HomeDrive-In TheatersEast Side Drive-In Theatre - Harper Woods, MI

East Side Drive-In Theatre - Harper Woods MI

Address: 19440 Harper Ave
City: Harper Woods
State: MI
Zip: 48225
County: Wayne
Open: 1938 (5-26-38)
Closed: 1977
Capacity: 44
Owner History: N/A
Number of visits to this page: 36850
General Information:

Source: Drive-Ins.com

The East Side Drive-In was the first General Cinema Drive-In Theater. I worked there as the manager and we started showing t&a movies (not x-rated just soft r-rated). About a week later the Mayor stopped by and told me he didnt like the movies we were showing, as he put it (as we were walking around the theater) ""We dont want to tell you what kind of movies to show...Is that fence up to code?...But we would appreciate it if you didnt show them...By the way I dont think the screen is up to fire code. James Szeles

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Info Updates:
7/8/2011 - danny sims
I thought they had boats you could ride along with the swings. I remember going on July 4th for the fire works at the end was the American flag. Went to school with a guy that worked there his name was Mike Webster. Great memories.
5/8/2008 - Brad Cook
I worked at the East Side in the early 70's. It was my first job and I loved it only making a $1.00 an hour. I work during the day doing maintenance and at night as an usher. I also gave kids a ride on the train in the play ground before the movie started. I worked there when Summer of 42 first came out and it was a sell out. Cars backed up to 7 mile road waiting to get in. Those years will always be the best years of my life.
10/16/2003 - MichiganDriveIns.com
Detroits first drive-in theater, and one of the first in the world, the Drive-In opened at 8 p.m and tickets were $.35 per person. The first film was The Big Broadcast of 1938. Its screen measured 50 x 50, and was advertised as the largest screen in the world. Later known as the East Side Drive-In, and part of the Boston-based General Cinema Corporation, it was later sold to the Wisper & Wetsman chain. Razed. (Motor City Marquees pub. 1992 by Stuart Galbraith IV 4-21-01) Photo:Steven Wojtowicz 1956
10/16/2003 - MichiganDriveIns.com
I used to work at the Eastside drive-in (1975-1977) until it was closed and torn down to build a park. I did everything at the drive-in (Concessions, tickets, cut grass, change the marquee, clean bathrooms, patrol during the movies and etc.)..Ive got some original photos of the drive-in when it was built. Ive also have some old 8mm movies of the drive-in I took during my drive-in career. Also have some old news clippings. (Police raid drive-in for showing dirty movies, I have a old ad from the West-Side drive-in showing "Michelle vs Godzilla" this was my boss and I didnt like her too much). The photos are dated 7-7-56. The marquee and box office were moved next to the screen, possibly when I-94 was built next to the drive-in. The drive-in closed in the fall of 1977, and was torn down the summer of 1978. (Steven Wojtowicz 11-15-00)
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East Side Drive-In Theatre - Old Photo From Michigan Drive-Ins Facebook Page (newer photo)
Old Photo From Michigan Drive-Ins Facebook Page (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - Old Pic From Ron Gross (newer photo)
Old Pic From Ron Gross (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - A Colorization By Gary And Robert (newer photo)
A Colorization By Gary And Robert (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - Original Photo - Photo From Rg (newer photo)
Original Photo - Photo From Rg (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - Screen And Driveway - Photo From Rg (newer photo)
Screen And Driveway - Photo From Rg (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - Lanes - Photo From Rg (newer photo)
Lanes - Photo From Rg (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - Marquee - Photo From Rg (newer photo)
Marquee - Photo From Rg (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - Projection - Photo From Rg (newer photo)
Projection - Photo From Rg (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - From Road - Photo From Rg (newer photo)
From Road - Photo From Rg (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - The Eastside Now (newer photo)
The Eastside Now (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - The Eastside Now (newer photo)
The Eastside Now (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - Hmmmm I Wonder (newer photo)
Hmmmm I Wonder (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - Aug 7 1938 (newer photo)
Aug 7 1938 (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - Annoucement Ad (newer photo)
Annoucement Ad (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - Annoucement Ad (newer photo)
Annoucement Ad (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - Annoucement Ad (newer photo)
Annoucement Ad (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - Annoucement Article (newer photo)
Annoucement Article (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - Old Ad After Opening (newer photo)
Old Ad After Opening (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - Ad - Photo From Rg (newer photo)
Ad - Photo From Rg (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - Old Article (newer photo)
Old Article (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - Old Article (newer photo)
Old Article (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - Aerial - Photo From Terraserver (newer photo)
Aerial - Photo From Terraserver (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - Old Aerial (newer photo)
Old Aerial (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - Recent Aerial (newer photo)
Recent Aerial (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - Aug 2 1941 Ad (newer photo)
Aug 2 1941 Ad (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - Aug 30 1941 Ad (newer photo)
Aug 30 1941 Ad (newer photo)
East Side Drive-In Theatre - Aug 30 1941 Cosmetics Giveaway (newer photo)
Aug 30 1941 Cosmetics Giveaway (newer photo)
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