The Michigan Drive-In Theatre Timeline is a year-by-year listings of drive-in openings, 
closings and events detailing the rise and fall of the 140-plus drive-in theatres 
that once operated in the State of Michigan. Also included are significant historical
events relating to Michigan, the automotive industry and some of Hollywoods offerings. 

1950
The 1950's would bring us tailfins, rock 'n roll, cruisin' and lots of drive-in 
theatres. The year 1950 alone saw nearly 30 new drive-in's open in Michigan. The 
Caro, Albion, Traverse, Manistee's Chippewa, East Lansing's Crest Clare's Northland,
Midland's Sunset, Rosebush's Sundown, Plainwell's 131 Outdoor, Lapeer's Sunset, St.
Joseph's Auto, the Greenville, the Coldwater, St.John's Family, the Cadillac, 
Corunna's Skyway, Ishpeming's Evergreen, the Hastings, the Marysville, Morenci's 
Skyline, Houghton Lake's 55-Hi, the Mikado, Detroit's Bel-Air, Oak, Ft. George, and
the still operating Ford Wyoming all opened this year. The short-lived Walled Lake 
closes this year also.

1951
New drive-in's for '51 are the Hilltop (Jackson), Ecorse, 
Lakes (Brighton) and Devils Lake Drive-In Church. 

1951
The first U.S. color-television is produced, soon providing even more 
competition with the drive-in movie for Michigander's entertainment dollar.

1952
The Mt.Clemens, Alpena, Hiawatha, Cheboygan, Sturgis, Stadium, 
Northside, Ironwood, Tawas, M-53, Sky, and Meredith all opened in 1952.
The US-23 Drive-In is opened in Flint by Louis Warrington Sr. At that time,
US-23 was a two-lane road. When the current 4-lane US-23 Expressway was built 
in 1958, US-23 became Fenton Rd. Lou Warrington Jr. operates the "23" today.

1953
A big year for new construction, '53 saw the grand openings of the Scio, Tri-City,
Starlite (Addison), Northland (Petoskey), Night Sky, Starlite in Lansing, Starlite
(Ludington), Ionia, Maple City, Cherry Bowl, Starlite (S.S.Marie) and M-60. 

1953
The "other" drive-in, the drive-in restaurant also saw enormous growth in the 50's.
Cruise your rod down to A&W, Dog 'n Suds or Teds for a coney and a root beer.

1954
Just a few openings in 1954, the Hilltop, Superior, and Marquette 
Outdoor in the U.P., the Galaxy in Mio, and the Jolly Roger.

1955
The Douglas (Kalamazoo), Bel Air (Saginaw), Ken-Mar, Bel Air (Jackson), Thunder Bay,
Bel Aire (Monroe), West Point, Troy, Van Dyke, Vista, M-104, and Silver all opened in '55. 

1955
Science fiction movies such as The Thing, The Forbidden Planet, Them, The Blob, 
and Invasion of the Body Snatchers were popular at the Drive-in in the 1950's.

1955
Ford introduces the fabulous Dearborn-built Thunderbird in '55.
The sporty 2-seater runs about $3100.

1956
1956 brought us the Hi-Vue, Commerce, Algiers, Northland (Flint), 
North, Denniston and Holiday drive-in theatres.

1956
Drive-In theatres are now a way of life for most Michiganders, so much so that 
Ford used the drive-in image in this ad for their '56 Sunliner convertible.

1957
The drive-in theatre building boom in Michigan slows considerably. Just two new
ozoners open this season, the Lakes in Lake Linden and the Plainfield in Grand Rapids.

1957
The Mackinac Bridge opens for traffic on November 1, 1957. The 
5-mile long bridge links Michigan's Upper and Lower pennisulas.

1958
New drive-in construction has now slowed to about one 
per year in Michigan. The Seaway in Algonac opens.

1959
The Bay in Pinconning opens.

NEXT: 1960's