News Article: New St. Joe Auto Theater Features Tilted Screen - One of the outstanding features of the St. Joe Auto Theater on US-12 south of St. Joseph is it's tilted screen, claimed to be first in Berrien county. The screen, braced internally with 20 tons of stell and set on a concrete base tilts at an angle perpendicular to the cars on the ramps to remove distortion, says the theatre management. Owner M.H. "Bob" Johnson, former twin city contractor, states that he attempted to include every comfort and convenience obtainable in the new theater, which was opened recently. Nearly $16,000 worth of sound and projection equipment, said Johnson, will give reception equal to any drive-in theater in the country. For people who would like to see a motion picture projection room in action, there is an observation room of the concession building. Johnson also plans to have free pony rides for children under 12 years of age. Seats on a cement patio connected to the concession building are available for people without cars. Bottle warming for baby bottles and windshield cleaning are services offered patrons. A deputy sheriff will be on duty at all times to handle traffic, said Johnson. The program of shows is scheduled to include three changes weekly, with two shows every evening and double features on Thursday and Friday. Construction of the theater began May 10 and was completed June 21 at a cost of $80,000. It will accomodate 450 cars. The theater will remain open until some time next fall. (St. Joe News 7/1/50)

News Article: Al Ochs of the Douglas and Portage drive-ins, Kalamazoo, is taking over the Auto Theatre Drive-In at St. Joseph, formerly operated by M. A. Johnson, who plans to enter another line of business. (Boxoffice Magazine - August 1958)

News Article: Carl Buermele took over booking for Al Ochs St. Joe Auto Theatre at St. Joseph. (Boxoffice Magazine - February 1959)

News Article: The St. Joe Auto Theatre, Stevensville, has been acquired by St. Joe Auto Drive-In, Oscar A. Brotman, president-also president of Brotman and Sherman Theatres, a 16-house Chicago circuit. The former operator was Fox Eastern Theatre, which required to divest itself of one drive-in in the Benton Harbor area under a consent decree. The St. Joe Auto Theatre will reopen for the season April 3. Clark Theatre Service will book and buy. (Box Office Magazine - 3/9/70)

Update: I saw movies there in '78 and last in '79. There were rumors that they started showing x-rated movies at one point before they finally closed in the early 80's. (Chuck Wickham 8/4/04)

Update: I saw my last-ever drive in movie at the Auto Theatre in about 1982 or 1983 with a friend who had just joined the Marines and our girlfriends. I think it was a James Bond movie. The place was dying even then.... (CJ 6/20/05)

Update: There's a Walgreens on the site now. (Daryl 7/31/05)

Update: I took my nephews and nieces to see Pete's Dragon (1978?) and then towards the middle of the movie the screen got really blurry, horns honkin, people yellin, well it was the fog comming off of Lake Michigan, we barely made it home to Sister Lakes, very good times though. (Lora Bandurski 8/4/05)