Algiers Drive-In Theatre

N. Wayne Road,
Westland, MI 48185

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jwmovies
jwmovies on September 1, 2012 at 3:29 am

Approx. address for this drive-in was 34850 Warren Rd.

lostmemory
lostmemory on May 16, 2009 at 2:58 pm

1984 Photo

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on May 9, 2008 at 6:41 pm

Many photos here:
http://tinyurl.com/6h9x62

Fredrickr
Fredrickr on April 1, 2005 at 8:04 pm

This theater was a single screen theater until 1982 when a second screen was added. There were plans to add a third screen that were never followed up on. The drive in was successful until the it closed in 1985. However as was the case with most drive ins the Algiers was originally built out in the country and the suburbs gradually expanded around it. As the area built up, property taxes also increased until the taxes on the 20+ acres that the drive in occupied were more than the net income the theater generated.

Fredrickr
Fredrickr on November 27, 2004 at 9:20 pm

The Algiers Drive In was not the first drive in built by the Wayne Amusement Company. That honor goes to the Wayne Drive In, which opened in 1949. Also, the screen wasn’t 216'; it was 120' wide and from the ground to the top of the screen tower it was 80' high with the actual screen height of 60'. Lastly, the Quo Vadis was developed mostly on the land that the exit driveway for the drive occupied. A few spaces were lost on the western ends of the ramps for the theater also, but the drive in added 7 ramps in the back of the field to make up for the loss.

Chuck1231
Chuck1231 on October 10, 2004 at 10:14 pm

This was a two screen 1200 car ozoner.

sdoerr
sdoerr on December 13, 2003 at 11:52 am

It could have 1500 cars and 2 screens,
1956 – opened
1985 – closed
1985 – torn down
Pictures:
http://www.drive-ins.com/pictures/mialgi1.jpg
http://www.drive-ins.com/pictures/mialgi2.jpg

sdoerr
sdoerr on December 13, 2003 at 11:34 am

I am sure it was not just 1 screen.