Comments about Lansing Drive-In in Lansing, MI

michigandriveins on June 21, 2009 at 11:53 am

The Lansing Drive-In was not a portable theater. Apparently there was renumbering in the past as CWalczak suggests. I found the 5097 address on the county assessor website. Looking at 5097 on Google Maps will take you to the exact site, the 5509 address takes you about ¼ mile south of this site. The Ingham County Human Services building on the site actually uses 5303 for an address.

All of the research (addresses, opening dates, owners, opening ads, etc.) found on Waterwinterwonderland.com was done by me, and originated at Michigandriveins.com. Drive-ins.com and Cinematour.com also “adopted” much of this research.

I’m still looking for any photos of the Lansing Drive-In. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. I wonder if a Butterfield Theatres photo archive exists.

lostmemory on June 20, 2009 at 11:37 am

It is possible that the address was renumbered. I find it odd that both sites have an ad that gives the 5509 South Cedar address and neither site uses that address. The address given on the Michigan Driveins site matches the address given by IMPA. I’m curious where the Water Winter Wonderland site found the 5097 South Cedar address.

CSWalczak on June 19, 2009 at 11:45 pm

It is possible that there was, at some point, some address renumbering. When I used to go there in the early 70s, that stretch of South Cedar Street was still rather rural with large gaps between the businesses which were mostly farmer’s markets, mom-and-pop motels, and occasionally a car lot. It really did not start to get built up until the later 80s and early 90s.

lostmemory on June 19, 2009 at 8:22 pm

Was this a portable drive-in? Thanks for finding the address.

CSWalczak on June 19, 2009 at 6:06 pm

The matter is even more confusing by looking at the Grand Opening advertisement on the Water Winter Wonderland site; according to the ad, the address was 5509 S. Cedar.

lostmemory on June 19, 2009 at 1:39 pm

I noticed that the two websites linked to above give different addresses. The 1980 IMPA lists the Lansing Drive-In at the same address given on the Michigan Drive-Ins website. Maybe the address should be changed to:

5207 South Cedar Street
Lansing, MI 48911

lostmemory on June 19, 2009 at 1:28 pm

More photos and ads can be found here.

CSWalczak on June 19, 2009 at 11:44 am

There are several pictures here:
View link

Lansing Drive-In

5097 South Cedar Street, Lansing, MI 48911

5097 South Cedar Street,
Lansing, MI 48911