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. 

1970
A new decade begins a slow painful death for drive-in theatres, not just in Michigan,
but nationwide. Daylight savings time, the gas crunch and the advent of multiplex
indoor theatres carry much of the blame. Many drive-ins resort to X-rated flicks 
just to survive, including the Crest, Sceen, Albion, Alpena, Thunder Bay, Sunset 
(Lapeer), Starlite & Tuscola (Bay City), Seaway, Scio, and Blue Sky (Caseville).

1971
Following National Amusements' lead, some owners begin to twin, triple and quad their
drive-in's, in an effort to increase revenue. The Shafer brothers did just that, by 
opening a second screen, and a new central snack bar at their Wayne Drive-In in December
'71. Two more screens would be added later. Three of the four screens would eventually 
be transplanted to Shafer's Ford-Wyoming Drive-In, following the Wayne's closing.

1971
The Musclecar era comes to a grinding halt with the impending gas crunch, new
government regulations, and ever increasing insurance rates. Detroit automakers 
would enter dark times.

1972
Hot on the heels of the Shafer brothers, the Goldberg brothers twinned their Bel-Air 
in early '72. Like the Wayne, The Bel-Air would also eventually add two more screens.

1973
The downward spiral of drive-in's is eminent now. New drive-in's are unheard of 
by '73, but drive-in giant National Amusements does open a new one, the Miracle 
Twin in Burton, near Flint. It's their last drive-in to be built in the state. 
Against the odds, the Miracle Twin remains open in 2004. It is National's last 
Michigan ozoner, and one of three left under their ownership in the U.S.

1973

"Where were you in'62?"...The classic American Graffiti premieres in August 1973.

1973
The big gas crunch hits the United States. Thirsty Boss 429 Mustangs 
and Hemi Cudas are traded in for gas-sipping Pintos and Vegas. 

1974
On the road to becoming rock 'n roll superstars, the Canadian rock trio 
RUSH play an ill-fated concert at the Northside Drive-In in Lansing.

One step away from x-rated, many drive-ins turned to cheesy horror, biker and 
sexplotation B-movies. Breasts, Beasts and Blood was said to be the formula. 

1975
Jimmy Hoffa disappears from a Bloomfield Hills restaurant in July. Michigander 
Gerald Ford becomes the president of the United States in August. The freighter 
Edmund Fitzgerald goes down in Lake Superior in November, with no survivors. 

1976
The Bay Drive-In in Pinconning closes in 1976. The M-78 near Lansing makes 
plans to expand from two to four screens, however they only add a third screen. 

1977
Continuing the downhill slide of drive-ins, the first Michigan drive-in closes, the Eastside 
near Detroit. On the upside, the M-78 near Lansing opens it's third screen in May '77.

The sci-fi blockbuster Star Wars debuts in May of'77. As of January 2005, 
it is the 2nd highest grossing movie of all time at $460,998,007. 

1977
RCA introduces the world's first VHS VCR in 1977. As video movie rental stores began
to appear, this new device would prove to be one of the drive-in's biggest competitors.

1978
In an effort to survive the 1980's, Jack Loeks' Getty Drive-In adds three more 
screens and a new name, the Getty 4 Drive-In. Beating the odds, the Getty would 
become the only survivor in Loeks stable of six drive-ins. Loeks' Plainfield, 
Beltline, Woodland, North, and Muskegon Auto would all eventually close.

1979
The Eastside Drive-In is demolished in January '79. The city of Harper Woods buys 
the property and builds a park on the site. The Detroit Free Press article 
reports there are 11 drive-ins remaining in the Metro Detroit area.

NEXT: 1980's