News Article: 20 Years Long Enough In One Line - Caro - The four Kitchen Brothers of Caro are getting out of the gasoline business - and not because of the current oil strike. They are going into the outdoor theater business in partnership with another Caro brother team, the Ashmun Brothers. The Kitchens - Wilfred, Jae, Hugh and Hubert - yesterday sold their gasoline distributing business, which covered the entire Thumb area, to the Texas Co. The step from gasoline station to theater does not seem like a large one to the Kitchens. "It was Jae's idea", said Hugh Kitchen, "just as it was Jae's idea to get into the gasoline business." Jae Kitchen, at 39 a man of boundless energy, has been in the gasoline business for 20 years, 17 of them in Caro. "I believe," said Jae, "that anybody who has been in one line of work for 20 years is due for a change." It's as simple as that. Brother Wilfred, 41, and the twins, Hugh and Hubert, 33, went along with the idea. Wilfred joined Jae in the gasoline business in 1937; the twins joined them after service in World War 2. The Kitchens recently became co-owners with the Ashmun Brothers - Richard and Reginald - of three outdoor theaters. They are operating a theater in East Lansing. One is under construction at Bad Axe, and another under construction at East Tawas. The Ashmuns own 12 other theaters and have part ownership of still two more, including Twilite Drive-In on State Street, Saginaw. Jae Kitchen is managing the firm's theater in East Lansing. Wilfred will manage the East Tawas theater; and the twins will tend the Bad Axe theater. The Kitchens' Caro bulk plant and retail station will be managed by Wendall Biddle, a former employee. (The Saginaw News 5/8/52)

News Article: Bad Axe Drive-In Theatre Opens Soon - A new Drive-in Theare to be known as the M-53 Drve-In Theatre is being constructed one mile from downtown Bad Axe on highway M-53. Construction is bring handled by the Johnson Construction Company of Birmingham. This company has specialized in indoor and outdoor theatre construction for many years. The theatre will hande 400 cars with provision made for more of the need arises. All the most modern ideas are being put to use in the new project and the very finest equipment will be installed. Equipment is being installed by Ernie Forbes Theatre Supply Company of Detroit and includes the very latest RCA sound with in-car individual speakers, Brite-Arc projection lamps, which will project he brightest picture to be seen on any screen, and Brenkert projection machines and bases. The giant tilted screen has been painted with a special flat white drive-in screen paint that is easy on the eyes. A completely equipped playground will be installed under the giant screen and is free at all times for the kiddes. the modern cons=cession building is located 285 feet from the screen and, besides the snack bar, will contain rest rooms for men and women and the projection and storage rooms. The concession will be operated by L.& L. Concession Company of Detroit who operates concessions in most of the State's finest drive-in theatres. In front of the booth there will be a section of 25 seats for those who wish to watch the show outside their car. Construction is going ahead rapidly and the opening of the new drive-in is temporarily set for May 21. The tower, concession building and box offices are all built and the grading is being done now. The M-53 Drive-In Theatre is owned by the A-K Theatre Company of Caro, Michigan. It is a partnership comprised of Ashmun Theatres and Kitchen Bros. Mr Hugh Kitchen will be he manager of the new project. (Cass City Chronicle 5/9/52)

News Article: Season drive-ins closings....M-53 at Bad Axe and Tawas at East Tawas, Ashmun and Kitchen brothers.... (Boxoffice Magazine 11/16/59)