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.
Actually, National Amusements has been having its problems lately if you’re been following news developments concerning boss man Sumner Redstone (also the boss at CBS and Viacom) feuding with his daughter Shari Redstone who runs NA. In Michigan, NA has just two theaters left: the Showcase Cinemas West in Flint and the Showcase Cinemas Ann Arbor in Ypsilanti.
The answer is no based on this E-mail reply from National Amusements:
Thank you for contacting us with your inquiry. National Amusements closed the Miracle Twin Drive-in for the season in September of 2008 and will not be reopening the theatre. National Amusements offered the theatre employees positions in the company’s local indoor theatres. We wish to thank our loyal patrons who have shared great movies and memories with us over the years, and hope to see them at our other area theatres.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance.
The Warrington family will reopen the drive-in for one more season in late April in Lou’s memory. Lou’s widow, 75-year-old Diane Warrington will manage it again with granddaughter Avery Warrington running the refreshment stand. Eldest son Lou Warrington III is not interested in holding onto the drive-in so after it closes this fall, it will be put up for sale. My fear is that in a couple of years, it could be a larger Kroger store to replace the smaller one next door.
If UM could put another Barton organ in the Capitol, that would be a great move. The Capitol’s organ was donated to the Flint Institute of Music and moved there after Butterfield Theatres first closed the Capitol Theatre in 1976.
Of course, the former message on the Cinema 10 attraction board said to visit the Showcase Cinemas Flint West, Courtland Cinemas and Miracle Twin Drive In. Sorry for the typo.
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
Actually, National Amusements has been having its problems lately if you’re been following news developments concerning boss man Sumner Redstone (also the boss at CBS and Viacom) feuding with his daughter Shari Redstone who runs NA. In Michigan, NA has just two theaters left: the Showcase Cinemas West in Flint and the Showcase Cinemas Ann Arbor in Ypsilanti.
The answer is no based on this E-mail reply from National Amusements:
Thank you for contacting us with your inquiry. National Amusements closed the Miracle Twin Drive-in for the season in September of 2008 and will not be reopening the theatre. National Amusements offered the theatre employees positions in the company’s local indoor theatres. We wish to thank our loyal patrons who have shared great movies and memories with us over the years, and hope to see them at our other area theatres.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance.
Regards,
Wanda Whitson
The Warrington family will reopen the drive-in for one more season in late April in Lou’s memory. Lou’s widow, 75-year-old Diane Warrington will manage it again with granddaughter Avery Warrington running the refreshment stand. Eldest son Lou Warrington III is not interested in holding onto the drive-in so after it closes this fall, it will be put up for sale. My fear is that in a couple of years, it could be a larger Kroger store to replace the smaller one next door.
If UM could put another Barton organ in the Capitol, that would be a great move. The Capitol’s organ was donated to the Flint Institute of Music and moved there after Butterfield Theatres first closed the Capitol Theatre in 1976.
I can add that after the nearby Showcase Cinemas Flint East closed, this cinema was converted to a full-price first-run house.
Of course, the former message on the Cinema 10 attraction board said to visit the Showcase Cinemas Flint West, Courtland Cinemas and Miracle Twin Drive In. Sorry for the typo.
The Beltline Drive-In Theatre was overtaken by the adjacent Studio 28 Theatres which announced its closing on November 2008. See
View link