Status: OPEN

Previous Names: NK DRIVE-IN, NK SOUTH DRIVE-IN, GETTY DRIVE-IN

Update: The Getty 4 property is close to being sold for development by Jack Loeks Theaters. 2001 will likely be the last year of operation. (6/16/01)

Update: The Getty Four re-opened for one more season on April 26th, 2002. (5/04/02)

Update: The sale of the Getty property has indeed fallen though, and the Getty Four has once again re-opened for the 2003 season on April 25th. (4/25/03)

Update: The NK Drive-In first opened for business on Friday, June 3rd, 1949. When the NK reopened for the 1967 season on Tuesday, March 21st, 1967 it was with a new name: The Getty Drive-In. The NK was purchased from Nick Kuris by Jack Loeks, and renamed the Getty. The large light-up N-K letters were subsequently removed from the top of the screen tower, leaving only the word DRIVE-IN, to light up the screen tower at night. Unfortunately, these letters are no longer functional. The Getty opened screens 2, 3 and 4 in 1980. (5/4/03)

Update: The Getty 4 closed for the 2003 season on September 7th. We have no information on when, or if it will reopen in 2004. (Michigandriveins.com 9/12/03)

News Article: Theater pioneer John 'Jack' Loeks Sr. dies When John "Jack" Loeks Sr. opened the single-screen Midtown Theater in 1944, the young Grand Rapids businessman launched a career that would revolutionize the way people watch movies. Through the golden era of big-screen drive-ins to megaplexes such as Studio 28 and Celebration Cinema, Loeks left his mark on the silver screen. "He was a pioneer in the movie business," son John D. Loeks Jr. said this morning. His father -- who popularized the concept of multiscreen theaters -- died Sunday night at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, surrounded by his wife, Ruth, four children and grandchildren. He was 85. Mr. Loeks retired in 1995, and later sold his interest in Jack Loeks Theatres to his son, John, and daughters Meria Loeks, of Santa Fe, N.M., and Lanette Loeks, of Carpenteria, Calif. The chain includes the 20-screen Studio 28 in Wyoming and the 18-screen Celebration Cinema in Grand Rapids. It also includes three Norton Shores theaters, the 16-screen Cinema Carousel, Getty 4 Drive-In and Plaza 1&2. Studio 28 revolutionized the way people watched movies, said Bob Goodrich, president of a rival chain, the Goodrich Radio & Theaters Inc. in Kentwood. "It predated other megaplexes by 20 years," he said. "The large lobbies, large screens, great service, quality picture and sound -- they were the hallmark of Jack Loeks. "It was amazing how much joy he brought to so many people. For him, it was a continuous party. His excitement about the business rubbed off on me a lot." Steve Schab, who managed Studio 28 for 12 years and now is general manager of Celebration Cinema, called Loeks a visionary. "I don't know where he hid his crystal ball, but it was crystal clear," he said. "He was a first-class showman." To Schab, Mr. Loeks' death meant "a legend's gone and an era's past." Loeks was instrumental in the growth of Wyoming along 28th Street. He was a founding member of the Wyoming Chamber of Commerce, said Schab, who also is chairman of Wyoming's Downtown Development Authority. "He was a catalyst that made things happen -- a leader in the community," he said. "Community has been so important to him. He gave so many people their first job." In 1998, Wyoming awarded him and Hy Berkowitz, the founder of Rogers Department Store, the city's first Lifetime Achievement Awards for their impact on the community's emerging shopping district. "They've obviously been the anchors of 28th Street in Wyoming," then-City Manager Donald Mason said at the ceremony. "This section of 28th Street would be in difficult shape if it weren't for those two people." Son Jim Loeks left his father's business in 1990 to launch the Star Theatres chain, one of his father's hottest rivals in West Michigan. The rift turned high-profile when the father sued the son, arguing that the son broke an agreement not to compete, but the lawsuit was dismissed. The father and son reconciled, and both wished the trouble had never happened. "It was probably the worst year of our lives," Jim Loeks said. "He's a tough guy, he's smart, he would speak his mind. He raised me to be tough, smart, also." John Loeks Jr. said his father believed the megaplexes gave moviegoers more options. He started the business with the Midtown Theater on Pearl Street NW in 1944, running newsreels during World War II. Mr. Loeks tried his hand at several businesses before he got into movie theaters. In his early years, he established a sub-assembly plant for the B-29 bomber during World War II, and once sold Christmas trees out of his home. "He grew up in East Grand Rapids during the Depression -- it was a very formative thing in his life," his son said. "Like the many other families in that era, his father lost most of what he had accumulated. My father started with very little." Then, a 29-year-old son of a traveling salesman and a missionary, Mr. Loeks had operated a theater downtown since 1944 and was looking for a spot for the latest craze: a drive in. He found a gravel pit and built his Beltline Drive-In there. Seventeen years later, in 1965, he built an indoor theater next to the drive-in and named it Studio 28. He spent the rest of his career adding to that screen. John Loeks said his father -- who once was in a crowd scene of the 1963 Frankie Avalon movie "Beach Party" -- was creative and always coming up with new ideas. "He built the world's first 12-screen theater, and the world's first 20-screen theater," he said. "He recognized the fact it was good to be able to show all of the available Hollywood products in one place." Jim Loeks said his father was a showman at heart. "It was kind of the philosophy, that it's all about the guest experience, making it a special night out," he said. Mr. Loeks, who suffered from Parkinson's disease, lived the past 2 1/2 years at a retirement center. He continued to maintain an office after he retired. "He was a wonderful father," John Loeks said. "He taught me to be truthful, and to treat people fairly. That was a recurring lesson from him. He was also a man who enjoyed life." The brothers were thankful his family could be with their father when he died. Jim Loeks said the family gathered in the father's room at Spectrum Health Butterworth Campus, where they held hands, and sang soft songs. Later, they told stories about a man he described as "one of Grand Rapids' favorite sons." "It was a very moving evening, a great send-off to a great guy," he said. "Our family is just in a state of shock because he's always been there." While he was known for his cinema career, Mr. Loeks had many other interests. A member of the Merchant Marine at age 17, he was an avid hunter and fisherman who was involved in environmental issues. He was a pilot, and owned planes most of his life. Once, he picked up comedian Bob Hope in Chicago and flew him to Grand Rapids for an appearance. Funeral arrangements are pending. (John Agar and Rob Kirkbride - The Grand Rapids Press Monday, February 23, 2004)

