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
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...
Posted by: Sarah V. | March 05, 2010 at 06:46 AM
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!
Posted by: Linda | March 05, 2010 at 07:17 AM
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.
Posted by: Dominique King | March 05, 2010 at 10:04 AM
Classic Americana! Loved looking at these photos!
Posted by: Amy @ pitstops for kids | March 05, 2010 at 10:16 AM
what fun! i love it - with the piles of snow, dreaming of summer
Posted by: jessiev | March 05, 2010 at 04:42 PM
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 :)
Posted by: Dominique King | March 06, 2010 at 04:04 AM
Unfortunately, there were never any drive-ins near me. They always seemed like a lot of fun.
Posted by: gypsyscarlett | March 08, 2010 at 11:49 PM
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!
Posted by: Dominique King | March 09, 2010 at 02:50 PM
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.
Posted by: Carolina | March 09, 2010 at 08:10 PM
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.
Posted by: Lorraine | March 09, 2010 at 09:14 PM
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!
Posted by: Dominique King | March 10, 2010 at 05:18 AM
Greetings Dominique -
I remember going to the drive-in with a few others and two or three of us would get in the trunk of the car prior to paying and entering. At that time they charged by the "head" and we all got in for the price of one or two. The trick was getting the driver to open the trunk once we were in.
I know, we bad...
Charlie
PS - Great post
Posted by: Charlie | December 29, 2010 at 06:12 PM
Charlie-My biggest memory of the drive-in was going with my parents...and being at the Troy Drive-in the night the "Memorial Park riot" started! They made an announcement over the loudspeakers that if you lived in RO you had to go home...and go through check points to get there :o
Posted by: Dominique King | December 29, 2010 at 08:16 PM