This drive-in theater survived the 1953 Beecher Tornado with only minor damage confined to walls and fencing and the attraction board. The screen and refreshment building survived intact so the drive-in reopened as soon as the curfew was lifted.
The Flint Cinema was always a single screen theater. It was never twinned. The first movie shown was “Divorce, American Style” and the final film shown was “FX.” It did close in 1986 but remained vacant for several years. It was opened by Butterfield Theaters. GKC Theatres closed it and National Amusements inherited the property when it bought GKC’s Flint area operations. National Amusements tore it down to make the property more salable as a vacant lot.
Willie Mitchell’s Royal Studios' official web site at http://www.williemitchell.com/index.php indicates that the theater was built in 1915 and converted into a recording studio in 1957.
The Eastown is almost gone as much of it was destroyed by fire yesterday. Pictures of the aftermath are at http://www.detroitfunk.com/?p=4634 Expect the entire building to be torn down.
It has been confirmed that National Amusements has sold its two remaining theaters in Michigan, the Showcase Flint West and the Showcase Ann Arbor to Rave.
Both sides of the drive-in’s roadside sign are now completely boarded up with the boards whitewashed. The large expressway sign still looks the same as does the rest of the drive-in.
One more update, the drive-in will be open two more nights, Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7. Admission will be $10 per car. The drive-in will then close for the season. Details on their Facebook page at View link
The Drive-in’s Facebook page and web site gave updates. On Nightmare Castle, they are also allowing $7 admission for just the movie or $10 admission for just the Haunted Castle attraction. They are also staying open on weekends past Halloween, weather permitting, through Thanksgiving.
While it’s sad that drive-in go, at least the marquee and historic screen tower will remain and there will be park space in front of the tower allowing for occasional screenings of movies.
Michigan has only two NA theaters left, the Showcase Cinemas locations in Ann Arbor and Flint. In the Flint area, NA has two vacant properties, the former Showcase Cinemas in Burton and the Miracle Twin Drive-in Theatre.
There’s a vintage article about the modifications made to the Music Hall to accomodate Cinerama at View link The Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts is a magnificent facility and a Detroit treasure. The Summit (formerly the Cass) is no more. The Northland was a suburban theater in Southfield which is now called the Millenium Centre.
It was torn down and is now a parking lot for the adjacent restaurant.
The former theater is on North Saginaw. I believe a tire shop was once located in the converted theater in the 1960s.
This theater was a converted truck repair shop.
This drive-in theater survived the 1953 Beecher Tornado with only minor damage confined to walls and fencing and the attraction board. The screen and refreshment building survived intact so the drive-in reopened as soon as the curfew was lifted.
The Flint Cinema was always a single screen theater. It was never twinned. The first movie shown was “Divorce, American Style” and the final film shown was “FX.” It did close in 1986 but remained vacant for several years. It was opened by Butterfield Theaters. GKC Theatres closed it and National Amusements inherited the property when it bought GKC’s Flint area operations. National Amusements tore it down to make the property more salable as a vacant lot.
Willie Mitchell’s Royal Studios' official web site at http://www.williemitchell.com/index.php indicates that the theater was built in 1915 and converted into a recording studio in 1957.
I hope the owner can rebuild. I wonder how a prefab two-sided screen tower can be constructed?
The Eastown is almost gone as much of it was destroyed by fire yesterday. Pictures of the aftermath are at http://www.detroitfunk.com/?p=4634 Expect the entire building to be torn down.
No arrest has been made yet regarding the arsonist. In the meantime, the theater is being rebuilt.
The rebuilding “ground breaking” (or should that be “first brick laying”?) ceremony is on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXSfao9Huv0
There is also a touching newly produced video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpFPB1VLRhY
Become a US 23 Drive-in Facebook friend. Their Facebook page is at View link
According to the updated Rave web site, they still do not have any theaters in New York even after including the former NA theaters.
It has been confirmed that National Amusements has sold its two remaining theaters in Michigan, the Showcase Flint West and the Showcase Ann Arbor to Rave.
Both sides of the drive-in’s roadside sign are now completely boarded up with the boards whitewashed. The large expressway sign still looks the same as does the rest of the drive-in.
One more update, the drive-in will be open two more nights, Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7. Admission will be $10 per car. The drive-in will then close for the season. Details on their Facebook page at View link
The Drive-in’s Facebook page and web site gave updates. On Nightmare Castle, they are also allowing $7 admission for just the movie or $10 admission for just the Haunted Castle attraction. They are also staying open on weekends past Halloween, weather permitting, through Thanksgiving.
To update info, the US 23 Drive-in Theatre has three screens now.
While it’s sad that drive-in go, at least the marquee and historic screen tower will remain and there will be park space in front of the tower allowing for occasional screenings of movies.
There is a video report at…
View link
The Flint Journal reports on this at View link which quotes me and mentions adding a fourth screen next year.
The property has been put up for sale. The online listing is at…
View link
The price is $2 million.
I found the online for sale listing at…
View link
Michigan has only two NA theaters left, the Showcase Cinemas locations in Ann Arbor and Flint. In the Flint area, NA has two vacant properties, the former Showcase Cinemas in Burton and the Miracle Twin Drive-in Theatre.
There’s a vintage article about the modifications made to the Music Hall to accomodate Cinerama at View link The Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts is a magnificent facility and a Detroit treasure. The Summit (formerly the Cass) is no more. The Northland was a suburban theater in Southfield which is now called the Millenium Centre.
There’s a 1997 interview with Lou Warrington posted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUXCJXvHZ40