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Hi-Vue Drive-In August 1955-1963
Sceen Drive-In July 1967-?
News Article: Durand - The new Hi-Vue Drive-In Theater will unveil it's 85-foot curved cinemascope screen at a gala opening to be held at dark this evening. It is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Steve Paluch of Perry who also own the Silhouette Theater in that city. (The Argus-Press 8/8/55) Posted: 4/17/10
Update: Closed, site is now a golf driving range, screen is still standing, name changed to Sceen in the 1960's. (07/98)
Update: The screen remains, and was recently completely covered (front and rear) with green siding. (7/10/01)
Update: The Hi-Vue/Sceen Drive-In screen remains, a daily reminder for Durand residents of a favorite pastime, lost forever. (8/8/03)
Update: You may want to add that this was also called, I believe, the notorious "Durand Dirties". The only Drive-In where you could
see "XXX" movies. I also read that the current owner of the Deja Vu Nightclub International, was at one time the manager of this Drive-In.
The Flint Journal last year published an article about his career along with a few sentences about the Hi-Vue.
(Michael Murphy 8/17/04)
News Article: Star Tribune - Minneapolis, MN - Aug 19, 1996 - Mohney was in his early 20s when he was laid off from
his railroad job and started a stint at a small X-rated theater in Battle Creek, Mich. He soon put down his own roots
in the sex business on the edge of Durand, a small town near Flint, Mich. He'd saved enough money to open a drive-in
theater just off Hwy. 69. The theater was called the Sceen, but it was known around town as "the Durand Dirties." In
1969, the Academy Award for best picture went to "Midnight Cowboy." But the Sceen was showing `Swingin' Swappers" and
"Thar She Blows." Local authorities soon had to direct traffic off the highway on nights the movies played, remembers
Shiawassee County Sheriff A. James LaJoye. The business expanded into a distribution outlet for the sex industry
throughout the Midwest, and many people in the community didn't mind. "You've got to understand," LaJoye said,
"Durand is a hard-working, blue-collar town. . . . And they employed an awful lot of people {more than 200} over
there. You go back to the '70s, and that was probably the largest employer in the city." Mohney donated money
anonymously to Little League programs and the Durand high-school football team, LaJoye said. "He'd pop for $6,000
or $7,000 for all the equipment for those kids," he said. "He was very well liked in the Durand area - very well
liked. You couldn't find too many people over there that had a bad word to say about him."
(Michigandriveins.com 3/19/06)
Update: Here's a tad more info on the "Durand Dirties" Drive in; They also employed a couple of topless girls that
would clean your windshield if you drove near the snack bar where they were working. There was also an adult store
adjourning the snack bar that carried the usual merchandise. Also provided a "rain shield" when you paid for your
admission- just in case it rained. Ah yes, plenty of good times! (Bruce Massey 8/16/06)
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