News Article: Beulah Will Have Drive-In - Construction is already under way on a new drive-in theatre in Benzie county, the Night-Sky Drive-In at Beulah, which was begun by Mid-State Shows of Interlochen and will be open before June 1, it was announced today. Plans for construction of another drive-in theatre, the Cherry Bowl Drive-In at Honor, were announced in a story in Tuesday's Record-Eagle. The Night-Sky Drive-in will have modern projection equipment, rest rooms, concessions, and a large screen tower of the type known in the industry as a modified Lovell design. The projection booth is nearly completed and the screen lower will be completed within three weeks, a spokesman for the theatre's builders stated. This drive-in, which calls itself "Benzie County's First Drive-in Theatre" is located south of Beulah and Benzonia, almost directly at the intersection of M-115 and US-31. (Traverse City Record-Eagle 4/2/53)

News Article: At dusk on Saturday evening the first motion pictures will be thrown on a giant 32-foot outdoor screen at the new Night Sky Drive-In theatre on US-31, south of Benzonia. Under construction since January, the new enterprise is still not fully completed, but has been rushed to a early opening to provide residents of the area with this new-type of outdoor entertainment. Two gigantic Holmes motion picture machines, equipped with powerful, high intensity lighting will provide clear, sharp pictures and sound reproduction of remarkable clarity. The projectors are equipped to show new third dimension movies, when they are ready. Eugene Fernette, the owner and who has had 14 years experience in the motion picture business, said that he tailored his enterprise to fit the community and that it would be expanded in size as the need was shown. To start off with, 200 in-car speakers have been provided. Lighted speaker stands will provide illumination for each parking space and eliminate confusion. The speakers themselves are of cast aluminum and have a volume control. A 8-foot cord permits the speaker to be placed anywhere inside the car. Three pieces of playground equipment have been ordered, but there is little possibility that they will arrive by the opening date. In commenting on his policy, Fernette stressed that "the primary attraction of outdoor theatres is that they cater to children. My wife Jean and I both like kids and were going to do everything possible to see that their visits here are pleasant and entertaining." Rest rooms have been provided in the rear of the projection booth. A snack bar will sell ice cream bars, pop corn, soft drinks, coffee and candy. Congratulatory messages, the opening program, admission prices and other information are all contained on a full page advertisement on page three of this issue of the Benzie Record-Banner. (Benzie Banner 5/14/53)

News Article: After an intensive renovation program carried on the past two weeks, the Night-Sky Drive-In Theatre south of Benzonia on US-31 will open for the summer season Thursday Evening (tonight) Arnold Cohn and Duke Kaufman of Miami will manage the drive-in this year for the United Theatre Corporation. (Benzie Banner 6/10/54)

Update: Whether or not this drive-in ever actually existed seems to be in doubt. The only solid evidence so far is the 1953-54 Theatre Catalog. It lists two drive-in theatres located in Beulah, MI. The first is the Cherry Bowl, which is actually closer to Honor. The owner is listed as L.O. Griffin, and it shows a 300-car capacity. It also notes the Cherry Bowl is under construction. The second Beulah drive-in listed is the Nite Sky. The owner is E.H. Fernette, it is on the Waxman Circuit, and the capacity is 170 cars. The location of the Nite Sky remains a mystery, as it does not appear on any of the topo maps, or aerial images of the area. (Michigandriveins.com 9/23/03)

Update: The Night-Sky Drive-In did indeed exist, as proven with newly found 1954 newspaper ads. The June 24th 1954 issue of the Benzie Co. paper lists its location as "SOUTH JUNCTION M-115 and US-31", which is in Joyfield Township. It's exact location it yet to be found, as it doesn't show up on a topo map of this intersection. (Michigandriveins.com 11/21/03)

Update: The Night Sky opened on May 16 1953 and apparently closed on August 25, 1954 (The last ad I could find was in the August 19th issue of the Benzie Banner). The Cherry Bowl opened six weeks later, which might have had something to to with the demise of the Night Sky. (Andrew Wilson 12/12/03)

Update: I believe i know where this drive in theater once stood. it was actually near the intersection of US-31 and Hoadley Rd and is now home to a bar. I only live about a mile and a half from the site and have studied this site very well. all that remains is the old snack bar building which is where the bar is now.(Jason 8/12/04)

Update: I have went back and checked this site out again and I have found the old speaker posts and there is also an old movie screen still on the property but is down on the ground. I am still in the process of getting pics for everyone as I know everyone would enjoy this. The name of the bar where the drive in once was in B&L bar in Benzonia Michigan. Once again I will have pics very soon for all to enjoy and view. (Jason 10/12/04)

Update: The mystery of exactly where the Night Sky Drive-In stood has apparently been solved by Michigandriveins.com. An October 2004 roadtrip, spurned by Jason's recent post's, to Benzonia to look for evidence of this long forgotten theatre has yielded some new information. When questioned, many local residents, including some old-timers, knew nothing of the Night Sky and assumed we were looking for the nearby Cherry Bowl Drive-In. Fortunately we were armed with copies of the Night Sky's grand opening ad and newspaper articles. One long time Benzonia resident however, remembered the Night Sky very well. We spoke with Louie, the owner of Beulah Auto Parts salvage yard and the B&L Bar, he told us the Night Sky Drive-In DID NOT occupy the B&L property. He has owned the property since 1949 and built the bar there in 1964 and it was never a drive-in. He indicated the drive-in was located at the northeast corner of US-31 and Hoadley road, directly behind the Wesco gas station that occupies that corner. There are now a couple of pole barns on the site where the drive-in once stood. A concrete slab found directly behind the gas station was assumed to be the snack bar foundation, but it turned out to be the site of another pole barn that had been removed. A photoshop rendering of the Night Sky's actual location as described by Louie is posted below. No evidence was found of speaker poles or screen remains at either location. We did however, find the remains of an old dirt oval racetrack near the bar, the B&L Speedway. We did get some shots of the old B&L Speedway grandstands and the B&L bar and they are posted at Waterwinterwonderland.com. We also heard rumblings of yet another undiscovered drive-in near Benzonia and a drive-in near Arcadia. (Michigandriveins.com 11/13/04)

Update: The previous post detailing the the exact location of the Night Sky Drive-In Theater, dispite the old-timer's best recollections, is incorrect. Michigandriveins.com has discovered a 1955 aerial that shows the Night Sky was actually on the northwest corner of US-31 and Hoadley Rd. near Benzonia. Holton's Tri-Gas now occupies the site, their driveway is exactly where the Night Sky's was. The approximate address is 2818 Benzie Highway, Benzonia, MI 49616 per Google Maps. The 1955 and current aerials are now posted below. (Michigandriveins.com 2/5/11)