Update: We are very, very happy the drive-in didn't close, like we heard it was going to. It's about 45 minutes away from us. (The closest one to us) We go about a lot each summer. The kids love it! We hope it stays open. We encourage friends and family to go. A lot of people we tell about the drive-in, never realized we had a drive-in so close. REALLY hopes it stays open! (Lisa 6/1/04)

Update: Jack Loeks Theatres Getty 4 Drive-In has a new webpage on the celebrationcinema.com site. A hopeful sign for the future of the Getty Drive-In, the page lists movie showtimes, ticket prices, concessions, etc. The Getty is expected to reopen in April 2006. (Michigandriveins.com 12/6/05)

Update: In late September or early October of 2005 an unusual high wind storm came through Muskegon and did some pretty severe damage to the viewing side of screen number one at the Getty Drive in. The resulting hole in the screen is about sixteen feet tall at it’s tallest and about twenty two feet wide at it widest. I grew up in this neighborhood & worked at the Getty for a lot of years as well as the North & the Auto drive in’s and I have never seen this much damage in the past. (Waterwinterwonderland.com/Dan Goodman 3/7/06)

Update: There is movement about at the old Getty four (maybe three) screen Drive in these days. For an explanation, see the article below that was in the Muskegon Chronicle today. I have submitted two pictures of the renovation for your enjoyment & will post more over the next few weeks as the work progresses. We all hope the old screen can be saved as it is a work of beauty. The Getty was my first real job & I was working there when she grew from a single screen to four screens. Note an error in the article, the Getty original screen was not built in 1966 as they reported. 1966 was about the time that the Getty (N.K. Drive In) was purchased by Jack Loeks Theatres. Enjoy! Dan. (Waterwinterwonderland.com/Dan Goodman 3/7/06)

Update: Work begins on Getty Drive-In screen - Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - Lynn Moore - CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER The oldest movie screen at the Getty 4 Drive-In is being removed for safety reasons, and its uncertain whether the complex will soon become the "Getty 3." Age and wind damage had made the cement board and plywood screen unsafe, said Ron Van Timmeren, vice president of marketing and film for Loeks Theatres Inc., which owns the Norton Shores complex. Officials are uncertain whether the company can afford to replace "screen No. 1" with the same metal screen used on the drive-ins three other theater towers, Van Timmeren said. Nonetheless, the company is committed to opening for the season in April, he said. "We certainly are committed to the safety of our guests. That was the No. 1 issue at hand," he said. "Yes, the Getty Drive-in is still a viable movie theater, albeit seasonal. We want to continue to operate even though theres some question about how much its going to cost to get that screen back up." He said the only quote to replace the screen was "well over $100,000." "Thats just not going to work, so were looking for alternatives to the one bid weve gotten so far," Van Timmeren said. He said a lot depends on the integrity of the metal tower frame that supports the screen. Workers are stripping cement board, plywood, sheet metal and roofing from the tower, which was built in 1966. (actually built in 1949) After flirting with selling the drive-in movie complex in 2001, officials of the Grand Rapids-based Loeks Theatres have since said theyve dropped the idea of other development at the location off Getty Street in Norton Shores. Van Timmeren said the Getty 4 turned a profit in 2005, but called business "OK." He said business at all types of theaters was down last year. He said many drive-ins went out of business because of demand for valuable property that they sat on. That has not been the case with the Getty 4, allowing it to survive when others havent, he said. (Waterwinterwonderland.com/Dan Goodman 3/7/06)

