Bel-Air Drive-In
8600 E. 8 Mile Road,
Detroit,
MI
48234
8600 E. 8 Mile Road,
Detroit,
MI
48234
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From what I have read, the original theater had a capacity of 2,200 cars, certainly the largest in Michigan. When the second theater was added in 1971, a piece of the main theater was shaved off, reducing capacity to 1,800 cars. The second screen parked 1,200, so that equals 3,000 total. This was Detroit’s first “twin” drive-in, and ultimately a third screen would be placed in a back corner, and a fourth screen in the front area.
two screens on November 24th, 1971. Grand opening ad posted
The Bel-Air 1-2-3 Drive-In Theatre closed August 21, 1986 with “The Fly” and “Aliens” on Screen 1, “Armed and Dangerous” and “Jo Jo Dancer” on Screen 2, “Back to School” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” on Screen 3. That weekend’s Bel-Air flea market and all future dates were moved to the Ford-Wyoming Drive-In.
Billboard, July 19, 1952: “John Carlisle, featured columnist of the Detroit News, paid tribute to Adolph and Irving Goldberg of Community Theaters and supervisor David Wilson for making their shows at the Bel-Air Drive-In available to patients of a nearby hospital. Finding the patients on a porch were able to see the screen without too much difficulty, they arranged to put in a special line to the hospital and amplifying equipment so they could hear the sound as well.”
Opened with “Stella” and “Curtain call at Cactus Creek”. A small amusement park opened just outside the drive-in in 1951. Screen 2 opened in 1971. Screen 2 opened in 1982. Screen 3 opened in 1983.
Bel Air Cinemas are located next to the Bel Air Shopping Center, to the east.
The site is now occupied by a shopping center called Bel Air Shopping Center. Most of the stores in the shopping center are vacant. 1973 aerial shows two screens.
Here is a 1973 aerial view:
http://tinyurl.com/yfnmlnp