Photo Friday: Cherry Bowl Drive-in

The Cherry Bowl Drive-In at Honor in northern Michigan represents a real blast from the past. The drive-in, now celebrating 56 years in operation, hosts family-friendly films in a 1950s-style atmosphere.

I have fond memories of going to our local drive-in theater as a kid. I loved playing in the theater’s playground near the big screen and heading up to the concession stand for hot dogs and popcorn, often after the corny slides advertising the theater’s eats appeared on the screen between flicks.

Today, there are only a handful of drive-in theaters in many Midwest states.

Some present-day drive-in theaters represent off-season uses for venues like the Compuware Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, (where we watch the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League play). Compuware uses their large parking lot as a drive-in with temporary screens during months when the lot isn’t used for hockey game parking.

The Cherry Bowl, opened in 1953, is one of fewer than a dozen dedicated drive-in theaters in Michigan. The theater’s Web site assures families that all movies it plays are no stronger than a PG-13 rating, do not glorify teen drinking or drug use, and that it offers a program each night of operation that includes a double feature with vintage intermission films and cartoons. And yes, there is a playground and a 1950s-style mini golf course to amuse the kids before the movies start.

The Cherry Bowl lies dormant for the winter right now, but come May, the theater opens for yet another nostalgic-rich season at the movies.

Thanks to Debbie Dubrow of Delicious Baby for creating and coordinating Photo Friday to link travel photos and blog posts across the Web.

© Dominique King 2010 All rights reserved

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Comments

[Sarah V.]

I've never been to a drive-in movie before! I feel like I'm really missing out. Maybe I need to find out if there are any drive-in theaters in Texas...

[Linda]

I've never been to a drive-in before, but there's one about an hour from us. I hope it's still open when the kids are old enough to stay up for an outdoor movie. Darkness comes late in the summer in these northern climes!

[Dominique King]

Sarah & Linda-Never been to a drive-in?!!?? Perish the thought! It was one of the try joys of childhood for me.
I thought these photos would make a good Photo Friday essay for folks who remember drive-ins fondly...and for those who have yet to experience one.

[Amy @ pitstops for kids]

Classic Americana! Loved looking at these photos!

[jessiev]

what fun! i love it - with the piles of snow, dreaming of summer

[Dominique King]

Amy-Thanks! The Cherry Bowl really is a classic old drive-in, and I'm so glad it still manages to stick around. It's in an area popular with tourists, so hopefully it will be around for many more years.

Jessie-The exact same thing I was thinking when I was looking for a few good Photo Friday subjects :)

[gypsyscarlett]

Unfortunately, there were never any drive-ins near me. They always seemed like a lot of fun.

[Dominique King]

Gypsy-I'm so glad I had a chance to enjoy the drive-in theaters as a kid. I'm glad that there are at least a few old-time drive-ins like the Cherry Bowl left around, too!

[Carolina]

I haven't been to a drive-in since I was a kid, oh wait, now that I typed that I remember going with my boyfriend in college too..hee hee. We have a few in Bay Area.
This one looks really retro, that's nice that they kept it that way.

[Lorraine]

I hope more drive-ins are kept in operation like this one. I also have memories of going to the drive in as a kid. My parents would just put a blanket over us if we fell asleep before the movie ended. Cool post.

[Dominique King]

Carolina-The whole retro thing is what makes the Cherry Bowl really cool IMHO. I really liked old car out fronts...I wasn't so sure about the huge chicken, though :lol:

Lorraine-My parents did pretty much the same thing!