they would radio back to the other one to be on the lookout for that car. Usually.....some fools would be piled in the trunks of the car to get in free, and when the got to the back and parked we would catch them getting out of the trunk. One of Harper Woods finest would then escort them out of the place. Pat or Wayne are ya out there somewhere? lol Biggest complainers on the topic of more skin came from the houses on Littlestone which backed up to Tyrone School and had the huge screen staring at the backs of their houses. Same 2-3 guys would always show up at the city council meetings and holler the loudest. Few years later I was working downtown for MichCon in their computer center on the night shift. I was still living at my folks then, and one night as I came down to Tyrone there were cars parked and stopped all along the street. I cant remember what actress it was, but she didnt have much in the way of clothes on, and those cars were lined up from Brierstone all the way to Bournemouth. What a hoot. Name of the place in front for many years was Richards, the drive in restaurant. (Waterwinterwonderland.com/Mike F. 6/15/08)