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News Article: New Theatre Opens Sunday - Chippewa Drive-In Located North of Manistee on Highway
US-31 - The newly completed Chippewa Drive-In Theatre, located north of Manistee on US-31, one
quarter mile east of the county farm on the south side of the highway, will have its grand opening this
Sunday evening, July 30, it was announced by Darwin Evens, owner. The theatre, the first of its kind ever
built in Manistee county will accomodate 200 cars to be parked on eight fan-shaped ramps. In announcing
his opening, Evens said his picture on Sunday is entitled "Ma and Pa Kettle Go To Town". He stated that
he expects to get the best pictures, with a change three times a week. There will be two shows nightly, the
first at 8:45 and the second at 10:45. The theatre is completely enclosed with a sheet metal fence and the
screen, 52 feet by 46 feet in size, faces the south. The elevations allows all persons to see the picture over
the parked cars in front of them. Movies will not be postponed because of rain or other bad weather, Evens
said. Individual speakers with volume control will be assigned each car. "Carhop" service will be provided,
and a small plaza is located on the grounds where persons can sit at tables and watch the movies.
Concession stands are available on the grounds. Cars will drive in from the highway, circle around and face
north. Extra wide ramps and parking spaces make driving very easy, Evens added. Evens said that
movie-goers are not confronted with a baby-sitting problem at the Chippewa Drive-In. He declared that
youngsters can sleep in the back seat of the car, while the parents watch the movie. Bottle warmers are
available at the concession stands, he said. The theatre will continue through the fall, opening again in
early spring. (The Manistee News-Advocate 7/28/50)
Update: The Chippewa theater in Manistee is closed. It sits next to the West Shore community hospital, with
only the snack bar visable. (Jeff Raterink 1/31/00)
Update: An overgrown lot and a heavily vandalized snack bar are all that remain of the old Chippewa Drive-In.
The snack bar is strewn with garbage, old clothes, and broken toilets. An empty box labeled "chippewa bulbs"
addressed to Goodrich Theaters in Grand Rapids was found inside.
(Michigandriveins.com 9/9/00)
Update: Abandoned snack bar remains. (Michigandriveins.com 2/24/01)
Update: My husband and I are residents of Manistee, and my husband grew up in this area. The lot where the
Chippewa Drive-In once stood is actually next to the Manistee County Medical Care Facility. It was never next
to the "West Shore Community Hospital", and the hospital was never called by that name. The hospital was West
Shore Hospital, but has since been renamed and is now known as West Shore Medical Center. West Shore
Medical Center is located on US 31 North directly next to (south of) the Manistee County Medical Care Facility
and Sheriff's Department which are both on lots located next to the location of the old drive-in. As you head north
from the former site of the Chippewa Drive-In, the Manistee County Blacker Airport would be the next landmark
on that side of the highway. (Vicki Krolczyk 7/9/02)
Update: My grandparents were Darwin and Weathly Evens, I can see us sitting on the bleachers watching the shows.
I worked with my grandparents there. I helped make the popcorn, the whole family went every weekend. they also
had go cart racing in the back. Was a wonderful time in my life and can remember everything. wish I had something
from there. My grand parents were wonderful. (Waterwinterwonderland.com/Lynn Kimbrel 8/26/06)
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