Alpena Drive-In
2516 Bloom Road,
Alpena,
MI
49707
2516 Bloom Road,
Alpena,
MI
49707
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The Alpena Drive-In opened in May of 1952. It was operated by Dean Sowder & Glenn Wallace, Northeastern Michigan Theatres Company. From late-1970 it began screening adult movies. The Alpena Drive-In closed in 1985 and the screen was destroyed by fire in 1989. It has been demolished and the site is now a recreation complex named Arzo Sports & Fun Park.
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The site is now owned by the mini-golf course next door, which uses it as a driving range.
I found a couple marquee letters in the back of the lot about six years ago (the small black letters that slide onto the sign to tell you what movie is showing). Wonder what film in 1985 had a V and a Y in the title?
Best I could do on the street view. It’s weird; even though it was at US-23 and Bloom Rd. it had a Long Lake Rd. address.
Yes, the previous comment from 6 years ago points out the address problem. 2516 Bloom Rd, Alpena, MI 49707 will map correctly to the location of the former drive in. The Long Lake address is nowhere near this drive in.
The letters V and Y could be from the movies “You only live twice”, or “On her Majesty’s secret service”. or “The spy who loved me”?
According to a recent drive-in history article in the Alpena News, in late 1970 a new owner started showing R- and X-rated films, later confiscated by the state police. The drive-in placed bright lights to prevent drivers from seeing the screen from US 23. The Alpena later added a go-kart track, then closed in 1985. The screen burned in 1989. The former drive-in “is now the site of the Arzo Sports and Fun Park recreation complex.”
Here’s that new owner.
Boxoffice, March 9, 1970: “Harry Mohney, Durand theatre circuit operator, has purchased the Laney Drive-Ins in Michigan from Mrs. Margaret Laney, wife of the late founder. The theatres involved are: Alpena and Thunder Bay drive-ins, Alpena, and Sunset Drive-In, Lapeer. Buying and booking of films will be handled by Clark Theatre Service, Oak Park.”