Update: Demolition of screen #1 continues. The screen face is all gone now as is most of main roof. Submitted two new photos today. Note on front view - if you look right in the center - you can see the original center staircase that rises all the way to the roof. The Getty will be opening at the end of April most likely the week after Easter Sunday weather permitting for the 2006 season - with or without screen #1. (Waterwinterwonderland.com/Dan Goodman 3/11/06)

Update: Jack Loeks Theatres Getty Drive-In became the Getty 4 Drive-In when it opened for the 1980 season on April 5th, 1980. The movies shown were, Grease with Saturday Night Fever, Stoney with Shot Gun Wedding, Scavenger Hunt with Avalanche Express, and Guyana - Cult Of The Damned with Dracula. Loeks two other Muskegon area drive-in's, the North and the Auto, continued to operate thru 1980, both closed permanently on September 1st, 1980. (Michigandriveins.com 3/25/06)

Update: The demolition phase of the renovation of screen #1 at the Getty Four is quickly wrapping up! The demolition team expects to be done with their work by this Saturday April 1st. The Getty is scheduled to open on Friday April 21st for its 2006 season - it's 57th season. Renovation plans are still being worked on by JLT Corporate, but no official word yet. New pictures submitted today. (Dan Goodman 3/30/06)

Update: The new season opener for the Getty is April 28th. There was a delay as the city water crew had to replace some valve equipment on Summit Ave. causing a week's delay in getting the water turned on for the season. (Dan Goodman 4/10/06)

Update: Even without screen 1, the Getty opened up for the 2006 season! The movies that were shown were: on screen #2, RV with The Pink Panther, on screen #3, Failure to Launch with She's the Man, and on screen #4, Scary Movie 4 with Date Movie. My mom and I saw Scary Movie 4 and Date Movie and I have 3 letters to say about it, LOL! It was the time of my life! I really hope that screen #1 gets fixed, then more movies will again be shown (besides, it's closer to the concession stand and restrooms). My mom and I are planning to go up again on Saturday to see Click. That's all. P.S. Hey Dan Goodman, I met a woman in the concession stand who said she used to work with you, I told her that you posted the pictures and info on here about screen #1, just so you know, posted Wednesday, June 28, 2006. (Adam DeLand)

Update: Update: Even without screen 1, the Getty opened up for the 2006 season! The movies that were shown were: on screen #2, RV with The Pink Panther, on screen #3, Failure to Launch with She's the Man, and on screen #4, Scary Movie 4 with Date Movie. My mom and I saw Scary Movie 4 and Date Movie and I have 3 letters to say about it, LOL! It was the time of my life! I really hope that screen #1 gets fixed, then more movies will again be shown (besides, it's closer to the concession stand and restrooms). My mom and I are planning to go up again on Saturday to see Click. That's all. P.S. Hey Dan Goodman, I met a woman in the concession stand who said she used to work with you, I told her that you posted the pictures and info on here about screen #1, just so you know. (Adam DeLand 6/28/06)

Update: Muskegon Chronicle Live - Drive-in movie screen being replaced The main screen of the four-screen, historic Getty Drive-In outdoor movie theater is being replaced, preparing the way for what owners anticipate will be a blockbuster summer season. Work will be completed in the next few weeks, said Steve VanWagoner, senior marketing director for Jack Loeks Theatres Inc., the Grand Rapids-based company that owns the Getty, 920 E. Summit. VanWagoner said the new screen, which like the old one is 100 feet wide, cost more than $60,000. The new screen is replacing a predecessor first erected 40 years ago, in 1966. The previous screen was removed this spring, having succumbed to damage caused by age and weather. According to Ron VanTimmeren, Loeks’ vice president of film, customer safety was the primary concern. The Getty this year operated with three screens. The Getty Drive-In has become a staple of Muskegon-area summers. It is the only drive-in movie complex in West Michigan. A slice of American pie, drive-in movies are unique to the U.S. The first theater opened in 1933, in Camden, N.J. Marrying two American obsessions of the era — the automobile and motion pictures — drive-ins began stitching themselves into the American fabric in the 1950s, in the wake of World War II. Through all that, the Loeks company has stuck with the Getty. Sound systems improved when technology allowed patrons to listen to the movies on their vehicle radios. (MLive.com 12/27/06)

