News Article: New Theatre Here Ready For Opening - The new Sturgis Drive-In Theatre will open Thursday (7/24/52). Located 1 1/4 miles east of Sturgis on US-112, it was built by Andrew Jensen and son, Harvey, who will operate it. Another son, Sgt. Richard Jensen, recently dicharged from the Air Force, has returned from spending three years in the service and expects to aid his father and brother. Newest equipment, such as in-car speakers, has been installed, also post lights to enable patrons to see their way around as the movie is being shown. Snack bar and rest rooms are located in the projection building in the center of the grounds. The movie lot includes 12 acres and some 300 cars may be parked in the area. The screen tower is 55 feet high. (Sturgis Journal 7/23/52)

News Article: Melvin Shields has taken over Russell Chipman's Sturgis Drive-In at Sturgis, with Bob Buermele named film buyer. (Boxoffice Magazine 4/28/69)

Status: Gone (Michigandriveins.com 10/99)

Update: I worked there when I was a kid,it was great. We had special weekend events like dusk to dawn theme movies {like five scary movies playing all night}. I remember watching the first friday the 13th movie on friday the 13th. The downfall of the Sturgis Drive-In was the summer Marvin {you have his name as Melvin} Sheilds decided to show x-rated movies all summer. Not something you want to do in the bible belt, especially if you can see whats on the screen from the highway when you're driving by. And there's a nursing home right behind the drive-in aways back with a perfect view of the screen for the old folks to see! The old men were watching the screen and getting turned on and attacking the nurses, I know my mom worked there. It ended up going to court and I don't really remember the outcome of the trial but Marvin didn't show x-rated movies the next summer. It didn't matter, it was never the same after that. Family's would go to Coldwater (Coldwater's a great drive-in and just gets better every year, Tom and Sue the owners are the best people you, can see the love they have put into that place, it's called the Capri Drive-In and I'm serious when I say it's one of the best! Or the M-60 between Mendon and Three Rivers MI. (been closed for years as well). People just stopped coming to Sturgis like they used to and Marvin couldn't afford to keep it up and a couple years later it closed, it was a sad, sad day!!! I've been to alot of drive-ins across the country and i've seen most of them close. The drive-in for me is such a great pastime. Alot of great memories in the front rows and the back ones haha. I salute you and your webpage for helping to keep it alive. Remember...a bad night at the drive-in is still better than a good night anywhere else. Peace....p.s.-I wish they could still do the dusk to dawn marathon's!!! (Steve Reeb 2/25/04)