Chippewa Drive-In
500 W. Chippewa Avenue,
South Bend,
IN
46614
500 W. Chippewa Avenue,
South Bend,
IN
46614
1 person
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Loew's Inc.
Previous Names: Moonlite Outdoor Theatre, Chippewa Twin Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
The Moonlite Outdoor Theatre opened on July 8, 1951 with Danny Kaye in “On the Riviera”. With a single screen, it was owned by L. Cochovetry. Loew’s took over operations of the drive-in in 1961. It was twinned on June 4, 1976 and renamed the Chippewa Twin Drive-In. Car Capacity for the ozoner was listed at 600 cars.
In later years (from 1984) the Chippewa Drive-In went over to screening adult XXX movies and closed around 1988. It was later demolished. The Showplace 16 was built on the site of the former Chippewa Drive-In.
Contributed by
Chuck
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Apparently it opened at least a little earlier that 1954 as this theater’s page at Drive-ins.com includes an ad from 1953: http://www.drive-ins.com/pictures/intchip001.jpg
1967 aerial posted here.
The theater converted to an XXX outdoor showing Deep Throat for an entire season in 1984 and continued as an adult until it closed in 87 or 88. Up until 1986 the booth was staffed by members of Local 187 IATSE.
1950’s aerial photo added, photo credit Photoseeum. Via the Quality Retro Oldies 1900s-1970s Fcaebook page.
This opened on July 8th, 1951 as the Moonlite Outdoor theatre.
Moonlite Outdoor Theatre opening Sun, Jul 8, 1951 – 52 · The South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Saint Joseph, Indiana, United States of America) · Newspapers.com
Reopened as the Chippewa Twin Drive-In on June 4th, 1976
Switched to adult movies on May 28, 1982