Update: The main screen at the Getty Drive-In was built in 1949, not 1966, as indicated in the recent MLive.com article. (Michigandriveins.com 12/27/06)

Update: The Muskegon Chronicle ~ Sunday February 11th 2007 “as we see it” (Chronicle editorial staff) “New screen is icing on the cake” Muskegon’s got the states largest wooden roller coaster; two big bowling centers, a thoroughbred horse track, and - it looks like for well into the future - one of the last old-time drive-in movie theatres. Three cheers, then, for Jack Loek’s Theatres Inc., which owns the Getty Drive-In at 920 E. Summit. So convinced is the company of outdoor movies’ place in Muskegon’s entertainment picture that it is replacing its main screen at a cost of more than $60,000. At 100 feet wide and 45 feet high, the new Getty screen will be as big as the one it replaces. Moreover; audio quality took a great leap forward when the tiny-sounding window speakers disappeared and patrons could listen to movies through their car stereo systems. Bonus You can’t catch a double feature anymore, except at the drive-in. Loek’s Theatres deserves a lot of credit for scraping plans to close the Getty and develop the property into another use. The number of drive-in movie theatres has today dropped considerably from a high of 4,000 in the 1950’s. Muskegon once had five of them; today, the Getty is the only one left in all of West Michigan. That makes it something unique in itself, and adds one more thing to a long list of things that make Muskegon such fun. (Dan Goodman 02/11/07)

Update: Please Note that Getty Drive in is open for 2007! Celebrationcinema.com. (Bill Creswell 5/11/07)

News Article: Theater under the stars remains a big hit
West Michigan's lone drive-in movie theater the Getty 4 in Muskegon - is a bit of a passion for both owner John Loeks and manager Kevin Sims. Loeks' father Jack brought the drive-in theater to West Michigan, beginning with the Beltline Drive-in next to Studio 28 in Wyoming, eventually opening several in the region. (Note: There were at least three other drive-in's opened in West Michigan before the Beltline - Michigandriveins.com) "I grew up with the drive-in in Muskegon," John Loeks said. "It's a bit nostalgic." Loeks' first job for his father was running the trampoline and miniature golf area at Studio 28, between the indoor theater and the drive-in. So a lot of his friends worked at the drive-in, and it was there his passion was cemented. Drive-ins in the late 1970s and 1980s earned a reputation as a rowdy youth hangout showing second run films and teen flicks. That is not the case these days, at least not at the Getty 4 Drive-in. Sims has managed the facility for 26 years, and said it is a true family atmosphere these days, and a place where parents can share a bygone era with their children. Many bring lawn chairs, blankets, and enjoy a social atmosphere prior to movie-time, which begins at dusk. "People take time out to make it a destination," Sims said. "It's more than just going to the movies." Regulars come from Ann Arbor, Saginaw, and even out of state to experience the Getty. Sims said he estimates about half of the audience in a given weekend is from outside of Muskegon. For Grand Rapids-area residents, it is just about 30 minutes straight down I-96. Nowadays, it offers a double-feature of current movies at affordable prices. Last weekend saw blockbuster "Shrek the Third" paired with the family film "The Last Mimzy" and "Spiderman 3" paired with "Ghost Rider" among the eight features. The sound is broadcast through car stereos, although some of the old-style window speakers remain as well. The theater was a three screen last year, as the main screen was damaged and needed to be replaced. Sims said the corrugated metal screen had to be special ordered, put in place, and painted with a special white screen paint to accommodate the projector image. Loeks said it is an example of his commitment to the Getty, as the cost will erode any profit for this year. "We kind of recommitted ourselves with that," Loeks said. "We did it because there seems to be an ongoing demand for drive-in theaters." There is also a playground for children to use prior to the films, and the popular snack bar. They also feature discounted prices for children and offer bargain nights and children under 5 are always free. "A lot of kids end up at the drive-in," Loeks said. "We just hope people recognize the opportunity is still available." For Sims, it is a passion he shares with Loeks, and his employees. Many of them have been around 10 years or more. So they are committed to ensuring a great experience for patrons, and enjoy helping people relive old memories and create new ones in the process. "Because of its uniqueness, I feel it's my little baby," Sims said. (Grand Rapids Press/Mlive.com 5/22/07)